Dance Salsa

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Dance Salsa

Have you ever wanted to learn to Dance Salsa and impress all of your friends? If you have ever watched salsa or mambo live then I'm sure the thought of wanting to learn crossed your mind.

Ballroom dancing has grown in popularity with TV shows such as "So You Think You Can Dance", and "Dancing With The Stars". The latin dances really stand out due to their sensual nature.

One of the hottest latin dances is Salsa or in ballroom it is called the Mambo. There are some differences between Salsa and Mambo but the dances are closely related since Salsa evolved from Mambo.

The Mambo involves more straight lines and is danced more formally for ballroom while salsa is more of a mixture of different styles and is considered more of a street style of dancing.

Dance Salsa 

Click the image below to learn more about Salsa Dancing


A Great Program To Learn To Dance Salsa 

This Is One Of The Best Programs To Learn Salsa Dancing

Salsa Music 

Learn More About Salsa Music

One of the biggest secrets about learning to Dance Salsa is that you need to enjoy the music.

Salsa music is a predominantly Cuban genre that is popular across Latin America that was brought to international fame by Cuban, and Puerto Rican musicians. Salsa incorporates multiple styles and variations; the term has and can be used to describe most any form of popular Cuban-derived genre, such as chachachá and Son. Most specifically, however, salsa refers to a particular style developed in the 1960s and '70s by Puerto Rican and Cuban immigrants to the New York City area, and its later stylistic descendants including 1980s salsa romantica and other sub-genres. The style is now practiced throughout Latin America, and abroad. Salsa's closest relatives are Cuban son and mambo, typified by orchestras of the early 20th century, as well as Latin jazz. The terms Latin jazz and salsa are sometimes used interchangeably; many musicians are considered a part of either (like Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto among others), or both, fields, especially performers from prior to the 1970s.Unterberger, pg. 50

Salsa is essentially Cuban in stylistic origin.Waxer, pg. 5, notes that it is generally agreed "that salsa's primary musical foundation is Cuban; in particular, salsa generally follows the same two-part structure and rhythmic base of Cuban son. though it also has styles mixed with pop, jazz, rock, and R&B.Morales, pg. 33 Morales claims that many Afro-Cuban purists continue to claim that salsa is a mere variation on Cubas musical heritage (but) the hybridizing experience the music went through in New York from the 1920s on incorporated influences from many different branches of the Latin American tradition, and later from jazz, R&B, and even rock. Ed Morales essential claim is confirmed by Unterberger's and Steward's analysis. Salsa is the primary music played at Latin dance clubs and is the "essential pulse of Latin music", according to Ed Morales,Morales, pg. 33 while music author Peter Manuel called it the "most popular dance (music) among Puerto Rican and Cuban communities, (and in) Central and South America", and "one of the most dynamic and significant pan-American musical phenomena of the 1970s and 1980s".Manuel, Popular Music of the Non-Western World, pg. 46 Modern salsa remains a dance-oriented genre and is closely associated with a style of salsa dancing.

How I Learned To Dance Salsa 

This Is My Personal Story About Learning To Dance Salsa

It must be about ten years ago when I first stepped into that Salsa club in San Jose. I was on a trip to visit my cousins and they wanted to go out and have a good time dancing. The only problem was that I had no idea how to Dance Salsa. Neither did my cousin Chuy really, but something as small as that wasn't going to stop him. That was the first lesson about dancing that I had to learn. It doesn't matter what you know, the point is to have fun.

At the time I wasn't thinking about having fun, I was watching in amazement at all of the complicated movements and the grace of one individual on the dance floor. Women seemed to flock to him looking to dance. This was great! I had to learn somehow. Unfortunately, I never dared to get out on the floor in fear of making myself look silly.

An important lesson that I learned from that night is that if you are having a good time and enjoying yourself you won't look silly. Everyone has to start out somewhere. The sooner you get going the faster you will learn.

To Be Continued...

