Salsa Dance Classes

Salsa is a true nightclub dance that fits onto small crowded floors & is a real must for latin social dancing.

Salsa history

Salsa is the Spanish word for "sauce" denoting a spicy or hot flavour. As a dance, it can be danced to a variety of different rhythms. Generically, Salsa music encompasses many Afro-Latin rhythms driven by the clave (two wooden sticks struck together). Today's Salsa is the result of many years of rhythmical evolution due to economical, social and political change. Salsa is the national music and dance of Puerto Rico. Many of the Salsa dance patterns are closely related to those of the Mambo.

Salsa music

In 1933 Cuban songwriter Ignacio Piniero wrote the song, Echale Salsita (throw on some sauce) after tasting food which lacked the Cuban spices. But it wasn't until 1962 when Jimmy Sabater's tune, Salsa y Bembe suggested the dancers liven it up or spice it up by adding a little "salsa" (sauce) to their movement when they danced.

Salsa characteristics

Danced to four beats using only three steps, each step being a beat long, the remaining beat is used as a tag to the last step or perhaps an adorning (tap, kick or pause) movement called a highlight. Steps can be travelling or on the spot.

Watch the Salsa!

Arthur Murray students having fun dancing the Salsa at the annual Destination Unknown.