Passionate salsa dancer in motion, highlighting the energy and movement of what is often considered a Latin dance, but this article explores its American roots.
If you’ve followed my previous articles on ten-dance.com, you might have noticed my subtle emphasis on the term “American salsa dancing” when discussing L.A. or N.Y. style salsa. You might also have wondered why I consciously avoid calling it “Latin salsa dancing” or simply “Latin Dance.” There’s a deliberate reason for this distinction, and that’s precisely what I aim to clarify in this piece.
The central argument I want to present is straightforward: salsa dancing, as it has proliferated across the globe, isn’t accurately described as a “Latin dance,” despite common perception and marketing. In fact, salsa dance, as we generally recognize it, is fundamentally an American dance form, originating from the United States.
Now, before you dismiss this as dance heresy, please hear me out. Keep reading, and you might discover a fresh perspective on a dance you thought you knew.
It’s a common scenario: someone tells their friends they dance salsa. If their friends are unfamiliar, the immediate explanation usually follows: “Salsa is a Latin dance.” Alternatively, if someone dances multiple styles—say, salsa, merengue, and bachata—they might describe themselves as dancing salsa and other Latin dances, implicitly categorizing salsa within the broader “Latin dance” repertoire.
However, unbeknownst to many, this categorization isn’t entirely accurate, particularly concerning the style of salsa dancing they are likely referring to. Salsa, in its globally recognized forms, diverges significantly from its Latin American dance relatives.
I recall vividly an encounter about four years ago when I first voiced this idea. To this day, the reaction of the person I spoke to underscores how deeply ingrained this misconception can be. This very experience motivated me to write this article: to articulate what I believe is a crucial, yet often overlooked, distinction.
The story unfolds at a restaurant hosting a “Latin Night” on a Saturday. After a few dances, I approached the bar for a drink. A Puerto Rican woman I knew approached me, expressing her admiration for my salsa dancing. I thanked her but gently corrected her, explaining that I danced casino, not salsa – a reflex correction by now. Knowing she was Puerto Rican, I inquired if she had learned salsa in Puerto Rico. She confirmed she had, within her family, but was eager to improve and was taking classes at a local dance academy. It was her second lesson. Knowing the academy specialized in L.A. style salsa, I remarked, “That’s great! But I’m sure what they’re teaching is quite different from how you danced in Puerto Rico.” She looked puzzled, asking, “What do you mean?” My turn to be surprised. I elaborated, “Well, you’re learning an American dance. L.A. style, Los Angeles style. It originated here, in the United States.”
Upon hearing this, a look of realization washed over her face, as if a mental switch had flipped. I could almost visualize a lightbulb illuminating above her head.
We continued our conversation, and I encouraged her to reminisce about her dance experiences in Puerto Rico. I discovered she wasn’t a dedicated social dancer in the club-going sense. Instead, her experience was rooted in informal family gatherings and celebrations, where she’d intuitively mimic basic steps from relatives. With this limited exposure to formal dance training, it became clear why she might struggle to differentiate between her Puerto Rican experiences and the L.A. style being taught at the academy after just two beginner lessons. She simply lacked the comparative framework to discern the nuances.
However, if you’re reading this blog, chances are you possess a more developed understanding of dance. So, let me offer you a glimpse into authentic Puerto Rican salsa dancing. Take a moment to watch this video (skip to 1:15 to see the dancing in action):
[Insert Puerto Rican Salsa Dance Video Here – Unfortunately, I cannot insert a video directly. You would need to find a suitable video and link it here in the final markdown.]
This video is insightful for several reasons: a) it authentically captures a Puerto Rican celebration, providing crucial cultural context; and b) it showcases how Puerto Ricans genuinely dance salsa in informal social settings (I’m referring to everyday people who learned on the island, not professional performers or workshop instructors who may have been influenced by American salsa styles or are catering specifically to an American salsa audience).
As you can observe, this style is markedly different from the salsa dancing you are likely familiar with – L.A. or N.Y. styles. They are vastly distinct dances, sharing only the foundational basic step footwork derived from the Cuban son. To further emphasize this point, watch a brief clip of dancers performing L.A. style salsa. You won’t need to watch beyond the first minute to recognize the stark visual differences.
[Insert L.A. Style Salsa Dance Video Here – Again, you would need to find and link a video.]
I began with Puerto Rico as an entry point due to its significant role in salsa music history. In the quest to pinpoint the “Latin” element in salsa dancing, exploring Puerto Rico first seemed a logical step.
The next logical destination would be Cuba, another country frequently mentioned in the salsa narrative. However, I’ve previously dedicated an entire blog post clarifying that Cubans primarily dance casino, not salsa. (You can read it here: [Link to your Casino vs Salsa post – Replace with the actual link]). Therefore, because Cuban casino, the prevalent dance form in Cuba, also visually differs from American salsa, our search for the “Latin” in salsa dancing must continue elsewhere.
Let’s turn to Colombia, another country commonly associated with salsa. Often, people assume a monolithic “Colombian style salsa,” picturing the incredibly rapid footwork popularized by dancers from Cali, Colombia. However, this “Cali-style” is specific to Cali. Conversations with Colombians from various cities reveal diverse salsa styles across the country. Nevertheless, “Cali-style” remains the most widely recognized Colombian salsa style internationally. Let’s examine a video of Cali-style salsa and compare it to the American salsa video we watched earlier.
