A PASSION FOR LATIN DANCING!

What is Latin dancing? There are two definitions for Latin dance. One is used to refer to the International Latin competition dances: cha cha, rumba, samba, jive and paso doble. The other definition is used more generally to refer to the dances that originated in South America, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and other places in the Caribbean. These Latin dances include the mambo, cha cha, salsa, merengue, rumba, bolero, samba and bachata. There are many more Latin dances but these are the dances most often danced in the U.S. in social dance communities and Latin dance performances.

For our purposes we will use the second definition. In American rhythm competition the Latin dances include: cha cha, rumba, bolero and, at times, merengue and samba. We will discuss the American style Latin social dances in this article.

Many of these dances originated or became popular in the early 20^th century. However, most have earlier roots in the music and rhythms that preceded the current forms of the dances.

Mambo music is rumored to have started in the 1930’s in Cuba and was heavily influenced by Jazz musicians. It spread to Mexico City and New York and eventually evolved from its original form to include a break step on count two after dance studios in the U.S. formalized the dance.

The cha cha also originated in Cuba in the early nineteen fifties from Cuban music with a split fourth beat. The dancers introduced a chasse danced on beats 4 & 1 with a break step on count 2 like mambo. Cha cha is danced to Latin pop or rock but can also be danced to contemporary music like rock, disco, soul or pop. It is a favorite in venues that offer Latin music dance nights.

The rumba evolved when African and Spanish rhythms were combined from dances done in the 1920’s and 30’s. It took it current form in the late 1940’s. Also, rumba bolero evolved but is danced to slower rumba style music. The bolero is a unique Latin dance in that it incorporates Cuban hip action, rise and fall, and contra body movement more so than the box rumba or cha cha.

Samba originated in Bahia, Brazil and became popular in the 1930’s even though there were forms of the samba danced in the early 20^th century. Samba music incorporates African rhythms. The samba is often danced in Carnival celebrations throughout Brazil and across the globe. The samba is not spot dance like most of the Latin dances but instead travels around the ballroom line of dance. The samba has a unique hip action that differs from mambo, cha cha or rumba.

The rumba, cha cha, samba, bolero are considered classic American style ballroom dances while the salsa, merengue and bachata are considered more nightclub or street dances. This may be significant in that ballroom dance studios generally attempt to standardize dances in order to teach them to everyone. This formalization is a process, which many dances have gone through, starting as street dances and moving into a more formal style that is documented by dance educators. A recent dance genre that went through this process was the Country Western two-step. 

The salsa Latin dance is very popular today. It originated in the 1970’s heavily influenced by Eddie Torres. The salsa evolved from mambo and is similar but the break step is often done on count one instead of two. The knee and hip action are not as staccato as in mambo or cha cha. Salsa is probably the most popular nightclub Latin style dance in the U.S. currently. In most salsa dance venues you will also find people dancing merengue and the bachata.

The merengue originated in the Dominican Republic but may have been influenced by Haitian dance rhythms. It is a walking style dance with softened knees bending in an alternating fashion to achieve a Cuban hip action. The music almost always accompanies salsa dance music in Latin dance venues.

The bachata has become very popular in the last decade. It originated in the Dominican Republic in a different form in the 1950’s but slowly evolved to its current form around 2000. Bachata music is a Caribbean style music that uses a three step followed by a tap or hold on count four. Sometimes a hip pop is used on the fourth beat. The bachata is rapidly becoming one of the most popular dances today.

The Latin dances, generally are spot dances rather than dances that move down the line of dance like the smooth dances, waltz, foxtrot, tango and Viennese waltz. The exception is samba, which does move around the dance floor. The dance frame is slightly more relaxed than the smooth dances and the body below the rib cage has freedom to move using hip motion. The knees alternate bending in most of the Latin dances and the ankles are uses to achieve lateral movement and to press into the floor. In most of the Latin dances, there are no heel leads. The Latin dances generally use static balance rather than body flight.

Dancers often choose Latin dances for performances because of their inherent beauty. The art of Latin dancing is witnessed even in social settings as dancers often move into a one or two hand position allowing for graceful, ballet-like or jazz arm movements, pointing of the feet, turn out of the leg and sway creating very graceful, sensual movements plus a certain amount of spontaneous choreography.

Other dance genres are strongly influenced by the Latin dances like hustle, which is sometimes called Latin hustle. The East Coast style of hustle, New York hustle, uses considerable Latin technique. Also, nightclub two-step used sway and hip movement early in its evolution in the 1970’s, although it uses less in its current form. Latin dance styling has also influenced West Coast swing and Argentine tango.

Why Latin dance? The Latin dances can be done on smaller dance floors like cruises, nightclubs and at weddings. Many couples are choosing Latin songs to dance at their weddings and requesting salsa, bachata and merengue for their wedding dance.

Also, there are many health benefits gained from dancing in general but Latin dancing has some specific health benefits from the body mechanics used for Latin styling. The hip flexors are constantly working to achieve hip movement and the lats are strengthened as a result of the work they do to maintain a lifted sternum. There are isometric benefits from the physical connection used in the compression and leverage used to achieve connection while dancing with a partner particularly in one or two hand position. The Latin dances also increase flexibility in the torso, hips, knees, ankles, shoulders and feet by the stretching required while performing many of the movements in the Latin dances.

Latin music is very popular currently, especially the salsa, cha cha, merengue and bachata. There are many dance clubs featuring Latin music throughout the U.S. and abroad. There are Latin dance venues available every night of the week in San Diego, California. Also, most dance studios offer Latin dance parties and ballroom dance venues always include a lot of Latin music on their playlists. Passion reigns supreme in the Latin dances. Many social dancers possess a true lifelong passion for the Latin dances including myself.

So, shall we Latin dance? Which is your favorite Latin dance: Mambo, cha cha, rumba, samba, bolero, salsa, merengue or bachata?

(All or part of this article can be reprinted or used for dance education if is attributed, credited to the author, Pattie Wells). For additional dance articles go to http://www.dancetime.com/ or www.pwdancetime.blogspot.com.

About the Author

Pattie Wells hails from San Diego, California where she writes article and video blogs for her world dance resource website at DanceTime.com. Also, Pattie is working on several writing projects including her new website at PattieWells.com, a novel in linked stories and a poetry manuscript titled Fire In Rain.  In addition, she continues to teach a limited number of private dance lessons in San Diego including dance lessons for weddings.