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Short History of Salsa Dance

Updated: Oct 7, 2023

Salsa is a popular dance and musical genre that originated in the Caribbean in the late 1960s. It is a fusion of various Latin and Afro-Caribbean styles, including Cuban son, cha-cha-cha, and mambo, as well as American jazz and rhythm and blues.




The city of Santiago de Cuba, precisely, is where salsa first appeared in Cuba's eastern provinces. Early in the 20th century, Cuban musicians started fusing American jazz and blues with their indigenous music, resulting in the birth of a new musical style called "son." It didn't take long for this new musical genre to catch on in Cuba before spreading to other Caribbean nations like Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.




In the 1950s, a new dance style known as cha-cha-cha emerged in Cuba, combining elements of both son and mambo, another popular dance and musical genre that originated in Cuba in the 1930s. Cha-cha-cha quickly gained popularity in Cuba and Puerto Rico, and by the 1960s, it had spread to the United States, where it was embraced by New York City's Latino community.


In the late 60s, a group of musicians in NewYork City, began incorporating elements of Jazz, R&B and other styles to Cha-cha to create a new, distinct sound. This new genre, which became known as salsa, quickly gained popularity in the Latino community and spread to other parts of the United States and the rest of the world.


Salsa is now a widely recognized dancing style and musical genre that appeals to people of all ages and socioeconomic levels. It is renowned for its vibrant, vivacious rhythms and for placing a significant focus on improvisation and teamwork between dancers and musicians. This lively and dynamic genre is sure to have you moving and having fun, whether you are an experienced salsa dancer or you are just getting started.


You can now learn Salsa Partner Dance in Singapore easily by joining a class at Caliente Dance Studio in Singapore.

Simply sign up for a trial class and get a change to experience the fun



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