Salsa dancing originated in Cuba, where people would gather in casinos to dance to rhythms blending African drums and Spanish guitar. Cuban music spread to the US through radio and American tourists visiting Havana. The Palladium Club in New York popularized Latin styles like mambo. When relations with Cuba deteriorated, Puerto Rican and jazz musicians in New York kept Cuban styles alive by mixing them with their own. Salsa incorporated diverse influences as it spread globally and evolved into many regional styles danced to today.

1. The History of
Salsa Dancing
Presented by Alexandra Arrivillaga

2. Introduction
From its beginnings as an Afro-Cuban, folk tradition, salsa
dancing has evolved into one of the most popular dance
forms in the world. Today’s salsa dancing includes a rich
variety of styles such as Colombian Cali, Los Angeles
style, Miami Casino, Casino Rueda, New York style and
Ballroom Salsa. Let’s take a brief tour of the history of
salsa dancing.

3. Early Salsa Dancing
The roots of salsa dancing sprouted in
Cuba. Cubans gathered in public halls
called “casinos” to dance to the rhythms
of Son, Danzon, and Mambo, among
other musical styles that blended African
drums and Spanish, Flamenco guitar.

4. Cuban Music
Radio programs brought Cuban music
to the United States, and during the
Prohibition years, American tourists
flocked to Havana to freely enjoy
alcohol-fueled dance parties. Starting
in the 1940s, the island became a
vacation favorite for Hollywood movie
stars and other well-heeled
celebrities. Soon, Cuban musicians
brought their distinctive sound to cities
across the U.S.

5. Evolution of Salsa in
the United States
The Palladium Club in New York City became a
mecca for salsa dancing with innovators such as
Tito Puentes popularizing Latin rhythms such as
the Mambo.

6. Relations Between
U.S. & Cuba
Unfortunately, diplomatic relations crumbled
between the U.S. and Cuba after Fidel Castro came
to power. Cuban musicians could no longer travel to
the United States, and music lovers found
themselves suddenly forbidden to visit the island to
dance to Cuban music.

7. Jazz & Puerto
Rican Musicians
Luckily for salsa dancers, Puerto Rican
musicians and jazz musicians in New York
kept Cuban music alive in the country. They
mixed Cuban rhythms with Puerto Rican
styles and added the improvisational
tradition of jazz.

8. Since its beginning, salsa dancing has
incorporated a diverse array of musical styles.
Dancers from the Dominican Republic added to
the salsa mix with their national dance,
Merengue. West Coast dancers introduced
Swing dance steps and flashy Hollywood
moves to the salsa repertoire.
Diverse Musical Styles

9. Salsa dancing remains an
international pastime with studios
and dance groups all over the world
offering lessons and hosting dance
parties.

10. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR
TIME
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