Salsa Dance Steps

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i went to a dance lesson ast night but i can’t remember the name of it. ladies always step backwards with their right foot, in the basic step. on the count of 1. so 1,2,3… 5,6,7. any ideas? thanks x

Almost all salsa styles are danced on1 with the exception of New York Style (starts on1 but "breaks" on2) and Palladium style or contratiempo (2,3,4…6,7,8). LA Style is the most well-known on1 style but On1 was around before LA style. LA style is much more acrobatic and showy than other styles.

On1 styles always start with a back-break for the lady on1. If it was danced in a linear pattern you can probably rule out Cuban style and Miami Style since they are based on a rotational motion. Although they do include a linear basic step as well so if it was a beginners class it could conceivable still be Cuban style but it’s probably safe to rule that out.

So I’d say probably some generic On1 style or LA Style

I’m trying it again after 6 months and this is my 2 week in class I understand it but its not showing in dancing I got the basic steps but the rest of the movements are slow and I said to myself I’m not going to quit this time.

You’d be surprised how many people try salsa and then stop for a while and then come back to it. Just like you the second time around people tend to be very serious about learning.

there are a pcouple of things that are hard for most people to learn: the beat and body motion. The best way to get comfortable with the beat is to listen to salsa music every waking moment. The more you listen the faster it sinks in. If you only hear salsa 1 hour a week at class, it will remain some sort of strange, exotic music and you will still be lost when you find yourself alone without someone counting 1,2,3 5,6,7 for you. Listen, listen, listen!

The body motion…don’t bother worrying about it. This come on it’s own when you do the basic steps properly. It may seem strange, but how you do the steps affects how your hips move. And all the arm styling etc that some versions of salsa teach, well they are not at all important to dancing, they are just something that someone thinks looks cool. If your hands are in the right place at the right to to performs the moves, that’s all that matters. When you are comfortable with the basic steps and the basic turns you will find that you can relax and develop your own personal style taking bits and pieces that feel good to you from the styling tips that your teachers give you.

I would also recommend that you go out to a club once a week. Find someone in your class who is also serious about learning and go dancing! Dance, dance, dance! It gives you a chance to really practice what you learned in class. When you have to work it out for yourself it sticks better. And then you will be ready for new moves at class the next week rather than having forgotten everything. And don’t worry about people at the club watching you. Find a uncrowded spot on the dance floor and go for it. I was scared to be watched until I realized that people were watching the best dancers and not watching me. Just don’t step on the other dancers feet or hit them with your elbow trying to do some fancy arm styling and you will be fine.

Good luck and don’t give up. If you listen, listen, listen and dance, dance, dance you will be dancing quite comfortably within 6 months. Don’t expect it to happen in 6 weeks.

what year did salsa dancing originate?

how many beats are in a bar?

Which beats are emphasized?

Any steps which are know?

any extra information

Please Answer and thanks in advance

"Salsa" is a word that first came into use in the 1970s but the dance and music has existed much longer. Since it is really just a modernization of son it is hard to say exactly what year it originated. Son originated in Eastern Cuba in the late 1800s but became very popular in the US and other countries in the 1920-50s. The dance has been around for just as long. It was probably in the 60s when the music began mixing with jazz and what we refer to as salsa today was born. So did the dance arise at the same time? Hard to say. Cuban salsa dancing is called "casino" and it has been around since the 1950s.

There are 4 beats per measure. What makes beginner dancers confused is that you only take steps on 3 of the beats and pause on one beat.

The beat that is emphasized depends on what country the music comes from. Cuban salsa as well as son and chachacha etc have always emphasized the 4th beat of the measure. Some other styles may put more emphasis on the second beat. Keep in mind that salsa sounds slightly different depending on where it comes from. New York, Puerto Rico, Miami, Colombia, Cuba all have slightly different sounds but are all based on the same basic rhythms.

In the US people dance a lot of "shines" which are solo step combinations. Many of these have names. In Cuban salsa there is a group salsa dance called Rueda de Casino (Casino wheel) where the dancers dance in a circle and perform moves in unison as they are called out, kind of similar to the idea behind square dancing. Each move has a name, so in Rueda there are hundreds of names for the moves for example some well known moves are setenta, dile que no, enchufa, el dedo, vacílala.

