Salsa is a dynamic partner dance that corresponds to salsa music, though it is also performed solo. The term “salsa” translates to “sauce” in Spanish, symbolizing the dance’s flavorful blend of cultural influences and styles.

Origins and Etymology

The term “salsa” was gradually adopted by dancers over several decades. One of the earliest instances was Ignacio Piñeiro’s 1933 composition “Échale Salsita,” dedicated to an old African man selling butifarras in Matanzas. The song’s chorus exclaims, “¡Salsaaaa! Échale salsita, échale salsita.” In the early 1950s, DJ “Bigote” Escalona introduced dance tracks with the phrase, “the following rhythm contains Salsa.” Eventually, Celia Cruz was crowned the “Queen of Salsa” by New York’s Spanish-speaking community.

Salsa music is a fusion of traditional African and Cuban rhythms, evolving through the migration from Cuba and Puerto Rico to New York between the 1940s and 1970s. Salsa dance is the name given to dances that are danced to salsa music, and it incorporates elements from Cuban son, mambo, cha-cha, guaracha, changuí, rumba, and even swing dances. For a deeper dive into salsa’s history, visit the History of Salsa Dance article.

Musical Structure and Dance Patterns

Salsa music typically follows an eight-beat pattern, divided into two bars of four beats. Dancers usually execute three steps over four beats, often marking the skipped beat with a tap, kick, or flick. The music is characterized by complex percussion rhythms and a tempo around 180 beats per minute.

Salsa is primarily a slot or spot dance, meaning couples occupy a fixed area on the dance floor, unlike traveling dances like foxtrot or samba. Solo salsa dancing is also common, especially during shines.

Basic Steps

The fundamental movement in salsa involves stepping on the beat of the music, grouped in pairs of 4-beat patterns counted “1-2-3-…-5-6-7-…”. Leaders typically start on count 1 with the left foot, while followers start with the right foot. Each step involves a full weight transfer.

The basic step usually refers to a forward-backward motion. On counts 1-3, the leader steps forward, replaces weight, and steps back. On counts 5-7, they step backward, replace weight, and step forward. The follower mirrors these movements.

Variants of the basic step, often called breaks, include:

  • Forward break: Step forward, replace, in-place (counts 1-3 or 5-7).
  • Back break: Step backward, replace, in-place (counts 1-3 or 5-7).
  • Side break: Step sideways, replace, in-place (counts 1-3 or 5-7).

Timing: On One and On Two

Salsa danced starting on the first beat is known as “On One.” If the first step occurs on count 2, it’s called “On Two.” The “On Two” timing aligns more closely with the clave rhythm, a fundamental pattern in salsa music. Preferences for timing often depend on the style initially learned by the dancer.

For more on timing differences, see this article on the Difference Between Mambo and Salsa.

Styles of Salsa

Salsa encompasses various styles, each with unique characteristics. Below are brief descriptions of major recognizable styles:

Cuban Style (Casino)

Developed in Cuba since the 1950s, Cuban-style salsa, or Casino, can be danced “On One” or “a contratiempo” (often referred to as “On Two”). A key element is the “Guapea” step, where the leader performs a backward basic on counts 1-3 and a forward basic on counts 5-7, with the follower mirroring the movement. This style often involves circular movements and partner exchanges, especially in Rueda de Casino, where multiple couples form a circle and execute moves called out by a leader.

Colombian Style

Common in Latin American countries, Colombian style features intricate footwork and is typically danced in place. It stems from Cuban style but often involves fewer turns. In regions like Cali, Colombia, salsa is danced with minimal or no turns, emphasizing rapid foot movements.

Los Angeles Style (On One)

Developed between 1999 and 2002, LA style is influenced by Hollywood, swing, and mambo dances, making it the most flashy style. It is danced “On One” and features a forward/backward basic and the cross-body lead. This style is known for its dramatic flair and is considered “more show than dance” by some.

New York Style (Eddie Torres Style)

New York style combines “On One” and “On Two” systems, with steps on counts 1-3 and 5-7, but breaks occurring on counts 2 and 6. Developed by instructor Eddie Torres in the late 70s and 80s, this style emphasizes rhythm and smoothness, incorporating influences from mambo, ballet, jazz, tap, and modern dance.

Power 2 / Palladium 2 / Ballroom Mambo

This style is similar to LA style but danced “On Two,” with basic step timing on counts 2-4 and 6-8, and breaks on counts 2 and 6. Although also known as dancing “En Clave,” this term doesn’t imply strict adherence to the clave rhythm but rather indicates breaking on the second beat of the measure.

On Clave

This traditional form aligns steps with the 2-3 or 3-2 clave pattern. For example, in the 2-3 clave, the leader steps forward with the left foot on count 2 and with the right foot on count 3, then completes the basic on counts 5-8, synchronizing with the clave on counts 5 and 8. It’s less common outside some Latin countries.

Puerto Rican Style

This style can be danced “On One” or “On Two.” When danced “On Two,” it always starts on count 2, not count 6 as in some New York styles. Puerto Rico hosts a Salsa Congress where global salsa groups perform, showcasing this style’s elegance and sophistication.

Rueda de Casino

Developed in Havana, Cuba, in the 1950s, Rueda de Casino involves pairs of dancers forming a circle (rueda) and executing moves called out by a leader. Many moves involve rapidly swapping partners, making it a lively and communal dance form.

Shines

While salsa is primarily a partner dance, advanced dancers often incorporate shines—solo footwork sequences that showcase individual style and musicality. These improvisational breaks, which can be standard or unique, are typically performed during the mambo sections of a tune but can occur whenever appropriate. The term “shine” is believed to have originated from 1950s New York tap dancers, where a solo freestyle move was considered their “moment to shine.”

For more insights into salsa dancing, explore these articles on Salsa Dancing Facts and Salsa Steps.