SALSA DANCE HISTORY
Its easy to tell that Salsa Dancing has a very distinct style. That's because of its pattern step style which uses six steps every eight counts or beats in music.
Salsa combines several music genres and cultures such as Afro-Caribbean and Latin sounds.
The exact origin of salsa is not recorded, but most people suspect it came from Cuba. It is here that the Contra-Danze or “country dance” of England and France, also known as Danzon was brought to from the French, who had fled from Haiti. The mixture of the French music traditions, the drum rhythms and Rhumbas of Africa, and the partner dance style all helped influence salsa style music and dance that we are all familiar with today.
Regardless of the originator of salsa, the multi-cultural flavor of Afro-Caribbean and Latin influences has become one of the most popular dance and music styles all over the world.
Whats makes salsa dance moves so distinctive is how it moves from side to side, with high emphasis on turns that are synchronized strategically with the side stepping of each dancer.
Several other countries such as Columbia, Puerto Rico the Dominican, Mexico and other Latin American countries have helped influence and evolve salsa into what it is today.
A lot of salsa bands from these countries came to Mexico City during its famous film era, and ultimately came to New York where they started a huge movement. These cultures had never heard such a unique style of music, or seen such a magical dance style. New York almost immediately picked up salsa music and dance which helped promote the salsa movement. New York was also the city that coined the dance as “salsa”.
Listening to salsa music carefully, you will hear many influences such as Merengue, Cha Cha, Mambo and quite a few other Latin American and African styles. Many of the classic old-styles are built into the salsa rhythms.
Salsa only continues to evolve!
StumbleUpon Toolbar Stumble It!
