Salsa Cubana

The Salsa as we know it today, evolved from the Cuban Son into a mixture of dance styles one of which we call Salsa Cubana. Although there are different flavors of the Salsa – of which the most well-known are: the Salsa Cubana, The New-York style and the LA style, the Salsa Cubana is the style with most of the African-Cuban dance movements and authentic Son influence still present. The styles evolved in the United States tend to have more European classical dance styles as a predominant base and are more tailored for Europeans to dance to.

This does not necessarily mean that one style is better than the other, although the contemporary Salsa Cubana offers more freedom in its dance and evolves rapidly with influences of new Cuban Salsa Music trends (Timba) and also new Afro-Urban dance styles known today (e.g. Reggaeton - derived from Jamaican dancehall styles, Hip-Hop, but also the more traditional African-Cuban dance styles).

The primary difference between the Salsa Cubana and the US Salsa dance styles (NY & LA), is the freedom and circular movements in dancing the Salsa Cubana - compared to the US Salsa styles that tend to predominantly dance in straight lines. The Salsa Cubana also lends itself for dancing contra tiempo (on two instead of the one and somewhat comparable to the New-York style) or on the one (like in the L.A. style) and even on the three (the bass). And because of its flexibility, also possible with more than one dance partner simultaneously - applicable to both men and women. Finally, the Salsa Cubana is the first Salsa dance style that incorporates dancing in groups of dance partners - the Casino de Rueda, where it is possible to dance this in basic form with any other Salsa Cubana dance couples worldwide (whether you know them or not!).

Source Salsayanek

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