A Description of NY Style Salsa Dancing

Series Summary

Salsa is a Latin dance and musical style that was introduced to the United States during the Cuban and Puerto Rican immigration, between the 1940s and the 1970s. There is some debate as to the origins of salsa, but the rhythm is a fusion of traditional African and Cuban and other Latin-American rhythms, including the Mambo and the Rumba. Salsa dancing is one of the most popular dances worldwide, and because the rules of the dance allow for a lot of creative improvisation, many different styles have developed, including Miami style, Puerto Rican style, New York style, L.A. style and Cuban style.

In these free Latin dancing lessons on video, learn how to do beginner New York style Salsa dance steps and moves. Our expert dance instructors will explain how this style of salsa dancing is great for night clubs. You'll learn how to do basic salsa moves like the Valentino, under arm turns, cross body leads, transitional steps and more. Spice up your Saturday nights; learn how to salsa dance the easy way—for free!

Video Transcript

"On behalf of Expert Village my name is Talia Castro-Pozo and I am Jules Helm. We are here in New York City at stepping out studios teaching you nightclub salsa. Nightclub salsa is one of the most popular styles in New York City. It accents the second and the sixth beat of the music. Basically Salsa music is written in eight counts. So when you dance nightclub style Salsa or Salsa On Two. You accent the second and the sixth beat. We will be trying to do that. In New York there is an immense a huge dance scene and in the world people dance in different rythyms. Like in Cuba and Mexico and South America people dance on the one beat. First beat of the music and the third beat of the music. But in New York dancing on two is very popular. Deriving from the fifties the Paladium Night Club Salsa, Salsa On Two is very popular in the club scene. And it accents also a rythym called La Clarre which like I said before accents the second beat and the sixth beat of the music and it's danced in a slot. So basically that means you will continue to do the movement front and back as opposed to in circles. "