History of Salsa: Salsa music is a fusion of traditional African and Cuban and other Latin-American rhythms that traveled from the islands (Cuba and Puerto Rico) to New York during the migration, somewhere between the 1940s and the 1970s. New York created the term “salsa”, but it did not create the dance. Salsa is a combination of multiple roots and cultures as well as the creativity of many different people. This is where Salsa gets its name from; just like the sauce there are many different ingredients.
Salsa Description: Salsa is danced to music with a recurring eight-beat pattern. Salsa patterns typically use three steps during each four beats, one beat being skipped. You will dance on 1,2,3 pause on 4, dance on 5,6,7 pause on 8. However, this skipped beat is often marked by a tap, a kick, a flick, etc. Typically the music involves complicated percussion rhythms and is fast with around 180 beats per minute.
Merengue is sometimes called the national dance of the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic shares the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with its neighbor Haiti. Like most modern music, Merengue is fast and danced on all 4 beats of the music; (all 8 counts). In merengue you move on every beat.
Bachata is a dance from the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean islands. Both the music and the dance have been influenced by Cuban Bolero, the Merengue (also of Dominican Republic origin), Salsa and Cumbia. Bachata music has four beats per measure. In Bachata dancing, the dancer takes three steps to four beats of music. As with Salsa, the step timing is three steps and then a one-beat pause.
Class Format:
Warm-up: This is a set routine to warm-up the body before dancing. This routine involves stretching and familiarity with the beats in the music.
Instruction: Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and Cumbia steps will be explored. This is a segment of the class when different steps and timing of the music is taught. For Salsa, a quick, quick, slow pattern will be taught in many different directions. Turns and partner dancing will also be taught according to ability.
Choreography: This is a choreographed piece of Latin dance steps that you will learn. It consists of salsa steps and turns without a partner to learn the basic salsa steps with directional change.
Task: Students will learn a group choreographed Latin dance. Students will be assessed on their ability to perform a sequence of salsa dance set by the teacher both with and without cues and then perform original combinations consistent with the dance style. Students will show personal expression reflective of the dance style and will participate safely demonstrating appropriate personal and social behavior. Students will be given an opportunity to warm up and practice prior to the assessment.
Salsa Description: Salsa is danced to music with a recurring eight-beat pattern. Salsa patterns typically use three steps during each four beats, one beat being skipped. You will dance on 1,2,3 pause on 4, dance on 5,6,7 pause on 8. However, this skipped beat is often marked by a tap, a kick, a flick, etc. Typically the music involves complicated percussion rhythms and is fast with around 180 beats per minute.
Merengue is sometimes called the national dance of the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic shares the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with its neighbor Haiti. Like most modern music, Merengue is fast and danced on all 4 beats of the music; (all 8 counts). In merengue you move on every beat.
Bachata is a dance from the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean islands. Both the music and the dance have been influenced by Cuban Bolero, the Merengue (also of Dominican Republic origin), Salsa and Cumbia. Bachata music has four beats per measure. In Bachata dancing, the dancer takes three steps to four beats of music. As with Salsa, the step timing is three steps and then a one-beat pause.
Class Format:
Warm-up: This is a set routine to warm-up the body before dancing. This routine involves stretching and familiarity with the beats in the music.
Instruction: Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and Cumbia steps will be explored. This is a segment of the class when different steps and timing of the music is taught. For Salsa, a quick, quick, slow pattern will be taught in many different directions. Turns and partner dancing will also be taught according to ability.
Choreography: This is a choreographed piece of Latin dance steps that you will learn. It consists of salsa steps and turns without a partner to learn the basic salsa steps with directional change.
Task: Students will learn a group choreographed Latin dance. Students will be assessed on their ability to perform a sequence of salsa dance set by the teacher both with and without cues and then perform original combinations consistent with the dance style. Students will show personal expression reflective of the dance style and will participate safely demonstrating appropriate personal and social behavior. Students will be given an opportunity to warm up and practice prior to the assessment.
Latin Dance Study Guide | |
File Size: | 60 kb |
File Type: | doc |