How I Learned To Dance Salsa -Part 2 

Learning To Dance Salsa In Mexico

I am fortunate to have a wonderful family living in Mexico. Unfortunately I grew up in Idaho and my Spanish speaking abilities are just so so. But I have a strong desire to learn new things in my life and I set my goal to learn how to dance salsa and speak Spanish better simultaneously.

Off to Mexico I went. I enrolled in the International Exchange program at my university and I put Guanajuato, Mexico down as the location that I wished to go to. This is a beautiful town that has a great university and some nice Salsa clubs. It is also near the town my family resides in. I couldn't have worked out any better.

I was fortunate to get to stay with a family that had a mansion and housed multiple exchange students. One of the other students I met there already knew how to dance salsa and took me out the first night I arrived. It was a great experience because the others in the group pulled me out on the floor and taught me to dance. I promised myself that I would stay on the dance floor the entire night no matter how bad I looked, and I did.

After that night, the quest had begun. I found a three different dance teachers and I took lessons everyday of the week. After the lessons I lingered around a Salsa club called 'El Bar' where the best dancers in the town hung out.

I danced every night and watched some of the professionals to learn some new techniques. It was very difficult in the beginning but as the weeks passed I noticed definite improvements. I found the biggest challenge about getting out on the dance floor is being able to lead your partner. This obviously took a bit more time to learn, but soon after I returned home from Mexico I began to teach others at my university and picked up the secret to leading your partner quickly.

Great Movies About Salsa Dancing 

You Will Appreciate These Movies If You Love Salsa Dancing

Learn To Dance Salsa 

Here Are Some Great Books About Salsa Dancing

Learn To Dance Salsa - Basic Step 

Here is the basic step you need to know to dance salsa

This video shows the basic steps of salsa dancing.

Intro to Salsa Dancing - Part 1

http://WatchMojo.com/ - A quick introduction to the art of Salsa dancing with some tips and demonstration.

Runtime: 1:45
74712 views
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Learn To Dance Salsa - Closed Position 

This video demonstrates the Salsa closed position

Learn to dance the basic step of Salsa in the closed position.

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Learn To Dance Salsa - Basic Turn 

Here is how you make a basic turn

This video shows you how to do a basic outside turn.

Salsa Dance Moves : The Hand Flip

http://addicted2salsa.com Well, we have another Lessons of Addicted2Salsa. Another shot at Hotel Fort Des Moines (Iowa for those who are wondering where we are from). We teach you a simple double-handed turn using the same principles as leading a right turn -- and then teach you a slick little combo for switching hands as a starter for any other combos you might learn in your life! Again, sorry for the low-budget filming (we do accept donations)!

Runtime: 2:43
188736 views
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Learn To Dance Salsa - Cross Body Lead 

This video demonstrates how to switch positions with a cross body lead

The cross body lead is used to switch places with your partner and the inside turn is added at the end to add a touch of elegance.

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Learn To Dance Salsa - Reverse Cross Body Lead 

An example of a reverse cross body lead

The reverse cross body lead is one of my strongest techniques and I use a much simpler version, but I really like the way this video demonstrates a reverse cross body lead. It is a little bit more advanced.

A 'reverse' Cross body lead

A reverse cross body, broken down, and a 360 with rev XBL as an example.

Runtime: 0:35
6635 views
4 Comments:

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Dance Salsa 

Where Did You Learn To Dance Salsa?

Share your Salsa dancing experience with us. Do you love Salsa music, or do you just love to dance?
Dance Salsa

anton55 wrote...

I've been dancing Salsa for about 10 years now.

ReplyPosted July 26, 2008

salsadance007 wrote...

Very cool, how long have you been dancing salsa for??

ReplyPosted June 05, 2008

 

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by anton55

Hello, my name is Anthony, and I have always wanted to learn to Dance Salsa so one day I just decided to do it. I went to Mexico and spent six months... (more)

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