Latin dance has seen an incredible surge in global popularity, becoming a vibrant and captivating art form enjoyed worldwide. Rooted primarily in South America and the Caribbean, Hispanic dances have transcended geographical boundaries, captivating audiences and participants alike, even surpassing the traditional appeal of American and European partner dances.
For those new to this exciting world, the sheer variety of Hispanic dance styles can be both exhilarating and a little daunting. To help navigate this rich landscape, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to various Types Of Hispanic Dances, complete with detailed descriptions and engaging videos for each style.
By the end of this exploration, you’ll have a solid understanding of the diverse types of Hispanic dances available, empowering you to discover the perfect style to ignite your passion and get you moving!
A Guide to Hispanic Dance Styles
Hispanic Social Dances: These are types of Hispanic dances primarily enjoyed in social settings, embodying the communal and celebratory spirit of Latin culture:
Salsa Bachata Argentine Tango Merengue Cumbia Quebradita Mambo Zouk Kizomba Pachanga Latin Hustle Baile Folklorico Bomba Plena Son Danzón
Hispanic Ballroom Dances: These types of Hispanic dances are recognized in the competitive world of dancesport, showcasing precision and artistry:
Cha Cha Cha Samba Rumba Paso Doble Jive
Hispanic Dance FAQs Common questions about Hispanic dances answered.
Salsa: The King of Social Hispanic Dance
Salsa stands as the undisputed most popular type of Hispanic dance globally. It’s also recognized as the most popular partnered dance worldwide, boasting vibrant dance communities and schools in virtually every major city across continents.
Alt text: Dynamic salsa dancers showcasing vibrant energy and connection in a social Hispanic dance setting.
Originating in the United States in the 1960s, salsa is a true product of the Hispanic diaspora, primarily developed by Puerto Rican and Cuban communities in New York City. This dynamic dance style and its captivating music draw heavily from a rich tapestry of earlier Hispanic dances, including mambo, cha cha, son, and Latin hustle.
Salsa is celebrated for its joyful, flirtatious, and high-energy movements. While known for its upbeat nature, salsa music also encompasses slower, more romantic rhythms, offering versatility in expression. Furthermore, the world of salsa dance is incredibly diverse, encompassing various distinct salsa styles, ensuring a style to resonate with every dancer’s preference.
The diverse styles of salsa dancing include:
Salsa’s primary domain is social dancing, with countless clubs and studios hosting lively salsa nights. Performance also holds a significant place in the salsa world, with numerous festivals worldwide attracting dancers to showcase choreographed routines. Prestigious international salsa competitions further elevate the art form, providing a platform for dancers to compete and demonstrate their mastery.
Bachata: Sensual and Romantic Hispanic Dance
Bachata is another exceptionally popular type of Hispanic dance, experiencing remarkable growth in recent years, particularly captivating a younger generation of dancers.
Hailing from the Dominican Republic, bachata is renowned for its typically slower tempo and more sensual character compared to salsa (explore the differences between salsa and bachata). This romantic essence makes it a favorite for couples and those seeking a more intimate dance experience.
Similar to salsa, bachata encompasses several distinct styles. The primary variations include Dominican or Traditional bachata, characterized by intricate footwork and simpler turns; Sensual bachata, emphasizing fluid body movements and sensual techniques; and Urban Bachata or Bachata Fusion, which blends bachata with elements from other styles like hip hop.
Bachata dancing is readily found in many of the same venues that host salsa events, reflecting its close ties to the salsa scene. Bachata’s soaring popularity has led to the emergence of dedicated festivals and events focused solely on celebrating this captivating Hispanic dance style.
Argentine Tango: Passionate Hispanic Dance from Argentina
Argentine Tango is a deeply passionate and dramatic type of Hispanic dance originating from Buenos Aires, Argentina, with historical influences tracing back to Spain and Cuba.
Tango is significantly shaped by traditional European ballroom dances, characterized by an upright posture and a close, intimate connection between partners, with less emphasis on pronounced hip movements compared to some other Hispanic dances. Tango has cultivated a reputation for its intensity and passionate expression, with many iconic and dramatic poses and holds (such as the featured image of this article) being hallmarks of tango’s visual language.
While typically danced at a slower pace than salsa, Argentine tango incorporates sharp flicks and kicks that can inject bursts of rapid movement and dynamism.
