Dance Styles

There are as many Salsa dance styles as there are people dancing! This is because Salsa is a "free-style" or "street dance". It is free and spontaneous with no set routine to follow or reference standard. Once upon a time, all you needed were a few basic moves and the rest was following the music with your heart! Since then, Salsa has absorbed many other dance forms to become a more sophisticated dance.

Although it still remains free-style, many distinctive Salsa styles have developed in different parts of the world. Between all these lies a huge repertoire of moves and turn patterns. Each carries a different interpretation of the Salsa rhythm, together, forming an impressive plethora of artistic creativity. Each also have distinctive foot work and turn patterns. Some of the main styles are:

L A. Salsa - the main style we teach

As the name implies, Los Angeles, USA has spawned it's own characteristic style of Salsa, popularised by well known dancers like Josie Neglia, the Vasque brothers and the Salsa Brava dance troupe. LA style is exciting, elegant and sensual incorporating suave "shine" footwork. It's one of the most popular Salsa styles around the world today, with regular appearances of high profile LA style performers at huge Salsa events like the annual World Salsa Congress & Bacardi Festivals.

New York Style Salsa

New York gave birth to a unique style of Salsa dancing. Along with LA style, it is one of the most popular styles that can be seen around the world, from London to Japan, Italy to San Francisco. In clubs, classes and stage shows, the influence of New York style Salsa is everywhere. Just ask anyone who has been to some of the biggest Salsa events like the Bacardi Festival in Puerto Rico, or the West Coast Salsa Congress in L.A. They will tell you that many of the shows are strongly influenced by New York style Salsa.

Cuban Salsa

Cuban Salsa is also known as "Casino Salsa" (from which came "Casino Rueda"). The dance moves are characterized by complicated arm movements.

For some unknown genetic reasons, Cubans seems to be born with super flexible joints to do all these difficult maneuvers! Somehow many of their turns seem to defy body geometry! Just as you think that a particular move must be impossible, they'll come up with something that is even more complex! Not only will all the intertwining tunnels and twisting bodywork dazzle you, you'll also be impressed by their rhythmic body movements as well.