What Is Salsa Dancing?

7011Salsa is a dance for Salsa music created by Spanish-speaking people from the Caribbean and is the Spanish word for "sauce". Salsa dancing mixes African and European dance influences and is normally a leader and follower partner dance.
From its explosion in New York during the seventies, Salsa has spread to all parts of the globe.
Salsa is the coolest, fastest growing, and most inclusive scene around because it is essentially driven by its breathtaking multi-cultural music. It reaches across the boundaries of race, age, size, colour, social background, and sexual persuasion.It originated in the ports of Cuba during the colonisation of the Spaniards, who imported slaves from Africa. These slaves introduced their rhythmic dance styles to the Caribbean, giving birth to the Salsa.
The dancing is done on eight-beat music, with dancers moving on three beats, pausing for one beat, dancing for three beats, and pausing for one beat. During the pause some sort of flourish can be utilized, be it a stomp of the foot, casting out the hand or kicking the lower leg.
In addition to the partnered movements of salsa dancing, dancers may incorporate solo breaks known as shines into their routines.


7072Salsa appeals to many people because you are not controlled by too many parameters, you are free to vary the basic steps and improvise your own moves. Salsa is something for you to enjoy, it allows you to do almost anything - you just need to know the basic steps, and follow the music.
Another advantage of doing Salsa is that you are not limited to one dance partner. You require a fixed partner for most ballroom dances because the steps are choreographed. But for Salsa, you can dance with anybody because the leader is the "on the spot choreographer".
A lady can ask a gentleman to dance in a Salsa club without it being automatically taken as a 'come-on'! An unspoken rule in the clubs, is that you do not turn down a dance.
To get the most out of Salsa, the key is to 'let go'. While newbies usually begin with feelings of inadequacy when they step onto the dance floor, these feelings soon disappear as they overcome their inhibitions. Before long they have loosened up and are dancing in front of everybody.
Salsa provides a means to connect with others. Swinging hips and an eclectic mix of happy people dominate the social scene. Everyone is having an enjoyable time and contacts are naturally made very quickly.
Visit any Salsa club in the world, and you are likely to be received with open arms. Dancing Salsa is a great way to make new friends.