Guerilla Salsa Blog

A Blog dedicated to the Dallas Salsa,Mambo & Bachata Scene

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Phases of Salsa Addiction----

Posted by DJ Colombiano at 10:44 PM

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About Me

DJ Colombiano: Dallas, TX; GUE·RIL·LA SAL·SA:[guh-ril-uh][sahl-sah]-A style of salsa/mambo tailored for the congress/social dancer.Can be identified with rare mambo gems,guaguanco,latin jazz,Global Salsa tunes,current and classic swinging salsa grooves.-Origin:Dallas,Tx USA

I am a DJ based out of Dallas,Tx.I have been DJing and collecting music for 16 years.I grew up listening to a wide range of music, which I believe has helped me develop a unique ear as a DJ.I have found myself in an exciting place of growth and feel blessed to have the support of talented dancers,performers,instructors, and genuine individuals.I've created this Blog to help keep you up to date on some new music,events and happenings in the Dallas Salsa,Mambo and Bachata Scene.Dallas has been experiencing exciting growth and interest in Salsa,Mambo and Bachata.I hope this blog may also help educate and unite those who share the passion for Latin Dance.Thank you for visiting my blog and allowing me to share my passion with you.To contact me about bookings,music,venues,where to take dance classes,or any other questions,please email me at deejay_colombiano@yahoo.com.See you on the dancefloor!

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Popular Styles of Salsa Dance

New York style (On2)

New York style is danced in a line. However, unlike LA style, it is danced on the second beat of the music ("on 2"), and the follower steps forward on the first measure of the music, not the leader.

Though he did not create New York style salsa, Eddie Torres is credited with popularizing it, and for having the follower step forward on the first beat.

New York style salsa emphasizes harmony with the percussive instruments in salsa music, such as the congas, timbales, and cowbell, since many or all of those instruments often mark the second beat in the music.

Los Angeles style (On1)

L.A. style is danced on 1, in a slot, with a measure of easiness and adaptability to it. It is strongly influenced by the Mambo, Swing, Argentine Tango and Latin Ballroom dancing styles. L.A. style places strong emphasis on sensuousness, theatricality, aerobics and musicality. The lifts, stunts and aerial works of today's salsa shows are derived mostly from L.A. Style forms with origins in Latin Ballroom and Ballet lifts.

The two essential elements of this dance are the forward–backward basic as described above and the cross-body lead. In this pattern, the leader steps forward on 1, steps to the right on 2-3 while turning 90 degrees counter-clockwise (facing to the left), leaving the slot open. The follower then steps straight forward on 5-6 and turns on 7-8, while the leader makes another 90 degrees counter-clockwise and slightly forward, coming back into the slot. After these 8 counts, the leader and follower have exchanged their positions.

The L.A. style as it is known today was pioneered by Albert Torres, Laura Canellias and Joe Cassini rightfully deserve much of the credit for the early development and growth of L.A. Style Salsa. Later, such dancers as Alex Da Silva, Edie Lewis, Joby Martinez, Josie Neglia, Liz Rojas, Francisco Vazquez and Janette Valenzuela are often credited with developing the L.A. style of Salsa Dancing as we know it today.

Rueda De Casino

In the 1950s Salsa Rueda or more accurately Rueda de Casino was developed in Havana, Cuba. Pairs of dancers form a circle ("Rueda" in Spanish means "Wheel"), with dance moves called out by one person. Many of the moves involve rapidly swapping partners.

"Rueda de Cuba" is original type of Rueda, originating from Cuba. It is not as formal as Rueda de Miami and consists of about 30 calls. It was codified in the 1970s.

"Rueda de Miami" originated in the 1980s from Miami, is a formal style with many rules based on a mix, and is a hybridization of Rueda de Cuba & Los Angeles-style Salsa and dance routines that reflect American culture (e.g. Coca-cola, Dedo, Adios) which is not found in the traditional Cuban-style Rueda.

Colombian / Cali Style

Cali-Style Salsa, also known as Colombian Salsa, is based on geographical location of the Colombian City of Cali. Cali is also known as the "Capital de la Salsa" (World's Salsa Capital); due to salsa music being the main genre in parties, nightclubs and festivals in the 21st century.

The elements of Cali-Style Salsa were strongly influenced by dances done to Colombian rhythms such as Cumbia and Boogaloo.

