Salsa refers to a style of music and dance that has its origins in the Caribbean and South America. It is the most popular of a variety of Latin dances. Salsa has developed into a worldwide phenomenon, with variations that have created a number of recognized styles. Currently the major styles of Salsa are: Colombian salsa, Cuban salsa, Puerto Rican salsa, LA/New York style salsa.

At Latin X, we teach three styles of Salsa. Cuban, Colombian and LA Style Salsa.

What is Cuban Salsa?

Cuban Salsa is also known as ""Casino Salsa"" (from which came ""Casino Rueda""). The dance moves are characterized by complicated arm movements. It differs from other styles visually because it tends to be 'circular' as opposed to linear. Cuban style salsa also has a lot of solo work that involves rhythmic middle body movements derived from the old Cuban Rumba. These movements have an Afro -Cuban heritage and are also popular in Mambo.

Cuban Style Salsa is taught in the Latin X Social Class, Intermediate Class and Advanced Class.

What is Colombian Salsa?

Colombian Salsa originates from Cali, the Salsa capital of the world. Colombian Salsa involves fast footwork and fast spins, known as Pachanga, or the original salsa from the 1960's, known as the Boogaloo. Colombian style is much closer, where both dancers bodies are almost completely touching each other, from head to toe. Colombian Salsa involves a lot of punchy footwork and less turn patterns.

Colombian Style Salsa is taught in the Latin X Intermediate Class and Advanced Class.

What is LA Style Salsa?

LA style is exciting, elegant and sensual incorporating suave ""shine"" footwork. It's one of the most popular Salsa styles around the world today, with regular appearances of high profile LA style performers at huge Salsa events. It is a style that has borrowed extensively from other dance styles. It has been influenced by Cuban & New York style Salsa, Jazz, Swing and even Ballroom dancing. From these influences, the LA style has been refined to produce a distinctive range of turn patterns. Most LA style moves are based on the ""cross-body lead"", where the man leads the woman across his body in a linear motion.

LA Style Salsa is taught in the Latin X Intermediate Class and Advanced Class."

Cha-cha-cha is the name of a Latin American dance of Cuban origin. It is danced to the music of the same name and this rhythm was developed from the danzón by a syncopation of the fourth beat, and the shuffling of the dancer's feet.

Cha-cha-cha may be either danced to authentic Cuban music, Latin Pop or Top 40 tunes. Styles of cha-cha-cha dance may differ in the place of the chasse in the rhythmical structure. The original Cuban and the ballroom cha-cha-cha count "two-three-chachacha”. Cha Cha involves stylish body and arm placement with fast and fluid movements for both the men and women to show off the body and the couples dance presence.

Cha cha is becoming one of the most popular styles on the social dance floors and a favourite at Latin X.

Merengue is a dominican folkloric dance widely spread and considered by many as the dominican national dance. Generally danced to two beats, Merengue is easy to hear and feel.

Merengue lends itself to a spontaneous, improvisational style of dance. The music is charming and happy, and often contains clever jokes or puns in Spanish.

Learning the Merengue is a good way to start familiarizing yourself with Cuban Motion, which is the way that your body moves in all the Latin dances.

Merengue is taught in the Latin X Social Class, Intermediate Class and Advanced Class.

X-Rengue is a partner-change, circular dance created by Latin X. X-Rengue consists of choreographed moves and turn patterns executed individually, as a couple,and as a group.(Similar to Casino Rueda) X-Rengue is a fun and social style that is exciting to perform and entertaining to those watching.

X-Rengue is introduced in the Intermediate level.

"X-Funk/Hip Hop is an energetic and free-flowing dance style performed to the latest Pop and R'n'B music. The X-Funk/Hip Hop classes consist of body isolations, drills, flexibility and coordination work and also includes choreographed routines for the individual. X-Funk/Hip Hop is a great style for fitness, flexibility and general dance styling. X-Funk/Hip Hop is available to all student ability levels."