Salsa Dance Steps

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

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.

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

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

Mastering the basic step will be the first key step to developing proper technique and timing in salsa. Your spins and partner-work techniques will be executed in sync with the rhythm of the music once you have mastered your basic. Think of the basic step as the drummer in a band. It keeps you and your partner on time.

I encourage you to practice these steps at home but it goes with out saying that online instruction is no substitute for real time studio instruction. There are many finer elements of the basic step such as the cuban hip motion and arm work. What you get in a class that you don’t get from your computer is invaluable feedback from your instructor and the opportunity practice with other students. I hope this tutorial will get your feet moving but make sure to get the proper training by stopping by a studio salsa class.

Salsa music is played in 4/4 time and has 4 beats to the measure or bar. The basic step happens with in 2 measures or 8 counts. The Salsa Basic Step is danced as follows…

FOR THE LADIES
1. Step forward with your right foot on the first count
2. Step forward with your left foot on the second count
3. Step in place with your right foot on the third count
4. Pause on the fourth count
5. Step back with the left foot on the fifth count
6. Step back with the right foot on the sixth count
7. Step in place with the left foot on the seventh count
8. Pause on the eighth count
Repeat Step 1

FOR THE MEN
1. Step back with the left foot on the first count
2. Step back with the right foot on the second count
3. Step in place with the left foot on the third count
4. Pause on the fourth count
5. Step forward with your right foot on the fifth count
6. Step forward with your left foot on the sixth count
7. Step in place with your right foot on the seventh count
8. Pause on the eighth count
Repeat Step 1

Because of the pause on the 4th and 8th counts, salsa has a rhythmic feel of slow, quick, slow, – slow, quick, slow,

The Salsa Basic Dance Step is danced in closed position with the Man facing the Woman.

There are four points of contact between the Man and the Woman.
1.) The Leader takes the Follower’s Right Hand with his Left Hand.
2.) The Leader places his Right Hand on the Followers back.
3.) The Follower places her Left hand on the Leaders shoulder.
4.) The Leader and the Follower keep their chin up and maintain eye contact.

Now that you have your feet moving, make sure to enroll in salsa classes to get the experience of doing the basic step with different partners.

Todd
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/basic-salsa-dance-steps-705974.html

Step up, work your lower body correctly with Fitness Training expert Scott White. http://www.personalpowertraining.net

join now: http://www.myweightworld.com

Duration : 1 min 12 sec

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: step

Rhythmic Activities and Dance, Second Edition, is a collection of some of the most popular recreational dance forms, geared for teachers of K-12 students and for recreation directors and leaders who want to teach easy rhythms and dances for fun and fitness. Significantly updated, expanded, and reorganized from the first edition, this second edition features the following: – A new chapter on social dance, focusing on basic rhythmic patterns and introductory steps to help students learn how to waltz, foxtrot, tango, merengue, salsa or mambo, rumba, and swing, – Instructions for using cognitive, affective, and psychomotor objectives to assist in developing appropriate units for your students, – An easy-to-use rhythmic activity finder to help you find dances and activities, – A stronger focus on social development, including suggestions for setting up a nonthreatening environment and including students of all abilities, – Assessment sections providing tips for having students create their own dances and a rubric to assess them, review questions, and observation questions, – An accompanying CD that contains the music you need for teaching many of the dances and activities in the book,

Read the rest of this entry »

Latino dance sublime

Duration : 3 min 47 sec

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: latino

video trailer depicting moore2salas's Gary Moore and S. Waymann

Duration : 57 sec

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: salsa