Tango is enjoyed socially at gatherings called “milongas” and is also a highly respected performance art, frequently showcased on stages worldwide.
Merengue: Energetic Hispanic Dance from the Dominican Republic
Merengue, like bachata, is a lively social dance with roots in the Dominican Republic—in fact, it proudly holds the title of the national dance of the Dominican Republic! This vibrant type of Hispanic dance embodies the joyful spirit of Dominican culture.
Merengue shares similarities with bachata, featuring side-to-side movements and engaging hip action. However, merengue music generally boasts a faster tempo than bachata, contributing to merengue’s reputation as a fun, high-energy dance, contrasting with bachata’s sensual ambiance.
Merengue is particularly beloved within the Hispanic American community, especially among Mexicans and Dominicans. It is a common feature in Latin dance clubs, though it is less frequently seen at salsa-centric socials or festivals.
Merengue is considered easier to learn compared to many other Hispanic American dances, and many merengue enthusiasts acquire their skills informally, learning by observing and participating in the dance.
Cumbia: Circular Hispanic Dance from Colombia
Cumbia is a captivating South American dance style originating from Colombia. This type of Hispanic dance has gained widespread popularity throughout Latin America, particularly in Mexico and Peru, becoming a unifying element in Hispanic culture.
Cumbia is danced in a distinctive circular pattern. The basic step is characterized by a small kick followed by a rock step, exhibiting some resemblance to East Coast Swing, albeit with a distinct Latin flavor.
Cumbia shares some stylistic connections with Colombian style salsa, which was significantly influenced by cumbia’s foundational rhythms and movements. However, cumbia is danced at a considerably slower pace than its salsa counterpart.
Similar to merengue, cumbia is often learned informally, rarely being a formal subject in dance schools. It may occasionally be taught in nightclubs, but most dancers learn by observation and immersion in the dance community.
Quebradita: Acrobatic Hispanic Dance from Mexico
Quebradita is an exhilarating, high-energy partner dance originating from Mexico. This type of Hispanic dance is renowned for its incredibly dynamic nature, with dancers executing impressive acrobatic lifts and tricks, pushing the boundaries of partner dance.
Quebradita enjoyed a wave of popularity in Los Angeles during the 1990s. However, it remains a relatively niche dance style, primarily concentrated within the Mexican community and among dedicated enthusiasts.
Due to the demanding athleticism required from both the lead and follow in quebradita, it is less commonly danced in casual social settings. Quebradita competitions showcase couples vying to outdo each other with increasingly complex and daring tricks and lifts. Quebradita elements are also sometimes incorporated into dance performances, adding a spectacular visual dimension.
Mambo: The Influential Hispanic Dance from Cuba
Mambo is a term that can encompass several different Hispanic dance styles, adding a layer of complexity (explore the mambo vs salsa distinctions).
Mambo’s origins trace back to Cuba in the 1940s, gaining significant popularity in New York City, particularly at the legendary Palladium Ballroom. This influential type of Hispanic dance drew inspiration from earlier Cuban dance styles like son and danzón, evolving within the vibrant and active dance scene of NYC.
Traditional mambo is less frequently danced today in its purest form. However, mambo played a direct and crucial role in the creation of salsa, which inherited many of its foundational moves and stylistic elements. In fact, New York-style salsa is sometimes referred to as “mambo” because the break step occurs on the second beat of the music, a characteristic feature of mambo.
There’s a growing trend of incorporating traditional mambo styling into salsa dancing as a tribute to salsa’s roots. Prominent dancers like Eddie Torres, Adolfo Indacochea and Benny & Brandon Ayala are actively reviving and championing the mambo style, ensuring its legacy continues to inspire.
The term “mambo” also appears in the Ballroom Dance world, where, confusingly, it is used to refer to Salsa On1, adding another layer of nuance to its meaning.
Zouk: Brazilian Dance with Hispanic Influences
Brazilian Zouk is a captivating dance style that emerged in Brazil in the 1990s. While originating in Brazil, Zouk has become integrated into many Hispanic dance scenes and shares some cultural and stylistic connections. It evolved from an earlier Brazilian dance called Lambada.
Zouk is characterized by its emphasis on connection, dynamic movements, and captivating off-axis turns. This type of dance is typically danced to Zouk music, but also embraces contemporary music genres such as hip hop and pop, expanding its musical landscape.
