Salsalogy Dance Academy

Salsa

Salsa is known as the street variation of the Mambo. Salsa dancing mixes African and European dance influences through the music and dance fusions that are the roots of Salsa: Son, Guaguancó, Rumba, Boogaloo, Pachanga, Guaracha, Plena, Bomba. Salsa is normally a partner dance, although there are recognized solo forms, line dancing (suelta), and Rueda de Casino where groups of couples exchange partners in a circle. Salsa can be improvised or performed with a set routine. The basic step of all styles of salsa involves 3 weight changes (or steps) in each 4 beat measure. The beat on which one does not step might contain a tap or kick, or just a pause. While dancing, the basic step can be modified significantly as part of the improvisation and stylings of the dancers, it characterizes by many turn combinations. The arms are used to communicate the lead in either open or closed position. Incorporating styling techniques into salsa has become very common. For both men and women shines, leg work, arm work, body movement, spins, body isolations, shoulder shimmies and rolls, and even hand styling have become a huge trend in the salsa scene.

Mambo

Mambo is a fast and spicy dance characterized by strong Cuban motion, staccato movement and expression of rhythm through the body. Mambo is really similar to Salsa, but there is a difference in the tempo and structure of the music and therefore there is a difference between the two dances in terms of technique and timing. Mambo is danced in 4/4 time (4 steps to a bar of music). In Mambo you don't move on the first beat but by not moving, its still counted as a step. Most teachers count the Mambo movement as quick-quick-slow but this can be confusing to the beginner. Its probably better to think of the movement as Step, Rock, Close and Pause. When you read the section on the basic movements, you will notice that there are only two movements where the foot actually moves (on count 2 and 4). Some teachers have replaced the Rock Step with a step in place to make it more intuitive for you to change weight.

Cha-Cha

Cha-Cha is probably the most popular social Latin dance in America. Cha-Cha began as a variation of the Mambo called triple Mambo. It was so easy and so much fun, it became the rage of the early 1950's. There are two flavors of Cha-Cha dance - Ballroom Cha-Cha and Latin Street Cha-Cha. The Cuban cha-cha-chá is more sensual and may involve complex polyrhythms. The cha-cha is a fun, fast-paced latin dance with an infectious rhythm. Partners hold each other in a closed position. The man holds the woman's waist with his right hand while keeping his left hand/her right hand at the woman's eye level. It consists of three quick steps (a triple step) with two slow steps. Slow-slow (1,2) quick-quick-quick (3 & 4). It is chock full of of fast hip action and quick spins and turns that make for a fun filled time on the dance floor.

Rumba

The Rumba was originally a marriage dance and is often called the "dance of love", distinguished by its romantic feel. The music and dance have a slow ballad tempo. Many of its movements and actions seem to have an erotic meaning. Therefore, this dance is great for proms and weddings. Partners hold each other in a closed position. The man holds the woman's waist with his right hand while keeping his left hand/her right hand at the woman's eye level. It is in 4/4 time. The characteristic feature is to take each step without initially placing the weight on that step. Steps are made with a slightly bent knee which, when straightened, causes the hips to sway from side to side in what has come to be known as "Cuban Motion." The Rumba is a pre-requisite for good Latin dancing, and helps sharpen your sense of rhythm, timing and muscle control.

Bachata

Bachata is a fun dance with origins in the Dominican Republic. The dance is a four-step beat achieved with a walking Cuban hip motion, and a unique "pop". The dance is performed both in open position and in closed position depending on the setting and mood of the partners. The male leads the female with subtle communication using pushing and pulling on the hands to guide the direction in which to move or to hint on upcoming turns. The female may also provide communication using her left hand to indicate whether she is comfortable or not dancing in a closed position. The basic dance sequence is a full 8 count in a side-to-side motion although, traditionally it was a back and forth motion. Counts 1 through 3 and 5 through 7, when taken, generate a natural hip motion. Counts 4 and 8, consists of a "pop" movement. The "pop" depending on a person's style is executed lifting or tapping a foot or using stylish footwork.

