Last night at a salsa event, something unexpected happened – I stumbled upon Lambada. In the middle of the lively salsa dancing, a short Lambada lesson was introduced. Intrigued, I joined in, even having the chance to dance with the instructor and some fellow students afterward. What immediately struck me was the surprising similarity between Lambada and my own salsa style. As a Cuban salsa dancer, I naturally incorporate a noticeable ‘rocking basic step’ and frequently use three-step side steps, moving rhythmically from side to side. The repeating turn move, where you guide the partner halfway through a turn, return, and then lead through again, is also a staple in my dance repertoire. To my surprise, many of these elements are also present in Lambada Dance.
During a chat with the Lambada teacher after the lesson, she suggested that my salsa background would make learning Lambada quite easy. I’m genuinely excited about this possibility. The Lambada style resonates with me, especially its resemblance to Colombian salsa, which I’ve also been drawn to. Both emphasize footwork and rhythm, perhaps even more so than intricate turns and spins that are common in other salsa styles.
In my experience dancing with on1 and on2 salsa followers, I sometimes feel my dance style isn’t always a perfect match. There’s often an unspoken expectation for complex spins and turns, and I sense a slight disconnect when I focus on more rhythmic movements like side steps or the rocking basic step. It’s as if those foundational rhythms aren’t always what they are truly looking for in a salsa dance. However, dancing with the Lambada dancers was different. They possessed a wonderful ‘rocking’ rhythm that I instantly connected with. It makes me wonder if others who have explored Lambada, or similar dance styles, have also found ways to integrate these influences into their salsa dancing. The experience has definitely opened my eyes to a new dance dimension and the exciting prospect of blending Lambada’s vibrant energy with my existing salsa foundation.
