Cuban Salsa, or Casino, is known for its vibrant energy and intricate movements. For those new to this dance style, understanding the role of the Dancing Shoulder is crucial. It’s a common area of focus, but often misunderstood, especially when learning from online videos. Let’s clarify how your shoulders should move in basic Cuban Salsa and how it differs from incorporated styles like Rumba and Afro-Cuban.
In the foundational steps of Cuban Salsa, the shoulder movement is more subtle than many beginners might expect. It’s not about forceful, isolated shoulder action. Instead, the movement is a natural consequence of weight transfer and body balance as you execute the steps. Think of it as a gentle sway or a relaxed counter-balance that arises organically from the rhythm and footwork. Peter Fige’s upper body example, mentioned in dance discussions, illustrates this subtlety perfectly – a natural, unforced movement that complements the steps without being exaggerated.
However, the waters get muddied when you start watching videos of advanced Cuban Salsa dancers. Many showcase a dynamic blend of styles, incorporating elements from Rumba and Afro-Cuban dances. These styles do feature more pronounced shoulder movements, including shakes and isolations, adding a distinct flavor and complexity to the dance. Dancers like Roly Maden, Alberto Valdes, and Maykel Fonts are masters of this fusion, seamlessly weaving Rumba and Afro-Cuban elements into their Salsa.
For example, you might see Roly Maden incorporating shoulder shakes intermittently within his Salsa. Alberto Valdes is renowned for his Rumba influence in Salsa Cubana, and Maykel Fonts frequently blends basic steps with both Rumba and Afro-Cuban movements, creating a captivating and expressive style. Even Eloy Leyva, while demonstrating cleaner basic steps, can subtly infuse Afro-Cuban nuances.
This is where confusion often arises for beginners. When learning the basic step, it’s essential to differentiate between the foundational movement and the stylistic embellishments. Watching these incredible dancers is inspiring, but trying to immediately replicate their blended styles can lead to misunderstanding the core technique. Beginners attempting to learn dancing shoulder techniques by mimicking these advanced videos might inadvertently adopt Rumba or Afro-Cuban styling before mastering the clean, natural basic step of Cuban Salsa.
Therefore, the advice for beginners focusing on dancing shoulder in Cuban Salsa is clear: first, master the clean and natural basic step. Understand how your shoulders move as a result of balance and weight shift. Then, once you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals, explore the rich world of Rumba and Afro-Cuban influences. Take Afro-Cuban classes if possible to truly understand these distinct styles. Only then can you consciously and effectively incorporate stylistic shoulder movements into your Cuban Salsa without compromising the integrity of the basic step. Start with subtlety, build a strong foundation, and then layer in the flair!