Zouk has witnessed a surge in popularity in recent years, with many salsa and bachata festivals incorporating zouk workshops and dance sessions into their programs. There are also numerous festivals and events specifically dedicated to Brazilian Zouk dancing, highlighting its growing global appeal.
Zouk is enjoyed both socially and in performance and competition settings. Jack & Jill competitions, where dancers are randomly paired with different partners for each round, are particularly popular within the Zouk community, fostering social interaction and improvisation skills.
Kizomba: Angolan Dance Embraced in Hispanic Dance Scenes
Kizomba technically originates from Angola in Africa, not Latin America, making it not strictly a Hispanic dance in origin. However, kizomba has become widely embraced within many Hispanic dance scenes in recent years and is frequently danced at Latin dance socials and festivals, demonstrating the interconnectedness of global dance cultures.
Kizomba is a slow and sensual dance, sharing some stylistic similarities with tango, and evolved from an earlier Angolan dance form called semba. Its intimate nature and rhythmic flow have resonated strongly with dancers in Hispanic communities.
Due to its slower, more intimate character, kizomba is primarily danced in social settings, with kizomba performances being relatively rare.
A variation called urban kiz has gained traction in recent years, retaining kizomba’s core characteristics but incorporating elements from hip hop and other contemporary dance styles, reflecting ongoing evolution within the dance form.
Pachanga: Cuban Dance with Bouncy Movements
Pachanga is a vibrant Hispanic dance style and music genre originating from Cuba in the 1950s.
Pachanga is defined by a distinctive bouncing movement generated by the bending and straightening of the knees. It also incorporates gliding and sliding steps, adding to its playful and rhythmic character.
This type of Hispanic dance reached peak popularity in the 1950s, spreading to New York City alongside mambo and becoming a fixture at the Palladium ballroom. It experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years, championed by Eddie Torres. Pachanga has now become a staple element in salsa dance shines (solo dance sequences), adding a touch of vintage Cuban flair.
Latin Hustle: New York Hispanic Fusion Dance
Latin Hustle (also known as New York hustle) is a dynamic dance form that emerged in New York City, drawing inspiration from dance styles like West Coast Swing and salsa. This fusion reflects the diverse influences within the Hispanic dance community in New York.
Created by Puerto Rican teenagers in the 1970s, Latin hustle has both influenced and been influenced by salsa dancing, showcasing the cross-pollination of dance styles within the Hispanic dance scene.
While hustle’s popularity has waned in many Latin dance circles, it is still taught and danced in some ballroom studios, preserving its legacy. Latin dance competitions, such as the World Salsa Summit, have also included Latin hustle as a category in recent competitions, indicating a renewed interest in this unique Hispanic fusion dance.
Baile Folklorico: Traditional Hispanic Folk Dances
Baile folklórico is an umbrella term encompassing a vast array of folkloric dances originating from Latin America. This category represents the deep cultural roots and diverse traditions within Hispanic communities. Many folkloric dances are primarily performed within their country, region, or even city of origin, reflecting their strong ties to local identity.
Some baile folklórico traditions predate the arrival of the Spanish in South America, rooted in the ancient dances of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Others represent a fusion of Native American and Spanish cultural influences, showcasing the complex history of the region.
Perhaps the most widely recognized forms of baile folklórico come from Mexico. Numerous Mexican folkloric dances are performed both in Mexico and the United States, maintaining cultural connections across borders.
Mexican folkloric dance is visually striking, known for the elaborate and vibrant costumes, including flowing dresses worn by women and large sombreros worn by men. The dances often narrate stories of courtship and community, incorporating elements of both solo and partnered dancing. Tap-dancing steps are also frequently integrated into the dance vocabulary, adding rhythmic complexity.
Numerous distinct styles of baile folklórico originate from Mexico, including:
- Jarabe Tapatío from Jalisco
- Danza de los Viejitos from Michoacán
- Danza del Venado from Sonora
- La Bamba from Veracruz
- Danza de los concheros
For deeper exploration of these styles, refer to this article dedicated to traditional Mexican folk dances.
Many other South American countries boast their own unique folkloric dance traditions, including Brazil, Panama, Argentina, Honduras, and Colombia.
Colombia, in particular, is rich in traditional dances that have expanded beyond their local origins, including Champeta, Cumbia, Joropo, Mapale, and Vallenato, demonstrating the vibrant diversity of Hispanic folk dance expressions.