The basic step of Colombian Salsa is the "Atras" or "Diagonal"; breaking backwards diagonally instead of moving forwards and backwards as seen in the New York and L.A. Style. Dancers do not shift their body weight greatly as seen in other styles. Instead, dancers keep their upper body still, poised and relaxed while the feet execute endless intricacies. The dancer breaks mostly On1 (sometimes On3), with short measures of "4" instead of full "8" counts.

A major difference of Cali Style and the other styles is the footwork which has quick rapid steps and skipping motions. They do not execute Cross-body Leads or the "Dile Que No" as seen in LA/New York-style and Cuban-style salsa, respectively. Their footwork is intricate and precise, helping several Colombian Style dancers win major world championships. Cali hosts many annual salsa events such as the World Salsa Cali Festival and Encuentro de Melomanos y Coleccionistas.

Popular Styles of Bachata Dance

Dominican Style: The original Bachata style comes from the Dominican Republic where the music also was born. The early slow style in the fifties from where everything started was danced only closed like a Bolero. The Bachata Basic Steps moving within a small square (side, side, forward and side, side, back) are also inspired from the Bolero but in Bachata also danced with syncopations (steps in between the beats) depending on the dancers mood and the character of the music. Bachata Dominican Style is today danced all over the Caribbean, now also faster in accordance to faster music, adding more footwork, turns and rhythmic free style moves and with alternate between close (romantic) and open position (more playful adding footwork, turns, rhythmic torso etc.). This style is danced with soft hip movements and a tap with a small "pop" with the hip on the 4th beat (1, 2, 3, Tab/Hip). Can be danced with or without bounce (moving the body down on the beats and up again in between the beats by springs the legs a little). Bachata Dominican is created by the People over many years (from around late fifties) for social dancing and are still evolving. This original style is spreading rapidly in the western world today (2010).

Urban Bachata:Characterized as a fusion of Modern Bachata and Hip-Hop, Urban Bachata is a fast-paced Bachata with an urban flavor. This style of Bachata is danced in all directions (not just side-to-side) and integrates new elements of sharp musicality, turn patterns and urban attitude. One of the leading bachateros in the urban Bachata movement is Alejandro Rey Mendibles from LA.

Modern Style: Another and more different style originated in Europe (Spain around 2005). The basic is the Traditional Style Bachata added dance techniques and styling from Salsa, Tango, Zouk etc. Steps moving not only left-to-right or on the spot but also moving to different directions and adding basic Tango steps (steps with many crosses), where on each count the male leads to a cross (cross on1, cross on2, cross on3), but on the 4th count keeping the pop or hip movement. For the Lady often danced with very big hip movements, she should picture the number eight when swaying her hips from side to side. Modern Style dancers claims that the dynamics of the Modern Style are based on maintaining the essence of the Bachata basic which can be very difficult to see. Nowadays (2010), dancers are also incorporating styling movements borrowed from Zouk-lambada (backwards and forwards bent torso/body movements). You will also meet the term Urban Style and it's actually the same as Modern Style added some HipHop moves, therefore the name Urban. The characteristics of Modern Style Bachata is that this style mix techniques and styling from many other dances - You will see more or less of the different dances techniques and styling depending of the dancers preferences. The history of Bachata Moderna is described in the article More than just bachata. Modern Style is used for both social and competition dancing.

Traditional Style: The first Non-Caribbean style developed in US and Europe around year 2000, based on the earlier dominican Bachata but not quite the same. Currently (2009) the most common style of Bachata danced all over the world as it was promoted with music from big Bachata stars such as Aventura, Xtreme, Monchy y Alexandra, to name a few. Basic steps moving side to side or on the spot. The main characteristic of this style is the close connection with your partner and dancing also with soft hip movements and a tap with a small "pop" with the hip on the 4th beat (1, 2, 3, Tab/Hip). Traditional Style also includes dips - A very romantic style of Bachata like the early dominican Bachata because of keeping the dance close.

Tango Style or BachaTango: Basic steps, short sequences moving side to side but mostly Tango steps danced like Tango. The “pop” count is used to add elaborated sensuality and varied Latin dance styles but mostly taken from Tango. Although this dance has been used to dance to Bachata, it has evolved to be used to dance to Tango as well. Even though BachaTango is unheard of in the Dominican Republic, Bachata's country of origin, BachaTango has become popular with foreign instructors outside the Caribbean.

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