Salsa Styles:- New York Style , LA Style, Cuban Style. They are all here.

I've always been intrigued by all the different styles of Salsa. You go to the clubs and you see someone dancing a certain style and you say 'I would like to dance like that'.Then you see someone else dancing equally as well but his style seems somewhat different and you say 'What the hell is going on here?

Well there are various styles of Salsa which explains this difference. You may be dancing a certain style of Salsa say Cuban "On One" Style which you might well have done in your classes and at the clubs. This Page will introduce you to all the different styles.

After reading this you might like to explore some of the classes (if there are any) in your area and eventually you may find that you may prefer a certain style over the style that you started with.

The biggest benefit of learning different Salsa Styles is that you can dance with anyone and it solves the mystery of why you may be dancing out of step with a fellow dancer.

OK. Shall we begin?

There are many characteristics that may identify a style.

There may be different step patterns, different timing of steps, particular movement on the dance floor (eg: slot, circular), dancer preference of turns and moves, attitude and others.

The presence of one or more of particular elements does not necessarily define a particular style.

For example, many Salsa Styles can be danced "On One" or one style may be danced "On One" or "On Two".

The following are brief descriptions of major "recognizable" styles.

Cuban-style salsa is "On One". An essential element is the "cuba step" (also known as Guapea), where the leader does a backward basic on 1-2-3 and a forward basic on 5-6-7. The follower does the same, thereby mirroring the leader's movement. Another characteristic of this style is that in many patterns the leader and follower circle around each other.

The cross body lead is an essential step in this Salsa Style too and is referred to as Dile que no. The LA style is a later derivative of this, the difference again being that the dancers rotate a quarter turn around one another in the process.

This move also becomes essential in the more complex derivative of Cuban Casino leading to the many moves of Rueda, or wheel dance. Here multiple couples exchange partners and carry out moves synchronised by a caller.

This style is common in Latin-American countries. The leader and follower do most of the movements while standing in place.

It stems from the Cuban style. As such in many patterns the leader and follower turn around each other.

The two essential elements of this dance are the forward/backward basic as described above, and the cross-body lead. In this pattern, the leader steps forward on 1, steps to the right on 2-3 while turning 90 degrees counter-clockwise (facing to the left).

The follower then steps forward on 5-6, and turns on 7-8, while the leader makes another 90 degrees counter-clockwise. After these 8 counts, the leader and follower have exchanged their positions.

LA style salsa is also known to be the most flashy style commonly danced. The Vazquez brothers are widely credited with developing the LA style of salsa. Luis still teaches in LA.

The "NY Style" is a combination of the "On 1" and "On 2" systems. The timing of the steps are on the 1-2-3,5-6-7 as in "On 1" but the breaks (where the body changes direction) occur on the 2 and 6 as in "On 2".

NY instructor Eddie Torres developed this step pattern around the late 70's and the 80's and it's definition is quite clear since he is still alive and his followers are keen to keep the style intact.

This Salsa Style is similar to Los-Angeles style, but it is danced "On Two". The basic step timing is 2-3-4,6-7-8 with the breaks on 2 and 6.

It is important to note that although this Salsa Style is also known as dancing "En Clave", the name is not implying that the step timing should follow the rhythm of the Clave as in 2-3 or 3-2. It only means that you take the first step (and break) on the second beat of the measure.

This does indeed follow the 2-3 or 3-2 pattern of the clave, e.g. for the 2-3 clave the leader steps forward with the left on 2 and with the right on 3, then does the other 4 steps of the basic on 5-8 (synchronizing with the clave on 5 and 8).

It's a traditional form and it's less known/used outside some Latin countries.

This Salsa Style can be danced as "On One" or "On Two". If danced as "On Two", it is always danced on count 2, and not on count 6 as in Ladies-style NY.

In the 1950s Salsa Rueda (Rueda de Casino) was developed in Havana, Cuba. Pairs of dancers form a circle (Rueda in Spanish), with dance moves called out by one person. Many of the moves involve rapidly swapping partners.

Normally Salsa is a partner dance, danced in a handhold. However advanced dancers always include shines, which are basically "show-offs" and involve fancy footwork and body actions, danced in separation or in solo mode.

They are supposed to be improvisational breaks, but there are a huge number of "standard" shines. Also, they fit best during the mambo sections of the tune, but they may be danced whenever the dancers feel appropriate.

They are a good recovery trick when the connection or beat is lost during a complicated move, or simply to catch the breath.
That's all for now on Salsa Styles.

All the different Salsa Styles.

It may seem very confusing. However take a look at some of the videos or of these dances online (coming soon) and if you like what you see try some of the classes. You may find that you prefer a certain Salsa Style to all the others.

So you not only look good but feel good as well.

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