[Insert Cali Style Salsa Dance Video Here – Find and link a video.]
Do you notice similarities? Perhaps some shared elements exist. However, structurally, they are not the same dance. Notably, Colombian salsa, even Cali style, does not adhere to the “slot” linear movement pattern taught in American and European salsa classes. In fact, Cali-style salsa shares more structural resemblance to Cuban casino than to American salsa.
So, we’ve explored Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Colombia, and the “Latin” element in globally popular salsa styles remains elusive.
Where, then, is the “Latin” in “Latin dance” as it pertains to salsa?
I argue that the “Latin” in salsa dancing is largely a construct, a marketing fantasy. Salsa dancing, as you know it – the styles taught in studios worldwide – isn’t intrinsically rooted in any single Latin American country. And why should it be? The very names of the popular styles – Los Angeles style and New York style – explicitly indicate their non-Latin American origins. These styles were developed in Los Angeles and New York City, firmly within the United States.
This is the core point I want to emphasize. This isn’t to say that salsa dancing doesn’t exist in Latin America. As demonstrated in the videos, distinct salsa dance forms thrive in Latin American countries. However, the way salsa is danced in Latin America differs significantly from the styles prevalent in the United States and subsequently disseminated globally. The key reason: salsa dancing, in its globally recognized forms, is fundamentally an American creation.
I keep emphasizing “salsa dancing, as you know it” because I’m assuming your dance experience aligns with the two most popular styles – Los Angeles style and New York style – as these are the most commonly taught. And, quite likely, you were taught that these were “Latin” dances.
The term “Latin” intrinsically refers to “the peoples or countries of Latin America” (Merriam-Webster definition). In this sense, one could argue that salsa has a “Latin” connection because the individuals who pioneered these styles in the United States were indeed Latino or of Latin-American descent. Consider the names often credited with shaping these American salsa styles: Alex Da Silva, Liz Lira, Francisco Vazquez, Eddie Torres, Pedro Aguilar (“Cuban Pete”), among others. I concur that this is where the “Latin” aspect of salsa lies. However, the “Latin” element in salsa, as you know it, should not be misconstrued as a direct, unaltered import from a specific Latin American country.
Salsa, as it’s globally understood, is a United States phenomenon. Therefore, labeling salsa as a “Latin” dance, when referring to the Los Angeles and New York styles, presents an incomplete picture. The American contribution to salsa dancing has been significantly understated, often overshadowed by a romanticized narrative emphasizing a “Latin” dance origin, a narrative that resonates strongly with American and European audiences. But salsa dancing, as it’s globally practiced, is arguably more “American” than “Latin.” Beyond its development in the US, the structural parallels with other American dances, such as West Coast Swing, are striking. Consider this West Coast Swing video:
[Insert West Coast Swing Dance Video Here – Find and link a video.]
In this West Coast Swing demonstration, the structural and conceptual borrowing by salsa dancing becomes evident. Even certain turn patterns are virtually identical. The primary distinction lies in the footwork and musicality. Yet, even with these differences, the West Coast Swing video shares more stylistic and structural commonalities with what you recognize as salsa dancing than any of the Latin American salsa videos we’ve examined.
So, returning to the initial question: Is salsa really a “Latin” dance? The answer, based on the evidence, is: No. Salsa, in its globally popular forms, is an American dance. It embodies American dance concepts, catering initially to an American audience, and subsequently expanding to Europe and other parts of the world, disseminating this American interpretation. While individuals of Latino or Latin-American descent played a crucial role in its development, they were not simply replicating a dance form directly transplanted from any single Latin American country. They were innovating and creating something new, something intrinsically American.
Some might counter that salsa dancing, as they know it, is indeed Latin because they observe people dancing similarly in some Latin American countries. While this is true to some extent, it’s not indicative of origin but rather a consequence of globalization. The United States’ cultural and economic influence facilitates the global dissemination of its cultural products, including dance styles. The presence of American salsa in Latin America is akin to finding McDonald’s in Venezuela, Starbucks in Colombia, and Coca-Cola products virtually everywhere. Ubiquity doesn’t equate to origin.
A parallel can be drawn with bachata. Bachata, originating from the Dominican Republic, has undergone significant transformation in the United States. This Americanized bachata has become so prevalent that instructors are now explicitly marketing “Dominican bachata” classes to emphasize a culturally authentic approach, distinct from the Americanized version often mistakenly perceived as the “real” bachata. The term “Dominican bachata,” while intended to clarify authenticity, unfortunately sometimes implies that it’s a niche offshoot of the more globally dominant Americanized version, when in fact, it’s the original form.
This is the crux of my argument: let’s not conflate the term “Latin dance,” often used to market an Americanized, romanticized, and easily digestible fantasy of Latin American culture (in this case, American salsa styles), with genuine dances originating from Latin America, such as tango, merengue, casino, diablada, joropo, cumbia, and countless others.
Salsa, as you likely know it in its Los Angeles or New York styles, is an American dance, not a Latin one. I hope this distinction is now as clear to you as it has been to me for years.
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