| Introduction to Social Latin Dances | | | | Cha Cha, originally called Cha-Cha-Cha, is a Cuban |
| If you want to become a well rounded Salsero or | | | | music/dance derivative of the mambo. This musical |
| Salsera, it is important to have an understanding of all | | | | style can be directly attributed to composer Enrique |
| Latin dance and music. We will be exploring a few of | | | | Jorrin for creating danzons with an emphasis on his |
| the prominent dances today and examine why they | | | | cha-cha-cha syncopation. Jorrin himself has called the |
| are beneficial for your salsa skills, moves, and | | | | songs "creatively modified danzones" with the |
| techniques. This article focuses on the social style | | | | onomatopoeic mantle of Cha-Cha-Cha stemming from |
| Latin Dances. This differs compared to Ballroom Latin | | | | the sound the dancers' feet made during this step. |
| Dance which consists of five specific styles: rumba, | | | | Cha cha can be a boring dance for many people not |
| samba, paso doble, cha-cha-cha, and jive. | | | | well versed in it but I have seen first hand what |
| Merengue | | | | great salseros can do with this dance. While many |
| Merengue is a dance from the Dominican Republic, | | | | salsa moves work with it, and there are plenty of |
| often cited as the National Dance of D.R. Like many | | | | Cha Cha specific moves, one goal for social cha cha is |
| music styles in D.R., merengue was "country music". | | | | perfection of technique. With the addition of the |
| The music is credited to a Nico Lora, whom created | | | | chachacha syncopation you can easily add multiple |
| it in the 1920s and named it after meringue, a | | | | spins, lots of shines, fancy footwork, hand styling, |
| dessert from egg whites and sugar. Merengue's early | | | | and Cuban Hip motion during the basic step. It helps |
| years began in brothels and bars on the valley region | | | | then to utilize Cha Cha as a time to practice your |
| around Santiago, formally called the Cibao. With its | | | | technique but also your musicality. As you practice it |
| humble yet nefarious beginnings, efforts to ban | | | | more and more you can deviate from the restriction |
| merengue in high society proved successful until the | | | | of doing the basic for a whole song. Play with the |
| 1930s. Under the rule of Rafael Trufillo from | | | | beat and accent polyrhythms as you dance. So put |
| 1930-1961, the dance was imposed on all levels of | | | | some cha cha on your iPod and ask the DJ to play |
| society sufficiently squelching the other national music | | | | some at the club and have fun. Losing yourself in the |
| forms, like Bachata. Trujillo embraced this language as | | | | music can be a good thing if you do it right. |
| it spoke to him about humble beginnings, himself | | | | Samba |
| coming from a rural area. Many songs during his | | | | Samba is like a sister to Salsa but with many |
| dictatorship were composed to praise his virtues and | | | | different faces; from party going exhibitionist to regal |
| contributions to the nation. | | | | heiress of ballroom. It is lively and rhythmic and full of |
| So why is this important for a salsa dancer? It's a | | | | passion as well as steeped in history. While having a |
| free practice. Many people just sit out during | | | | stake in the ballroom dance world, Samba is quite |
| merengue. The same can be said for bachata, or | | | | different in its homeland of Brazil. Throughout the |
| even cha-cha. Dancing merengue helps you perfect | | | | politically tumultuous history of Brazil, Samba has been |
| the leads and hand positions. In all areas of training, if | | | | a unifying and glue-like factor, bringing individuals |
| you can do something slowly and perfectly, it will | | | | together regardless of social or ethnic group. |
| take little time before you can do it fast. Jumping | | | | Samba's roots originate, as with much music in the |
| right into full speed will embed poor techniques and | | | | New World, with the arrival of slaves to South |
| habits into your dance. | | | | America. The rhythmic knowledge from Angola |
| Bachata | | | | blended with the Portuguese and other Iberian |
| Bachata is another dance from the Dominican | | | | melodic and harmonic instrumentation. While many |
| Republic, with subjects of forlorn emotion, romance, | | | | similarities of the slave trade exist between North |
| and heartbreak. Bachata is the equivalent of the Blues | | | | America and South America, the music styles differ |
| in America, many of the same themes are discussed | | | | greatly, largely due to Brazilian slave masters allowing |
| and have similar resolutions such as looking for | | | | the heritage of their African slaves to continue. In |
| yourself at the bottom of the bottle. You can easily | | | | North America, this was largely stifled for fear of |
| recognize bachata for its predominant use of the | | | | communication between slaves. |
| electric guitar which plucks out the main rhythm, | | | | Samba is great for working on individualizing your |
| usually an eight note run. An evolution from the | | | | style. And at Carnival (Carnaval), which Samba No Pe |
| Bolero, bachata has had much success in clubs in | | | | is most known for, it's all about style and being |
| recent years. | | | | flashy. Much of the movements accentuate |
| Bachata is a more intimate dance but it will help you | | | | characteristics of masculinity and femininity. It's not |
| learn the body language of Latin dance. You will feel | | | | about the physical connection but more about |
| the natural motion of each other and how to | | | | emotional connection. Samba No Pe can often be a |
| properly lead and follow. To become a better dancer | | | | pursuit from afar where the male generally dances |
| you must become multifaceted. It's not enough to | | | | around the lady, whilst she accentuates her hips and |
| know how to do a bunch of moves, or how to show | | | | shoulders enticingly. It is the basic theme of the |
| off. You need to establish a connection with your | | | | chase that is inherent in many dances and other art |
| partner so it feels like a dance and not a test of | | | | forms. Samba de gafieira is a more intimate |
| ability. So take the essence of bachata, the | | | | connection and the chase is largely replaced with |
| sensuality and connection, and implement them in | | | | leading and following. The natural rhythmic differences |
| your dancing. | | | | between samba and salsa also give rise to various |
| Cha Cha | | | | styling options with the hips and footwork. |