Alt text: Mexican Baile Folklorico dancers in colorful traditional attire performing a vibrant Hispanic folk dance routine.
Bomba: Puerto Rican Dance with African Roots
Bomba is a powerful Latin American dance and musical genre originating in Puerto Rico. This type of Hispanic dance was primarily developed by enslaved Africans brought to the island, reflecting the profound African influence on Latin American culture.
Bomba, like many other Hispanic American dance styles, blends traditional African dance elements with Spanish and indigenous influences, creating a unique cultural synthesis. Bomba shares stylistic and visual similarities with Afro-Cuban dances like guaguanco, both in movement vocabulary and costume.
While bomba is less frequently danced outside of Puerto Rico, its influence can be detected in salsa dancing. Salsa music’s origins are deeply intertwined with Puerto Rican musical traditions developed in New York, carrying echoes of bomba’s rhythmic and movement heritage.
Plena: Puerto Rican Folkloric Hispanic Dance
Plena is another significant Latin American dance style originating in Puerto Rico. This type of Hispanic dance is deeply rooted in Puerto Rican folk traditions.
Plena was significantly influenced by bomba, sharing many similarities with bomba and Afro-Cuban dances. Plena is also a folkloric dance, exhibiting resemblances to other folkloric traditions like baile folklórico.
Like most folkloric dances, plena is primarily performed in cultural showcases and performances today, rather than being a common social dance floor style. Plena is rarely seen danced outside of Puerto Rico, preserving its strong connection to its place of origin.
Son: Cuban Hispanic Dance Precursor to Salsa
Son, often referred to as “Cuban son,” is a historically significant dance and musical genre originating in Cuba in the early 1900s. This type of Hispanic dance played a pivotal role in shaping many subsequent Afro-Cuban dances, including Cuban salsa.
The basic step in son involves dancers breaking back on the second beat of the music, a rhythmic pattern similar to Salsa On2. This rhythmic foundation highlights son’s influence on later salsa styles.
Son Cubano is rarely danced socially today outside of cultural performances in Cuba. However, many salsa dancers incorporate steps and styling elements from son into their dancing, acknowledging its historical importance and rich movement vocabulary.
Danzón: Elegant Cuban Hispanic Dance
Danzón is another elegant musical genre and Hispanic dance style that developed in Cuba. This type of Hispanic dance is known for its refined and graceful character.
Danzón is a slow, partnered dance, often compared to the foxtrot in its tempo and elegance. It is less commonly danced today outside of Cuba, but it exerted a significant early influence on other partner dances originating in Cuba, such as cha cha cha and mambo. Danzón represents a sophisticated chapter in the history of Cuban Hispanic dance.
Hispanic Ballroom Dances
In the ballroom dance world, a distinct category exists called International Latin American Dance. Within International Latin competitions, dancers showcase their skills in five specific dances: cha cha cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive. These represent a selection of Hispanic and Hispanic-influenced dances adapted for the competitive ballroom stage.
Cha Cha Cha: Playful Cuban Hispanic Ballroom Dance
The cha-cha-cha, or simply cha cha, is a lively musical style and dance that originated in Havana, Cuba, in the 1950s. This playful type of Hispanic ballroom dance gained international popularity in the US and worldwide around 1955, during the “cha cha cha craze.”
The dance’s name is onomatopoeic, derived from the rhythmic sound created by dancers’ shoes as they execute three quick shuffling steps.
Cha cha is one of the five core dances featured in ballroom dance competitions within the International Latin American Dance category. Its inclusion underscores its significance in the ballroom world and its Hispanic origins.
Cha cha is also enjoyed socially at Latin dance events. Many salsa socials incorporate occasional cha cha songs into their playlists, reflecting the stylistic connections between salsa and cha cha. Many steps and turn patterns in cha cha are directly analogous to salsa, but executed at a slower tempo, with the characteristic cha-cha-cha step integrated between musical measures.
Samba: Brazilian Hispanic Ballroom Dance Extravaganza
Samba is a vibrant musical genre and dance originating in Brazil in the early 20th century. This energetic type of Hispanic ballroom dance is celebrated for its incredibly fast footwork and dynamic hip movements, embodying the exuberant spirit of Brazilian culture. Samba is a central feature of the Carnaval festival in Brazil, showcasing its cultural significance. Some Colombian salsa dancers also incorporate samba elements into their salsa styling, demonstrating cross-cultural dance influences.
