Cuban Salsa Dance

MUS 321
Amanda Herold
Origins of Salsa Music and Dance

The music and dance styles of salsa

developed simultaneously in the 1920s as
various musical styles such as Mambo,
African, and "Son Montuno" came
together on the island of Cuba.

Although technically originating in Cuba,

the salsa dance became extremely
popular outside of Cuba, including
locations such as New York, Los Angeles,
and Miami
Salsa Origin Tracking (Simplified)
 Styles of Salsa

• Cuban style / Casino: In Cuba, a popular dance known as Casino was marketed as Cuban-
style salsa or Salsa Cubana abroad to distinguish it from other salsa styles when the name
was popularized in the 1970s.
• Miami-style Casino: Developed by Cuban immigrants to Florida and centered on Miami.
The major difference of Miami-style from other North American styles is the "Atras" or
"Diagonal” (back breaking steps performed backwards diagonally instead of moving
forwards and backwards)
• New York Style: Developed by Cuban immigrants traveling to New York. This dance style
focuses on a forward-backward motion.
• LA Style: American influence. Focuses on forward-backward motion and cross-body lead
About Salsa Dance
• The basic salsa dance rhythm consists of taking
three steps for every four beats of music.
• The odd number of steps creates the inherent
syncopation to the Salsa dancing and ensures
that it takes 8 beats of music to loop back to a
new sequence of steps.
• **Different styles employ this syncopation
differently!
Salsa Music (w/ counting!!
Salsa – Basic
Steps! (LA
Style)
Let’s Dance!
Extra: Cross-Body Lead
Cross-Body Follower’s Footwork:
• (1,2,3): Regular back
Leader’s Footwork:
•1: Step with left towards the follower
Lead basic (regular step)
•2: Right foot shifts out to the side, pivot on
(Explained) • 5: Follower steps
forward with left foot the foot to come in perpendicular to the
follower’s frame
• 6: Follower steps
•3: Left foot next to right | finish the pivot
forward with right
from count 2 and end up outside the lady’s
foot
frame completely perpendicular to her
• 7: Follower pivots frame.
180 degrees over the •5: Check step (right foot almost in place)
left shoulder and
ends with left foot •6: Lift the left foot and move it pointing
next to the right. towards the left from the existing position
•7: Resolution (right foot finishes next to
left)
Cross-Body Lead (Reference)
Let’s Dance 2.0
For Next-Time
• Review LA
Style
• New York
Style
• Bring a song
to class!
References

• Ballilatini. 2014. “El Carnaval – Salsaloco De Cuba (Salsa Music). https://youtu.be/W8IpfSLCuls

• Ballilatini. 2014. “Montuno – Salsaloco De Cuba (Salsa Music). https://youtu.be/hij-KPbeka0
• Hill, Julia E. 2008. “The conjunto piano in 1940s Cuba: An analysis of the emergence of a distinctive
piano role and style.” School of Oriental and African Studies University of London.
• Salguero, Melissa. 2015. “The Music and Dance of Cuba”.
• Salsaventura. 2019. “Salsa Beginners 1 – Cross Body Lead for the Absolute Beginner – Detailed
Explanation” https://youtu.be/hl-S_ovXl0c
• Salsaventura. 2019. “Salsa Beginners 1 – Salsa Basic Step for the Absolute Beginner – Detailed
Explanation” https://youtu.be/wV8cDpJa2f4