| Salsa dancing has a very distinct dance style. It has a | | | | turns, which are carefully synchronized with the |
| pattern step style encompassing six steps that are | | | | strategic side stepping of the dancer. |
| danced over eight counts in a musical beat. | | | | Although the countries I just mentioned have helped |
| Salsa is the combination of many cultural genres | | | | influence salsa dance and music, several other |
| including Afro-Caribbean and Latin sounds. | | | | countries have also influenced it like Columbia, Puerto |
| Although the exact origin of salsa cannot be | | | | Rico the Dominican, Mexico and several other Latin |
| interpreted, many believe that Cubans created this | | | | American countries. |
| explosive dance style that has won the world over. It | | | | Many bands from these countries took their music to |
| is in this place where Contra-Danze or "country dance" | | | | Mexico City during the famous film era and then later |
| of England and France later known as Danzon that | | | | brought their musical style to New York where it |
| was brought over by the French who had fled from | | | | started a movement through cultures that had never |
| Haiti. Their experience with the French music traditions | | | | heard this unique style of music, or seen this magical |
| and the distinctive drum beat influences of Rhumbas | | | | and explosive dance style. New York picked up salsa |
| of Africa and partner dance style helped influence the | | | | music and dance almost instantly which helped to |
| development of the very distinctive salsa style of | | | | promote the salsa movement but New York was also |
| music and dance that we are all familiar with today. | | | | the city that coined it as "salsa". |
| However, regardless of who originally founded salsa, | | | | If you listen to salsa music carefully, you will hear |
| it's collaborative cultural flavor of Afro-Caribbean and | | | | influences of Merengue, Cha Cha, Mambo and several |
| Latin influences have been successful in making it one | | | | other Latin American and African musical styles. You'll |
| of the most popular dance and music styles | | | | hear many of the classic old-styles built into the salsa |
| recognized all over the world. | | | | rhythms. |
| Salsa dance moves are very distinct. Salsa moves | | | | Salsa's evolution has been explosive and only |
| more from side to side, putting much emphasis on | | | | continues to evolve! |