What is salsa?
Tranlated from Spanish, salsa means sauce and it applies to both the dance and the music it is danced to. Originally a Cuban street dance, salsa is lively, fun and can be danced with a partner, in a group or individually.
Salsa dance and salsa music has drawn influence from South America, Cuba, La, New York and jazz. Different styles have evolved since those early days on the streets of Havana and they vary from a group dance called 'Rueda' to finely polish and elegant 'Mambo'. The music also varies from Latin sounds, African beats and more recently, jazz and R&B.
At Salsa Esencia the style we dance and teach is
called 'cross body' and the DJ plays a range of different types of salsa music
to listen and practice to. This allows dancers to not only learn the basic
steps and moves but in time they can add their own individuality and flare should
they wish to.
We also run workshops in other salsa styles and other Latin dances.
Check out fun, talented dancers at the amazing 2009 Mambo City London Congress. Susana and Gil are perfectly demonstrating a taste of social salsa dancing.