Explore 9 Different Types of Salsa Dance You Need to Know

We all love to dance, and when it comes to salsa, its vibrance and energetic moves captivate audiences worldwide. With its roots in Cuba, salsa dance combines Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban dances, creating memorable moments on the dance floor.

Each type of salsa dance brings its own unique flair, blending traditional elements with modern interpretations. Let’s explore the various styles and rhythms, along with their unique characteristics and techniques.

List of 9 Different Types of Salsa Dance

1: Salsa ON1 (LA Style)

LA Style salsa, also referred to as “ON1” style, as the name suggests this type of salsa dance originated in Los Angeles. The dance was popularized by legendary dancers like Alex Da Silva, Luis Francisco, and Johnny Vazquez — the trio of three brothers. It is the most popular form of salsa dance and is taught globally.

Salsa ON1, with its captivating moves like dips, flips, drops, and tricks, is a dance style that never fails to enthrall. Its unique rhythm sets it apart — the dancer starts with steps like moving back and forth and begins forward on the first beat of the eight-count, a departure from the second beat start of New York style salsa.

Characteristics:

• It is complex, exciting, and attractive.
• It is similar to the New York ON2 style.
• It involves moves–dips, flips, drops, and tricks.
• It is danced in a straight line at high speeds.

2: Salsa ON2 (New York Style)

Unlike the LA-style salsa, the New York style salsa is distinguished by its break on the second beat. This unique rhythm, which has its roots in the bustling streets of New York City, is known for its smooth and elegant style, with different techniques and approaches compared to the LA-style salsa. Introduced by the iconic Eddie Torres in the 1960s, it is also known as ‘Mambo.’ The emphasis on the second beat is a key feature that sets it apart from other salsa styles, and it’s a testament to the rich history and culture of New York City.

In this dance form, followers step forward with their left foot on the second beat, and leaders step forward on the sixth beat. This style, with its intricate technicalities and movements, presents a significant challenge, often more demanding than ON1 salsa. It is usually recommended to first master ON1 salsa to grasp the rhythm before attempting the more complex ON2 style. Sometimes, it is also referred to as “linear salsa” or “Linea” due to its line-based dance pattern.

Characteristics:

• The timing of “ON 2” matches the rhythm of the conga drum to connect dancers with the music.
• It is danced in a straight line and includes turns and patterns.
• It focuses on the movements, body isolations, and correct techniques.

3: Cuban Style Salsa (Salsa Cubana)

Cuban style salsa, a dance deeply rooted in the culture of Cuba, originated in this vibrant country. This style is danced on the first beat, with pauses on the fourth and eighth beats, and is more relaxing and casual.

It involves simple footwork with flexible arm movements. The most common step in Cuban salsa is the Guapea, in which both the leader and follower start in an open position and then move back away from each other on the first three beats. It is considered a male-dominated style because it involves a lot of push/pull efforts to create good movement.

Characteristics:

• Cuban salsa is danced in a circular motion rather than a straight line.
• The turn patterns are in constant circular motion.
• It is danced to Cuban music, often to the popular genre of “timba” (a form of Salsa music popular in Cuba).

4: Salsa Rueda (Rueda de Casino)

Casino Rueda is another form of Cuban salsa, originating in Havana, Cuba, by a group named Guaracheros de Regla. The term “Rueda” means circle or wheel. In this type of salsa dance, pairs come together and form a circle to dance salsa at the same time. The person who gives hand signals is known as “The Caller,” and the other participants follow the instructions given by the Caller to maintain synchronization within the group while performing salsa.

This dance form is popular worldwide, especially in Cuba and Miami. In Cuban Rueda, the focus is on enjoyable, easy-to-follow dance moves that everyone can appreciate. In Miami Rueda, there are more challenging turns that demand strong memory and skill to perform. Couples exchange partners, adding energy and a complete dance experience. To keep the dance flowing smoothly, dancers need a good memory to remember the steps consistently.

Characterstics:

• The moves in this form of salsa dance are complex and challenging, which excites viewers.
• Group coordination is important in this dance to maintain the flow and consistency in dance.

5: Colombian Salsa (Salsa CaleñA)

Colombian salsa, also known as Salsa Caleña, originated in Colombia. Its basic step resembles the Cumbia step but features fast footwork, intricate lifts, and techniques. It is one of the rarest forms of salsa and is practiced regularly in very few countries. Colombian Salsa, also known as Salsa Dura or Hard Salsa, is danced to a fast rhythm with brass sounds similar to Cuban mambo.

Inside Colombia, specifically in Cali, the city proudly claims itself as the “World Capital of Salsa.” This type of salsa dance has circular moves, and dancers tap on the fourth and eighth beats, following a fast rhythm. The feet move from side to center or center to side.

Characteristics:

• The dancers hold their partners closely, with their bodies touching from head to toe.
• This form of dance is performed on crowded dance floors with fast music.

6: Salsa Choke

Salsa choke (pronounced “cho-que”) is a uniquely Colombian salsa style that burst onto the scene in 2008. It is danced to salsa choke music, a fusion of salsa and reggaeton, electronica, house music, and urban sounds, setting it apart from other salsa styles.

In Colombian Spanish, “choke” means “bump.” This dance style involves stepping side to side and moving the hips, much like the side basic step in LA-style salsa or bachata. The high-energy salsa choke music, with its strong urban flavor, is a pulsating soundtrack that keeps dancers moving to the beat and makes the steps easy to remember.

Characteristics:

• This is a solo style of salsa dance, distinct from other salsa dances.
• In salsa choke, the leader guides different steps, and others follow.

7: Miami Style Salsa (Classico Cubano, Casino)

Miami-style salsa originated from Cuban salsa and is more challenging and technically high-level. It is just like Cuban-style Rueda. Miami Salsa includes diagonal moves and was developed among Cuban migrants. It requires overall body flexibility for its complex, twisty moves.

The most basic and common step is the “Guapea,” which is danced in a circular rather than linear manner. It is also known as Cubano, Classico, or Casino. Miami Salsa is a bigger and flashier version of Cuban Salsa.

Characteristics:

• In Miami Salsa, dancers require full body flexibility rather than just flexible arms.
• It involves complex and twisted moves, such as a pretzel, demanding this flexibility.

8: Puerto Rican Salsa

Puerto Rican Salsa traces its roots to Puerto Rico. Besides being similar to New York style, it has its own unique features. This type of salsa dance is danced on either “ON 1” or “ON 2”. With close movements, Puerto Rican salsa can be danced on beats 1, 2, or 3 of the music.

Characteristics:

• It offers more freedom in the movement and steps.
• It features clean lines, frequent shoulder shimmies, and circular arm movements dancing to the Clave rhythm 2/3 clave (pa-pa, pa-pa-pa).
• Dancers also showcase fast and complicated solo footwork, known as “shines”.

9. Salsa Romantica

Salsa Romántica is a softer type of salsa music that has become commercially popular in the past twenty years. It emerged in the 1980s during the dominance of pop and rock music. Some people criticize it as a weak version of “real” salsa, known as “salsa dura.”

Older salsa musicians and fans often see it as a pale imitation of classic salsa, referred to as “limp salsa” or salsa monga. This is because Salsa Romántica focuses less on political and social issues and more on topics like love and parties, which is less meaningful for some. Besides all, this type of salsa dance attracts both beginners and experienced dancers to the dance floor.

Characteristics:

• It uses a softer and smoother orchestral sound compared to traditional salsa.
• Its lyrics often focus on passionate, emotional, and sometimes deeply emotional love stories.