Salsa dancing has become increasingly popular over the last ten years, but the origins date back to as early as the 1950’s- 70’s. The music fuses a number of Cuban styles, particularly the son, but also draws from a number of other Latin American musical styles including Cha Cha and Rumba. Salsa in dance is an 8 beat phrase, dancing on 3 beats, pausing on one beat, then dancing on the next three beats, pausing on the last. On the pause normally a flourish is utilised, kicking out a foot or some other kind of embellishment. Dancers normally rely on the smooth and subtle movements of there legs, using rather their upper body and core shoulder and torso areas to convey the energy of the dance.

Salsa is danced differently all over the world. There are no rules in Salsa dancing, yet there are standard techniques that each Salsa style has, where ever it is danced. Cuban style Salsa fuses more body isoloation and rotational partner work, whereas L.A. Salsa is more linear and has more finesse and techniques within the style.

Shines are also another part of Salsa dancing where people get to dance solo during their social dancing and flaunt their talent. It is here that the dance becomes even more improvised through body isolations, quick foot movements and “call and response” between dancers.  

Links for more salsa dance defenitions:

http://en.wikipedia.org

http://www.salsamagazine.com/generic5.html

Originally known as the Cha-Cha-Cha. Became popular about 1954. Cha Cha is an offshoot of the Mambo. In the slow Mambo tempo, there was a distinct sound in the music that people began dancing to, calling the step the "Triple" Mambo. Eventually it evolved into a separate dance, known today as the Cha Cha.

The dance consists of three quick steps (triple step or cha cha cha) and two slower steps on the one beat and two beat.

Merengue is the official national dance of the Dominican Republic. Since surfacing around the mid 1950's it was evident that the Merengue was here to stay.

Characteristics of the Merengue include strong hip action and "limp" like action steps, performed close to your dance partner for exotic dancing effect. The dance is performed at a rapid speed, control and connection being very important.

Its uncomplicated timing in "common time" makes it an easy dance to learn, dancing on the beat, moving from side to side. The typical dance or motion of the Merengue is a close-hold with your partner, moving clockwise or anticlockwise, in which couples never seperate.

Come to Salsa Australia and try the Merengue, you will be hooked!

Links for more interpretations of the Merengue:

http://www.mindspring.com/~adiascar/musica/merhst-e.htm

http://www.centralhome.com/BALLROOMCOUNTRY/merengue.htm

http://www.salsa-merengue.co.uk/

http://www.geocities.com/sd_au/merengue/sdhmerengue.htm