There are two main differences in how people dance salsa, the beat they dance on and the direction of motion in the dance. Salsa is usually either danced On1 or On2 but many street dancers in Cuba also dance On3.

As I mentioned Cuban salsa usually emphasizes the 4th beat of the measure. this is because salsa is built around the syncopated rhythm called the "clave". It is three beat followed by two beats and extends over two bars of music. Since the claves takes 2 bars to complete dancers use an 8-count for a complete set of steps.

The traditional way of dancing to clave-based music is called contratiempo, meaning on the upbeat. The dancers pause on the 1 then they step 2,3,4 pause 6,7,8 pause. One the 2 the man steps forwards with his left foot and the woman steps back with her right. You can see why this type of dancing is referred to as On2 because you start dancing on the second beat.

Some people have a hard time "finding the 2". So in New York there is a different type of On2 usually called New York On2. In this case you take the steps on 1,2,3 pause 5,6,7 pause, but you "break" on2. That is to say the first step is almost in place and the second step, which falls on the second beat is when you step forward (or backward). This change of direction is referred to as breaking. So New York 2 starts on1 but "breaks" on2. The idea is that it’s easier for the dancer to know when to start dancing if they start on the downbeat.

Most people in the world dance On1, which is 1,2,3 pause 5,6,7 pause but also with the break step on the 1. So on the 1 a man would step forward with his left foot while his partner would step back with her right foot, thus both starting and breaking on1.

The On2 dancers are often very snobby about saying that On1 dancers are dancing "off clave" and there is a lot of argument between the dancers about what is "correct". I personally think that songs with a strong son feel, where you have a strong son clave feel are good for contratiempo and some more modern salsa is better on1.

The other difference I mentioned is the direction of the motion in the dance patterns. In the US and the areas influenced by the US, people dance in a linear motion moving backwards and forwards and even the turns patterns are done as if the couples were dancing "in-the-slot". This type of motion has the effect that turns are done as spot turns and lots of spinning is done. US dance styles also emphasize the use of shines where the couple splits apart and each one does solo steps. US styles also use a lot of "styling" where dancers are taught to do arm motions to make their dancing "look better". This idea is very ballroom dance influenced.

Cuban salsa is rotational meaning that the couple is constantly traveling as if around the edge of a circle. They travel even through the turns so Cubans don’t do spot turns or spins. Instead they do tangly patterns that require rotation to tangle up and to unravel again. Cubans don’t do shines. When they split apart they often dance afro-cuban rumba or "despelote" which is when they just move their hips or "tembleque" where they shake their hips and torso. This type of dancing maintains a lot more contact with the afro-cuban roots of salsa dancing.

South Americans dance a semi-rotational style: they tend to rotate but not as much as the Cuban and they don’t tangle as much. Cali, Colombia has a very particular dance style where they use a lot of bouncy footwork.

So what can you say about salsa? It’s a commercial name that started being used in the 70s. Salsa music is organized around the clave rhythm and is usually either Cuban son or Cuban guaracha mixed with jazz and maybe pop, hiphop, or various Latin American rhythms such as rumba or bomba. But Salsa sounds different depending on what country/city is comes from. Just like different regions use different spices in their food, different salsa styles have a different "flavor". This is true for both the dancing and the music.

Here are a few videos to show the different styles of dancing. Listen to the music they are dancing to as well. You will see that the dancers prefer different types of music that are well-suited to the dance style.

Original contratiempo danced to son music, the dance and music root of salsa. On2 and a mix of both linear and rotational motion, but much closer to modern Cuban salsa than modern US salsa styles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI7TDQxMACQ

New York On2 – linear includes spins and shines
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTIhekjRE1E

LA Style – On1 linear – relatively new style. The Vazquez brothers are credited with creating it. Very flashy and acrobatic and performance oriented. Includes spins and shines
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vbYn9iJ7GM

Cuban style On1 rotational mixed with Afro-Cuban rumba and tembleque
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-30RzT2wn64

Rueda de casino – Cuban group salsa where each move has a name and as they moves are called out the dancers do them in unison often switching partners at the end of each move.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrl1uAGw8yw

Colombian style with what seems to be a touch of LA mixed in. Not quite linear, not quite rotational, On1 with special footwork probably from boogalu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEuhOR_Arh8

You should look up salsa at Wikipedia for more info. Maybe someone will dare try to say the year it originated.

