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Salsa Research Paper

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Salsa Research Paper
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17th June 2008

Salsa – as a dance, its history and culture

Salsa refers to a fusion of informal dance styles having roots in the Caribbean especially famous in Cuba and Puerto Rico, Latin and North America. The dance originated through the mixture of a variety of dance forms like Mambo, Danzón, Guaguancó, Cuban Son, and other typical Cuban dance forms. Salsa is danced to Salsa music. There is a strong African influence in the music as well as the dance.

Derived from the Spanish word for "sauce," the dance is aptly named for the flavor or "spicy" technique upon which it actually centers upon (Bachata Crazy.com). With room
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Salsa dance is eventually designed for a world where leg and arm work with mesmerizing body movements give rise to passionate emotions and at the same time tend to be equally romantic. Salsa dance is actually a partner dance which is usually danced to salsa music.

“The history of the Latin popular music known worldwide as “salsa” began centuries ago in the islands of the Spanish Caribbean, in a context of slavery and colonialism. Yet, it is inextricably tied to twentieth-century New York City and the growth of a thriving Latino community here. Its distinctive polyrhythm and vocal and instrumental call-and-response identify the Afro-Caribbean roots of Latin music –traditional and contemporary, sacred and secular (Salsaweb.com)”.

“Over the years, the sounds of salsa and the steps of the dance migrated to the U.S. as early as the 40s, where further cultivation took place in the New York City Latin population during the 1960 and 70s. Cuban and Puerto Rican communities throughout Latin America and the United States are responsible for shaping most of the steps we see today. The culture surrounding salsa also takes cues from the styles of mambo and rumba. The typical instruments accompanying salsa dance includes the thumping of congas, blaring trumpets, cowbells, timbales, and claves (Bachata

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