Subject: Cuban style Salsa dancing

Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2003 09:40:57 -0800

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The following was NOT written by me. It was written by someone on the ToSalsa.com list. However, I have felt this way for a long time. Reggie and I have talked about the fact that we could not find a better city on the planet Earth to learn and do Salsa dancing today.

[begin quote] With regards to Cuban style dancing, here is another bit of information that individuals like Jo Kim forget to mention. Rueda Casino came out of 1950s Cuba. It was developed as a style for dancing Cha-Cha. Casino is not "authentic" salsa dancing. It was only years later when it was brought over to North America that it gradually crossed over and developed into a style of dancing Salsa. Meanwhile, NY style salsa dancing was well underway and established. I agree again with what Willie Colon says about salsa dancing. Modern salsa dancers (NY and LA salseros) have created and developed styles that is light years away from any Cuban style of dancing (bent knees and wiggly asses). L.A. salseros have revolutionised salsa dancing, they have taken it to a new level of sophistication and popularity. The West Coast salsa congress is one of the most popular dance events in the world. The Mayan salsa competition is one of the most prestigious dance competitions around. Cuban style dancing (originally Cha-Cha dancing) has remained frozen in 1950s Cuba. [end quote]