NEW YORK STYLE SALSA (SALSA ON 2)

Salsa music as we know it today originated in New York on the 1960s, and New York-style salsa is the style of salsa that originated there. New York-style salsa is sometimes called “linear salsa” or “linea” by dancers of other styles because it is danced in a line (or “in the slot”) similar to Hustle or West Coast Swing, from which it was influenced.

New York-style salsa is often referred to as “Salsa On 2” or “On2 Salsa” because the break step in New York style happens on the second beat of the music. On2 salsa was popularised and created by Eddie Torres, and on2 dancers argue that their style is more musical because it more closely aligns with the tumbao & clave, two common musical patterns found in salsa music.

Salsa On2 has grown in popularity in recent years, and is a popular way of dancing for advanced dancers and at international dance festivals. Because of its similarity to LA Style Salsa, most On2 dancers can also dance On1, although they may prefer the former.

LA STYLE SALSA (SALSA ON 1)

LA-style salsa is probably the most popular form of salsa dancing in the world. It is the style of salsa that is taught most broadly, and most dancers of other styles of salsa dancing will have at least some familiarity with it. If you want to learn the most broadly applicable form of salsa, LA-style salsa is a good choice.

LA-style salsa, like its name suggests, originated in Los Angeles, California, and was popularised by the Vazquez brothers. LA-style salsa is danced in a line, similar to New York style salsa, but dancers break on the first beat of the music (on 1) rather than on 2. Many newer dancers find this timing more intuitive.

LA style salsa is definitely one of the flashier styles. Flips, dips, and drops make for an exciting show. This style is danced on 1, which means beat 1 is the most accented beat in the series. The lead will break forward on beat 1 in this style and back on beat 5. This makes for a powerful and fast-paced performance.

CUBAN STYLE SALSA (SALSA CUBANA)

Cuban-style salsa or Salsa Cubana is a type of salsa that originated in Cuba. Cuban style salsa takes its influences from Afro Cuban style, unlike New York or LA-style, is danced in a circular motion similar to East Coast Swing, rather than in a line. The turn patterns in Cuban salsa typically are in a constant circular motion, with lots of hand tricks and movements.

Salsa Cubana is often danced to a genre of music known as “timba”, which is a form of salsa music that is popular in Cuba. Cuban dancers also often incorporate Afro movements into their dancing, although this is increasingly a popular trend in New York and LA-style salsa as well.

SALSA RUEDA (RUEDA DE CASINO)

Salsa rueda, also known as Rueda de Casino is another type of salsa that originated in Cuba. “Rueda” in Spanish means “wheel”, and in salsa rueda a group of couples dance together in a circle, rather than as individuals.

In salsa rueda, there is one leader who calls out what move to do, and all the couples in the circle execute the move simultaneously. The moves are similar to those of Cuban-style salsa, and a salsa rueda dance involves a coordinated dance of synchronised movement, partner switches, and intricate turn patterns.

COLOMBIAN SALSA (SALSA CALEÑA)

Colombian salsa, also known as Salsa Caleña (named after Cali, Colombia, where the dance originated) is one of the rarest forms of salsa. Outside of Colombia there are very few cities in the world where Colombian salsa is danced regularly.

Inside Colombia, however, is another matter entirely. Cali, Colombia calls itself “La Capital Mundial de Salsa” or the “world capital of salsa”, and it has valid claims to that title. The city by some estimates has over 200 salsa academies, more than any other city in the world. Every year the city hosts a massive festival called the Feria de Cali, with thousands of dancers, and the city is host to a number of massive salsa dance competitions.

Salsa Caleña is characterized by extremely fast footwork and quick knee movements, as well as acrobatics and lifts at the performance and competition level.

This make it a little bit difficult to learn, and by that difficult to social dance on the dance floor around the world.
Not so many people get to learn that style.