Dance Styles

Salsa

Salsa is Flavour and Spice. African slaves brought their rhythms to the Caribbean, mixed with the Indian, European melodies, Spanish lyrics and gave birth to Latin music. In America, the influence of Jazz was incorporated, and Salsa was born!

Mambo

Mambo originated in Haiti, and was introduced to the West in 1948 by Prado. The word “Mambo” is the name of a Voodoo priestess in the religion from Africa. Most of the movements emphasize the second beat in the measure, suggestive of the clave rhythm. The clave is fundamental to Mambo music. The fusion of Swing and Cuban music created a new dance. The Victor records of Anselmo Sacaras entitled “Mambo” in 1944 were probably the beginning and since then other Latin American bandleaders such as Tito Rodriguez, Pupi Campo, Tito Puente, Machito et al have furthered the Mambo. Originally, it was played as any Rumba with a riff ending. It may be described as a riff or a Rumba with emphasis on the fourth beat 4/4' time. There are three forms of Mambo: single, double, and triple.

Rueda de Casino

Rueda de Casino (Rueda, Casino Rueda,) developed in Havana, Cuba in the 1960s by the famous group, Guaracheros de Regla. One of its main choreographers and creators was Jorge Alfar from San Miguel del Padron. Pairs of dancers form a circle, with dance moves called out by one person, a caller. The names of the moves are mostly in Spanish.

Merengue

The dance of the Dominican Republic is 2/4 time with syncopation of the first beat interpreted by the dancers as a slight limp. Origins are still disputed and traced to the second half of 18th century. It became popular in the late 1950's. Merengue is often played in Salsa clubs.

Cha Cha Cha

The Cha-cha-cha is a Latin American dance and style of music derived from the rumba and mambo in 4/4 meter. The term “cha-cha” comes from Haiti, where it referred to a part of a bell which made a “cha-cha” noise when it was rubbed.
Cha-cha-cha emerged in the 1950's as a slower tempo Mambo. Originating from the various night clubs, the Mambo underwent a number of changes. The scraping and shuffling sounds during the mambo tripling produced the sound of Cha Cha Cha. This then became a dance in itself. Mambo, triple Mambo or Cha Cha as it is now called, is a fusion of progressive American and Latin music.

Bachata

Bachata is a popular dance from the Dominican Republic. While Bachata is based on the bolero rhythm, bachateros have traditionally included other kinds of music like son, Merengue, vals and ranchera in their repertoires. The first Bachata recognized as such was recorded in 1961 by Jose Manuel Calderon.

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