Samba is also recognized as a distinct ballroom dance style, inspired by Brazilian samba. Ballroom samba retains some elements of Brazilian samba but is highly stylized to fit the conventions of ballroom dance technique. Ballroom samba is a partnered dance form, whereas traditional Brazilian samba is often danced solo or in groups.
Both Brazilian samba and ballroom samba are primarily performed in shows and competitions, rather than being common social dances.
Rumba: Sensuous Cuban Hispanic Ballroom Dance
Rumba (also spelled “rhumba”) is a term encompassing a range of Hispanic American dances, particularly those with Afro-Caribbean roots.
The term “rumba” itself translates to “party” in Spanish. It serves as an umbrella term for several Afro-Caribbean dances developed in Cuba, such as guaguanco, yambú, and columbia. These dances are often categorized as “Afro-Cuban rumba,” emphasizing their strong African musical and dance influences.
Rumba is also a designated dance category in International Latin ballroom dance competitions. Ballroom rumba bears limited resemblance to Afro-Cuban rumba. It could be described as a slow-motion salsa in its partnered form and evolved from an earlier Cuban dance style called “bolero-son.” Ballroom rumba further divides into two styles: American style, danced on1, and International style, danced on2, adding further nuance to its variations.
Paso Doble: Spanish Inspired Hispanic Ballroom Dance
Paso doble or pasodoble translates from Spanish as “double step.” This fast-paced dance is a component of the International Latin category within ballroom dance. While the precise origins remain debated, paso doble is generally believed to have originated in France, drawing inspiration from the dramatic spectacle of Spanish bullfights. This type of Hispanic ballroom dance captures the essence of Spanish flair within the Latin dance category.
Paso doble is almost exclusively performed in ballroom dancesport competitions and is not typically danced socially. Paso doble is renowned for its rapid tempo and dramatic, theatrical presentation, evoking the passion and intensity of flamenco and bullfighting traditions.
Jive: Swinging Ballroom Dance in Hispanic Latin Category
Jive, while included in the International Latin category in ballroom dance, is not strictly a Hispanic American dance in origin. It emerged in the United States, influenced by swing dance and other American folk dance styles. Its inclusion in the Latin category reflects the ballroom dance world’s categorization system rather than jive’s cultural roots.
Jive is characterized by its fast tempo and bouncy, energetic steps, sharing similarities with lindy hop in its lively character.
Jive is now predominantly danced within the ballroom dance world as a competitive dance form, showcasing its energetic style and technical demands within the Hispanic Latin dance context of competitions.
Hispanic Dance FAQs
What are the top 5 Hispanic dances?
The top 5 most popular Hispanic dances, ranked by popularity, are: salsa, bachata, cha cha, merengue, and cumbia. These represent some of the most widely enjoyed and accessible types of Hispanic dances.
What are the five Hispanic dances in dancesport?
The five dances comprising the Latin dance category in ballroom dancesport competitions are cha cha cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive. It’s important to note that while categorized as “Latin,” jive’s origins are not Hispanic.
What are the hardest Hispanic dances?
The Hispanic dances generally considered most challenging are often the fastest and most technically demanding. These include salsa (especially Colombian salsa), Brazilian samba, and Jive. Slower Hispanic dances that present difficulty due to their technical nuances and intricacies are Argentine tango and Latin hustle.
What are the modern Hispanic dances?
Some of the more contemporary and evolving Hispanic dances include salsa, bachata (particularly sensual bachata), kizomba, zouk, and reggaeton. These styles reflect ongoing innovation and fusion within Hispanic dance culture.
What is the most sensual Hispanic dance?
The Hispanic dances often perceived as the most sensual are sensual bachata, kizomba, zouk, and Argentinian tango. These dances emphasize connection, fluidity, and emotive expression, contributing to their sensual character.
This comprehensive guide offers an overview of the diverse world of Hispanic dance styles! From the social energy of salsa and bachata to the ballroom elegance of paso doble and the folkloric richness of plena, we hope you now have a clearer understanding of the many types of Hispanic dances available. This knowledge will empower you to explore and discover the Hispanic dance styles that resonate most with you. Let us know in the comments if we’ve missed any of your favorite Hispanic dances or if you have any further questions!