Do you know how to Salsa dancing?

My favorite dance is Cuban style salsa also called "casino". I also enjoy dancing afro-cuban rumba and son (also a Cuban dance).

Here is Cubans style salsa (casino)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-30RzT2wn64

Here is a group for of casino called Rueda de casino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrl1uAGw8yw

Here is son (pronounced "sown" not "sun")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI7TDQxMACQ

And here is Afro-Cuban rumba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48156Mf1KSU

I met a girl working a table at my college for the magazine she works for. I had a good conversation and even showed her some salsa dance steps. Then I made plans to go and have coffee. She agreed and I gave her my phone. She put her number in the phone and then I told her to enter her name. After that I talked a little and left. When I went down back to my room I looked through my phone and her number wasn’t there. I don’t know if she intentionally didn’t save it or pressed the wrong button. Regardless I don’t have her number. I may see here around campus and will most likely see her this Friday at a dance rehearsal. I am in a salsa group she is in a Chinese dance group. But were both performing at the same dance. How do I ask her for her number again when I see her? Or do I feel her out and see if shes interested? Let me know what you think.

Be confident and ask for her number again, she’ll be flattered. Good luck.

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These are just some tips for optimizing your  website for search engine robots – without compromising on the language of your customer. We hope you’ve found them helpful! If you do end up using wix feel free to ask our help for any follow on questions.

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http://www.articlesbase.com/seo-articles/optimize-your-website-for-search-engines-670570.html

Dance has been an important part of rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of human civilization. In the beginning, before we had written language to record things, the purpose of dance was often to tell stories and to pass them down to future generations.

The story of dancing in Cuba

In Cuba, as in ancient times, dance tells its own story. The passion and energy of Cuban dance reveals the strength and conviction of the Cuban people, determined to enjoy life despite ‘la lucha’ (the struggle) of living in a strictly regulated country where the average monthly wage comes in at around 400 pesos – less than £10.

The richness of Cuban music and dancing also tells the story of Cuba’s melting pot of cultures. From the high-stepping flamenco brought by the Spanish settlers in the 15th century to the frenzied tribal dances of the West African slaves, dancing is in the blood of the Cuban people.

From the teenage girl in denim shorts to the cigar-seller on the street corner, Cubans are given to break into spontaneous dance steps. Furthermore, the people dancing on the streets of Havana are likely to be just as good as the professionals, because in Cuba dancing is simply a way of life.

The variety of Cuban dances

Cuba boasts a huge range of dances including classical ballet, contemporary, flamenco and folk dancing. But it is the partnered routines that appeared in Havana dancehalls between the 1920s and the 1950s – Salsa, rumba, mambo and cha-cha-cha – that can be seen in every Cuban bar, club and street. Of these, Salsa is the most popular dance internationally.

Since the name ‘Salsa’ (it’s Spanish for ’sauce’) was coined, Salsa dancing has exploded in popularity in Latin America and across the world. Salsa dancing classes are now hugely popular but to really get into the swing of it a Salsa holiday in Cuba itself is a must.

Tips for Cuban Salsa dancing

If you do take yourself on a Cuban holiday, you’ll have the unique experience of watching Cubans Salsa dancing. It sometimes appears that by some genetic aberration they have been born with super flexible joints, defying physics to carry out all the complex manoeuvres they have integrated into the dancing. Their remarkable twisting body movements and natural sense of rhythm will dazzle you.

If you have the right technique, Cuban Salsa is easier to learn than many other forms of dance. The basic footwork is a fairly simple walking motion, pausing every fourth beat, and there are some six basic steps you can follow to make sure you’re on the right tracks.

1 Relax

To dance Cuban Salsa well it is important not to rush, but to relax into the steps. Movements should be precise and deliberate in addition to being flowing and smooth.

