Salsa Trivia | 40 facts about the popular dance

Salsa is one of the most popular dance, that originates from Latin Americans. Even though it comes from South America, Salsa is popular worldwide.

Let’s find out more about this popular dance!

1. Salsa is a Latin dance associated with the music genre of the same name.
2. The Salsa music is originated in Cuba during th 1910s.
3. The dance didn’t come about until the 1920s.
4. In the 1970s, salsa dancing got a big boost in popularity from Cuban & Puerto Rican musicians in New York, where it spread to the rest of the US.
5. The Salsa music gained popularity in the 1960s in New York City.
6. Salsa is an amalgamation of Puertorican, Dominican and Cuban dances that were popular in the ballrooms and nightclubs of San Juan and la Havana by the end of the 1950s, as well as American jazz dances.
7. It was primarily developed by Dominicans and Puerto Ricans living in New York in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
8. Different regions of Latin America and the United States have distinct salsa styles of their own. such as Cuban, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Cali Colombia, L.A. and New York styles.
9. Salsa dance socials are commonly held in nightclubs, bars, ballrooms, restaurants, and outside, especially when part of an outdoor festival.
10. The most popular Salsa dance type is the Cuban one.
11. This is why there is a common belief, that Salsa originates from Cuba.
12. In many styles of salsa dancing, as a dancer shifts their weight by stepping into the middle to have 50/50 weight, the upper body remains level and nearly unaffected by the weight changes. the movement rotates in a figure of eight to cause the hips to move.
13. Arm and shoulder movements are also incorporated.
14. Salsa’s tempo ranges from about 150 bpm (beats per minute) to around 250 bpm.
15. But most dancing is done to music somewhere between 160–220 bpm.
16. The basic Salsa dance rhythm consists of taking three steps for every four beats of music.
17. The odd number of steps creates the syncopation inherent to Salsa dancing and ensures that it takes eight beats of music to loop back to a new sequence of steps.
18. Johnny Pacheco founded Fania record label in the 1960s.
19. He gave the name “Salsa” to a blend of different influences, rhythms and styles of Latin music in New York City, especially in el Barrio, Spanish Harlem, and the Bronx.
20. Salsa means sauce.
21. This word represented son, guaguanco, son montuno, Jazz elements, Latin Jazz, Cuban influences.
22. Prior to that time, each style was recognized in its pure original form and name.
23. It evolved from forms such as Son, Son Montuno, cha cha cha, and Mambo which were popular in the Caribbean, Latin America and the Latino communities in New York since the 1940s.
24. Salsa, like most music genres and dance styles, has diversified through the years and incorporated elements of other Afro-Caribbean dances such as Pachanga created by johnny pacheco as well.
25. There is some controversy surrounding the origins of the word “salsa,” which has been ascribed to the dance since the mid-1800s.
26. Some claim that it was based on a cry shouted by musicians while they were playing their music.
27. On the other side, others believe that the term was created by record labels to better market their music.
28. They chose the word “salsa” because of its spicy and hot connotations.
29. Still, others believe the term came about because salsa dancing and music is a mixture of different styles, just like salsa or “sauce” in Latin American countries is a mixture of different ingredients.
30. Salsa dance socials are commonly held in night clubs, bars, ballrooms, restaurants, and outside, especially if part of an outdoor festival.
31. Salsa dancing is an international dance that can be found in most metropolitan cities in the world.
32. Festivals are held annually, often called a Salsa Congress, in various host cities aimed to attract variety of salsa dancers from other cities and countries.
33. The events bring dancers together to share their passion for the dance, build community, and to share moves and tips with each other.
34. These events usually include salsa dance performers, live salsa music, workshops, open dancing, and contests.
35. Salsa is an effective and fun form of cardio.
36. The movements being concentrated in the lower body make it a great workout for your hips, legs, and glutes.
37. Salsa as a dance is famous for the  swinging hip movement.
38. There are 2 main Salsa style danced around the world.
39. One is the Cuban style, and the other -and the most difficult- is the L.A. style.
40. Rueda, (which means a wheel in Spanish) is when  several couples form a circle and dance Salsa while there is a “leader” telling which preset combination to perform.