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This is just a very brief summary on the background of some of the Latin Dances that we have performed (in some cases many years ago..-;) - now being focussed on Brazilian Zouk) and/or that have been influential on our dance style - one of the others (not described closer here) obviously being LatinBallroom. SalsaSalsa steps currently being danced to salsa music come from the son, but were influenced by many other Cuban dances such as Mambo, Cha cha cha, Guaracha, Changuí, Palo Monte, Rumba, Abakuá, Comparsa and sometimes Mozambique. For both men and women incorporating styling techniqes such as 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. Hip hop, jazz, flamenco, belly dancing, ballroom, break-dancing/pop and rock, Afro Cuban folkloric dances,..are all applied in the art of styling. Like with other dances, dance styles are often associated with their original geographic area that developed that style. There are often devotees of each of these styles outside of their home territory. Characteristics that may identify a style include: foot patterns, body rolls, movements, turns, the way that partners hold each other, the beat chosen to dance the break step,.... Some of the most well known styles are:
Rueda, developed in Havana Cuba, danced with one person calling out moves and many others dancing in a circle swapping partners to that. Cumbia, mainly danced in Central and South America, can be danced to Salsa or Cumbia music. Cali, mostly danced in Cali, Colombia.
Tango ArgentinoArgentine Tango originated in Argentina and Uruguay. Ballroom Tango is a later derivation of this dance. As many dances, Argentine Tango consists of a variety of styles which developed in different regions and eras. Even though the present forms developed in Argentina and Uruguay, they were also exposed to influences reimported from Europe and North America. There are records of 18th and early 19th century tango styles in Cuba and Spain while there is a flamenco tango dance that may share a common ancestor in a minuet-style European dance. Consequently there is a good deal of confusion and overlap between the styles as they are now danced - and fusions continue to evolve. Argentine tango is danced in an embrace that can vary from very open, in which leader and follower connect at arms length, to very closed, in which the connection is chest-to-chest, or anywhere in between. Close embrace is often associated with the more traditional styles, while open embrace leaves room for many of the embellishments and figures that are associated with 'Tango Nuevo'. Argentine Tango relies heavily on improvisation; although certain patterns of movement have been codified by instructors over the years as a device to instruct dancers, there is no "basic step." Musicality (i.e. dancing appropriately to the emotion and speed of a Tango) is an extremely important element of this dance too. A good dancer is one who makes you see the music. SambaThe Samba music rhythm has been danced in Brazil since its inception in the late 19th century. Its origins include the Maxixe. Importantly, there is actually ‘a set’ of dances, rather than a single dance, that define the Samba dancing scene in Brazil. Thus, no one dance can be claimed with certainty as the "original" Samba style. Another major stream of the Samba dance besides the Brazilian Samba dancing styles is Ballroom Samba which differs significantly. The internationally most famous and well known Samba style is Samba no pé. However, in Brazil Samba Axé is just as popular, if not even more. Other common types of Samba mostly danced in Brazil are Samba de Gafieira and Samba Pagode. Samba no pé |
