Cuban Salsa

I know the Salsa that Salsajay dance to is not Cuban but it's never wrong to learn more about the origins of Salsa. Right Jeamie? This is written to help expose the curious and the newbies to the history and the world of Salsa.

The Cuban Salsa - Extracted from BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing"

History

Salsa is still relatively new compared to other Latin-American dances, such as the Cha Cha or the Samba, and as such is still in the process of evolving.

Cuban Salsa is the most original form of Salsa - other forms include 'Mambo', 'Modern Salsa', 'New York Salsa' or 'Colombian Salsa'. These were later forms, all based on the original Cuban Salsa. They came from Cubans who immigrated to New York and mixed Salsa with elements of Rock and Roll.

One of the main differences between Cuban Salsa and the New York Mambo style is that in the Cuban Salsa dancers move around the floor and around each other in a circular motion. In the Mambo everything is much more linear, with the dancers moving from front to back in a straight line.

Cuban Salsa was a response to the development of traditional music. In the early twentieth century a variety of new instruments, like the bongos, double bass, cow-bells and most importantly the claves, were introduced to Cuba.

This meant the emergence of a new sound - originally called 'Cuban Son'. The defining feature of this new sound was that the beat of the claves held the music together.

Dancers feet began to mirror the rhythm of the claves, and Cuban Salsa was born.

How routines should look

Salsa means 'Sauce', so the dancers should depict a very hot and spicy interaction with each other! It is a dance of courtship.

Dancers should give as much importance to eye contact, and flirtations between each other as they do to performing to the audience.

The overall look of the Cuban Salsa should be sensuous, sexy and fluid, with the dancers moving around each other in circular movements.

Cuban Salsa should be danced on the ball of the foot, never on a flat foot.

Steps should be kept small at all times.

Drops and lifts are permitted - but should be delicate and subtle. Cuban Salsa is all about the lead looking after his lady, so flinging her around in some dangerous lift above the head is not in keeping with the character of the dance…

We should see plenty of interweaving dance moves - legs and arms often interlock and the dancer's bodies often seem as if they're becoming one.

Cuban Salsa is danced ON the beat - the couple typically begin to move on either the first or fourth beats.

Although couples can break away and dance individually, there should be contact between the man and woman for most of the routine.

But breakaways do happen - normally at the start, or more commonly in the middle of a routine.

As mentioned above - Cuban Salsa is a dance about courtship and all this entails. That means that a lot of the movements are representative of the man trying to flirt with the woman, with the woman playing hard to get.

Props are often used to achieve this - a scarf is one of the most popular, although sometimes a hat is used.

What routines should include

Cuban Salsa basic is a four-step pattern taken during four beats of music, in a tap, step, step, step rhythm.

The Hold
When in close hold, dancers should perform with a proud, toned, erect poise, with the man's left hand, and the lady's right hand held quite high at eye level. Couples can hold hands in the normal way, with the lady's hand placed in the man's - or the man can hold the lady's wrist.

The man's right hand folds neatly around the ladies waist, and the lady's left hand folds around the man's neck or back.

Cuban Motion
Cuban motion is essential in the characterisation of any Latin dance, especially Cuban Salsa. It is used throughout all the basic steps.

Cuban motion is all about weight transference between the legs. As weight is transferred to and from each leg, the hips should move in the opposite direction; so step left, hip right. However, good Cuban Motion is not just about swivelling hips. The movement should originate from the centre of the body, and therefore the shoulders, ribs, hips and knees should naturally move to the rhythm of the music. The key to good Cuban Motion is to make it look effortless!

Open Break
An Open Break is sometimes taught as the first step in Salsa. It simply amounts to an 'opening out' of the hips from a close contact hold.

Cucaracha
Cucaracha is the Spanish word for cockroach, and in dance are often known as a 'second position break'. It's a basic figure consisting of side breaks to the left and right. The Cucaracha is essential in establishing the rhythm and timing of Cuban Salsa.

Rumba
This is a vital element of the Cuban Salsa - it sets it aside from the more modern forms, and introduces the 'flirting' element of the dance. It's a move in which the man and woman dance apart - the man trying to attract the woman, the woman playing hard to get...

The man is almost bent over, moving every part of his body with a light bounce. His upper and lower body should move in opposite directions. The woman has more of an upright poise, moving with less bounce, and more swing.

Salsa turns
Salsa turns are also known as 'Changing Places'. They are a simple but essential move in which the man and the lady continuously change places. They are circular movements that use plenty of intricate arm work.

Tornelio
A signature move in which the woman holds the man's hand and spins him around while he squats on one leg.

The Chair
A signature move in which the woman literally sits on the man's right thigh.

Underarm Turn Right or 'Alemana Turn'
This move is usually danced from, and back to, close hold but can be used in an infinite variety of ways depending on the ability of the dancer. The man releases hold with his right hand, raises his left arm and then simply turns the woman under his raised arm bringing her back to close hold again.