Merengue

Merengue is a simple, fun dance with origins in the Dominican Republic. The simple march tempo is easy to hear and feel, and lends itself to a spontaneous, improvisational style of dance. Learning Merengue is a good way to start familiarizing yourself with Cuban Motion, which is the way that your body moves in all the Latin dances. Partners hold each other in a closed position. The man holds the woman's waist with his right hand while keeping his left hand/her right hand at the woman's eye level. The merengue is a two-step beat requiring both partners to bend their knees slightly left and right. Partners may walk sideways or circle each other, in small steps. This easy-to-learn dance has many turn combination possibilities. There are mainly two flavors of Merengue dance, Ballroom Merengue and Club Merengue. Evolved from the more formal ballroom version, Club Merengue is a more erotic, suggestive way of dancing.

Night Club 2 also known as Nightclub two step

Nightclub Two Step is one of the most practical and versatile social dances ever conceived. It is a slow, romantic, floaty dance that features rock steps and long glides across the dance floor. It is frequently danced to mid-tempo ballads in 4/4 time that have a characteristic Quick-Quick-Slow beat. it has similar patterns to those found in Salsa, although the style of this dance is much slower and smoother. Its key characteristic is a rock step (5th position break) followed by a side step with a slight sway. The frame is relaxed somewhere between a Latin and Ballroom frame - similar to a Bolero frame with a little more distance between the partners.

Swing

Swing is an extremely adaptable social dance for many styles of music. Side step or a triple step (shuffle) followed by a rock step done to lively music is the fundamental pattern for this dance. Today it generally refers to the ballroom and night club version which is based on two slow and two quick counts or the slow and two quick counts of rhythm dances. Swing may be danced comfortably over a wide range of tempos. There are many forms of swing: East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Lindy, Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, etc. All of them originated in the 1920's with the Black community dancing Charleston and Lindy Hop to Jazz music.

East Coast Swing (Triple Time) is a happy, fun, upbeat dance. Distinguished by its bounce, rock step (back break), Swing hip motion and triple steps, East Coast Swing is also a non-progressive dance. The Swing frame is typically in Closed Promenade position with the leader's left hand at the waist level and the right hand is on the follower's left shoulder blade.

West Coast Swing is similar to East Coast Swing but it is usually danced to slower or medium tempo music, which allows dancers slower swing music which allows dancers to execute embellishments such as swivels, syncopation, and body rolls. WCS is smooth (no bounce) and danced in a slot. The dance allows room for syncopated footwork and improvisation. Followers have more freedom than any other dance, performing their syncopations at will. This dance also works well to blues and slow country western music.

Tango

Tango is a musical genre and its associated dance forms that originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay, and spread to the rest of the world soon after that. Today, there are many tango dance styles, including Argentine Tango, Uruguayan Tango, Ballroom tango (American and International styles), Finnish tango and vintage tangos. The dance developed in response to many cultural elements, such as the crowding of the venue and even the fashions in clothing. The styles are mostly danced in either open embrace, where lead and follow have space between their bodies, or close embrace, where the lead and follow connect either chest-to-chest (Argentine tango) or in the upper thigh, hip area (American and International tango). International Tango: This is a highly disciplined and distinctively structured form of the Tango which is accepted worldwide as the format for dance sport events. The dancers remain in traditional closed position throughout and expresses both legato and staccato aspects of the type of music appropriate to this style.

Waltz

Waltz is a smooth ballroom and folk dance, traveling around the line of dance. Waltz is characterized by elegant rise and fall and by sway on the side steps, ¾ time music and a 1-2-3 rhythm. The shoulders move smoothly, parallel with the floor, not up and down. The head should turn in the direction of the turn, otherwise the man's head is upright and looking over the right shoulder of the lady. The feet remain in contact with the floor at all times, creating a smooth, gliding look. Waltz is a progressive dance down the line of dance (counter-clockwise) and the Waltz frame is the typical Smooth frame essential for balance and control. Waltz has an elegant gracefulness with a romantic and sometimes sad, feel. The American Waltz is similar to the International style except it has both open and closed dance positions. This allows the American style dancer a unique freedom of expression, including the ability to showcase character and theatrical presentation.