Salsa refers to a fusion of informal dance styles having roots in the Caribbean (especially in Cuba and Puerto Rico), Latin and North America. The dance originated through the mixture of typical Cuban dance forms (Cuban son, chá chá chá, mambo, etc). There is a strong African influence in the music as well as the dance. Salsa's roots can be traced back to the African ancestors that were brought to the Caribbean by the Spanish as slaves. Salsa is usually a partner dance, although there are recognized solo steps and some forms are danced in groups of couples, with frequent exchanges of partner. Improvisation and social dancing are important elements of Salsa.
Stylistic origins
Caribbean (Cuba and Puerto Rico)
Cultural origins
New York, L.A., Latin melting pot
Typical instruments
piano, conga, trumpet, trombone, bass guitar, claves (woodblock), cowbell, timbales, guitar, shekere (dried gourd covered with a woven net of beads), tamborina
Mainstream Popularity
Very popular in Latin America, and moderate in the United States