2 Walk with purpose

Salsa dancing involves a continual circular motion. Couples walk around each other with an imaginary axis between them. This makes turns look smooth and effortless. Walking gives time to untangle your arms after each turn.

3 Have confidence in your lead

The leader (usually the man) should have constant tension in his arms, while his hands guide his Salsa dancing partner around the floor. There is no need to clamp onto each other’s hands, only to use the right amount of tension to provide a leading signal.

4 Be flexible when following

In order to follow well, ladies should try to match the tension of their partner. The exception to this is when arms need to be relaxed and flexible to complete arm-twisting Salsa moves without injury!

5 Keep balanced when you spin

The key to all the spectacular spins in Salsa is not to lose your balance. One way to do it is by spotting while you spin – focusing on one spot at each turn – an age-old dance technique.

6 Use your body

In Salsa dancing, ladies should make use of their body and be sensual, playful and creative. This can involve some creative arm movements, going with what feels right and basically showing off a bit. Enjoy!

Emma Lelliott
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/a-stepbystep-guide-to-cuban-salsa-285297.html

I have been noticing that the Bay Area Salsa performers are getting quite friendly with “the walk” entering a stage. My aim in this blog is to critique “their walk” and hopefully they’d take this criticism as constructive.

What is “the walk” and where did it come from?

The walk is just that, a walk. But it is different from the normal walk everyone does going about their own business everyday, everywhere. “The walk’ exudes confidence. It gets attention. It could be in an introduction or at the end of the routine as performers walk out of the stage.

Where does “the walk” come from?

It is my belief that it came from the ballroom dance, to be specific, ballroom standard (Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango and Quickstep). The Latin Ballroom then later adopted it (Paso doble, jive, rumba, samba & cha-cha). Culturally, Europeans practice such “walk” in their lavish parties and events (you can see the walk most of the English movies such as Beethoven, Casanova, etc).

Maybe it’s just me, but I have never seen “the walk” adopted by salsa performers ’till less than two years ago. In fact, I don’t think East Coast salsa performers practice such walk. Not even Los Angeles. I have only noticed this from Bay Area performers. With that in mind, I commend them for being creative. But here comes the critique…

“The walk” falls short. It looks funny and annoying at the same time. There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance. To be honest, it doesn’t even look arrogant. If you have ever seen a geek trying to be a playa, you’d instantly notice that his gestures, actions and even words just don’t fit him – this is how I see some of the performers when they do “the walk.” I am not saying everyone does that type of walk, but I think that the dance directors should at least pay attention to their dancers and critique them if need be.

What is the proper walk?

The answer depends on what theme is in their routine. Is it an elegant routine? Walk elegantly. If you don’t know how to walk elegantly, watch movies, search the web and study everything about being elegant. It also really helps if you make some eye contact with the audience during the entrance. If your routine is sluttish, it’s the same thing, do a good amount of research.

In Ballroom, we train to develop the proper posture e.g., posture of our faces, shoulders and entire body. If you ever watch ballroom performers, you’d notice that their chin is not higher than the ceiling. There’s a big difference between being snobby and confident.

A year ago, I was talking to several Swing instructors after teaching bachata at the Chico Dance Sensation. In fact, I remember Felipe was present as well. We got into discussing “stepping out of the box” meaning being creative and innovating a dance. It was a roundtable of discussion to the point that we even went back to the history of dancing. We all agreed that the essence of any original dance shouldn’t be phased out or “throw out” altogether but that it should be respected, acknowledge and improved upon. We finished such discussion as very educational and Sarah Vann Drake, a respected Swing performer and teacher, said it so brilliantly, “there’s a difference between getting out of the box and stepping out of the box. When we step out of the box, it basically means, one of our foot is out of the box while the other foot never left the box.”

Salsa is a street and social dance. Yes it has evolved and we owe a great deal to many dance innovators out there, but let’s not forget where it came from and what it was all about. A street dance is never snobby or arrogant. It’s non-intimidating and fun.

Rodney Rodchata Aquino
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/salsa-dance-incorporating-the-walk-in-a-routine-149113.html