Salsa "On1"

Salsa is the most popular of all Latin dances! Its the perfect way to get fit,  meet a whole bunch of new people, gain confidence, de-stress, all while having lots of fun!

Salsa dancing has a huge social appeal. There is a salsa social/party or event on most days of the week for you to enjoy your new skill. This is the kind of exercise where fun prevails and burning calories is just the added bonus! The workout buddies are all there by default and ready to dance with you!

No partner required - no experience necessary! Our classes and courses can take you from complete Beginner through to dancing like a "Pro"! 5 levels to choose from, Beginners (level1), Beginners PLUS+ (level2), Improvers (level3), Intermed (level4), Advanced (level5).

Salsa courses are 4 or 8 weeks. However, to complete a level varies in length. Fundamental Beginners course (level 1) consist of (2) two 8 week coures. Beginners PLUS+ consists of (4) four 4 week courses, Improvers of (10) ten courses, intermediate is ongoing and so is advanced.

History

The history of "Salsa" dance is peppered with hearsay and contradiction. Although few would disagree that the music and dance forms originate largely in Cuban Son, most agree that Salsa as we know it today is a North American interpretation of the older forms. New York's Latino community had a vibrant musical and dancing scene throughout the '50s but found limited success with the 'Anglo' mainstream. In the 1970s, adoption of the term "Salsa" reduced the linguistic and cultural barriers to mainstream adoption of Latin music and dance.

The modernization of the Mambo in the 1950s was influential in shaping what would become salsa. There is debate as to whether the dance we call Salsa today originated in Cuba or Puerto Rico. Cuba's influence in North America was diminished after Castro's revolution and the ensuing trade embargo. New York's Latino community was largely Puerto-Rican. Salsa is one of the main dances in both Cuba and Puerto Rico and is known world-wide.

What is Salsa dancing?

The word "Salsa" means something different to everyone. It is a term that encompasses a number of different things such as Latin dancing, the music, the culture, the style and flair, etc. Salsa is very cross-cultural and has to be respected. Although many countries around the world listen to the same salsa music, everyone dances it differently. In some Latin American countries, people interpret the music in their own particular way and dance salsa using their own unique blend of regional steps, styling, and turn combinations.

Salsa dancing is unique because it can absorb so many steps from all other dances. A salsa dancer in Cuba may not dance the same way as a salsa dancer from Colombia or a salsa dancer from Mexico or New York, Los Angles or -Italy! Everyone dances to the same music, but they might not use the same steps! Different salsa dance styles have developed due to this and you will hear people talking about "LA style salsa on1", "NY style salsa on2", "Cuban salsa", "Colombian style salsa", "Puerto Rican style salsa" or even "London style salsa".

There is no "correct" text-book method on how to dance social salsa. What matters most is dancing to the rhythm of the music. Despite the differences in style, all who dance salsa obey the underlying 8-beat rhythm. For competition style salsa, each competition will have their own guide lines on what style of salsa is allowed. Having said that, at Latinissimo we have created the most structured and most comprehensive salsa curriculum we have ever come across. Our instructors follow this curriculum to make you the best salsa dancer you can be!

At LDS we teach the two linear styles - Salsa "on1" and Salsa "on2".