by Angilina

Created on: May 05, 2009

Brief Introduction:

Salsa is a Latin dance which was introduced to the United States during the Cuban Immigration, between the 1940s and the1970s. The rhythm of Salsa is a fusion of traditional African, Cuban and the Latin American rhythmus including Mambo and the Rumba.

About the History:

Salsa dance history is thought to be a difficult one in describing out one particular country of its origin. However, it is believed to be a mixture of various cultures, originated from Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances. Most of the dance part is believed to be originated on an island.

The word "Salsa" was given to the dance when it came to New-York city somewhere around Second World War, and was influenced by many cultures including Rumba, Son Montuno, Mambo, Cha-Cha, Danzon, Bomba and many more.

The Character and different styles of Salsa:

The most important characteristic feature of Salsa is the Cuban motion. In this motion, the hip movements come from the alternating bending and straightening of the knees. So, a full basic step of Salsa is comprised of a Forward Basic step taking 4 beats and a Back Basic step also taking 4 beats making a total of eight beats.

Each Forward and the Back step is thought to contain three steps: a break step, a replace step and a slow step. Most of the dancers perform a tap or touch step usually on the second beat without changing the weight. So, this tap step comes before the break step.

Cumbia Style:

This style is popular in South America. In this style, the full basic step has two breaks rather than a Forward and a Back step. This style has a side to side feel than the forward and back feel

Salsa Counts:

Although, the Salsa music is thought to use 4/4 pattern; it does not posses the 4 beats and leaves the 4 and 8 count creating a pause. It is danced as 1, 2, 3, (4), 5, 6, 7, (8), or in other words we can say:

Step, step, step, pause,
Step, step, step, pause.

The dance teachers count the beats like quick, quick, slow,
Quick, quick, slow.

Each quick movement denotes one beat, while the slow movement denotes two beats of music.

While some believe to display the steps as Rock, rock, close and tap.

One of the most popular ways of teaching Salsa is with the break step on count 1, the replace step on count 2 and the slow step on counts 3 and 4. Most dancers perform a tap step on the second half of the slow step that is, the step occurs on the 4th beat. So, the step counting can be done as 123 Tap, 567 Tap. The tap step occurs on beats 4 and 8.

Salsa can be danced

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