Hot ‘n Spicy Salsa

Are you looking for a new and exciting activity that combines your social outings with getting fit and meeting new people? Do you and your partner want to be part of a growing community that transcends age, creed, colour and financial status? Then why not join the fast growing community of Salsa dancers in South Africa.

What makes people want to dance? There are many theories regarding the origin of dance but, since there is little evidence to prove the theories, its magical beginnings remain a mystery. The true origins of dance are hidden in the mists of time, as old as humankind, stemming from every culture in every corner of the planet. Dance varies greatly from one culture to the next, but it is inherent in all human nature. Consider the ebullient Zulu tribal dance, the classical Indian Bharata Nhatyam or the saucy Latino dance style. 

Many modern dance forms stem from ceremonial or ritual dances which were often used to appease sentient beings, for example when blessing a marriage, or perhaps asking for rain. War dances were undertaken to ask for victory in battle and the courtship dance: a payer for success in love. It is difficult to imagine dance unaccompanied by some form of rhythmic beat, be it the stirring drumming of sticks on the ground, the ethereal resonance of unaccompanied voices or the eclectic mix of voice and instrument synonymous with more modern music. The rhythmic intoxication of dance leads to its natural evolution as an energetic and exciting form of entertainment.

Salsa is a fusion of many different Latin and North American dance styles with its origins predominantly in Cuba and Puerto Rico, its music has strong Afro-Caribbean roots and it is known for being saucy, upbeat and rhythmic. During the 1950s the large Latin population of New York City, many of whom were Puerto Rican, brought their dances, music and vibrancy to the social scene. It wasn’t until the ‘70s, however, when, in an attempt to make it easier to sell the concept to other New Yorkers, the term Salsa was introduced to describe the Latino style dance, and the name referred to a great many variations thereof. Some say this fusion of dance styles was called Salsa after the spicy sauce, which is also a mix of many varying and spicy ingredients. The introduction of the term helped to bring down the language and cultural barriers in the New York social scene and Salsa became a hugely popular dance in a great many night clubs. 

Over the last 40 years Salsa clubs have grown in popularity in the Americas, Europe and Australasia, and South Africa is fast catching up. There is no Latin sector in South Africa’s population so Salsa is a new platform, not owned by any subculture, and therefore at any Salsa club you will find people from every sector and age group of our population.

Because the Salsa is a partner dance this is a fantastic activity for couples to take up: it combines a sexy, flirtatious atmosphere with upbeat music, spicy dance moves and a great cardio workout. So instead of spending your limited free time at the gym, you can tone up and work out in a fun environment and combine it with a saucy evening out with your partner. Joining a Salsa club is also a great way of networking and there are people from all walks of life to meet. John Morrison of Que Pasa Salsa Club in Cape Town encourages people in his classes to rotate partners regularly to get a feel for other styles and interpretations: “it means that you don’t have to have a partner to come to a Salsa class, and if you knew no one when you arrived, guaranteed you will definitely know one or two people before you leave.” 

Salsa clubs exist all over South Africa and, due to its nature as an energetic dance, it is also taught in many a gym and health centre. It is very easy to get involved in Salsa dancing as all clubs offer classes for beginner, intermediate and advanced dancers. Usually every class starts with the basics and then a new step is added each time so it doesn’t matter when you join in.  These classes are often followed by a social where people get to strut their new moves on the dance floor. John Morrisonsays this is a fantastic dance to have as a hobby, “there is no competition in Salsa, it is an entirely social dance form, which encourages creativity and keeps you in good shape.”

One of its great attributes is the fact that, although it is based in an 8 beat rhythm and has learnable steps, Salsa can be entirely improvised according to the interpretation of the dancer. Being lively and fun to do, Salsa is a fantastic dance for any event and, due to the fact that there is very little need for travelling across the dance floor, it is possible to perform in any location. And showing off all those turns, dips and that fancy footwork will ensure you are never short of a dance partner.

South Africa’s Salsa Clubs like to keep the activity interesting and variable so, whenever an international Salsa instructor is in town, they are invited to come and shake things up a bit, offering their own unique interpretations of the dance. This means that there is plenty of opportunity to learn a variety of Salsa styles from different instructors so, once you have mastered the basic steps, you can learn to improvise and dance your own interpretation at those socials.

Many of the clubs also have venues to hire out for corporate functions or large family affairs, with a vibrant Latino theme to keep the guests in the right mood. 

If you fancy stepping out in Latino style and getting involved in the Salsa revolution have a look at some of what is on offer at these hot Salsa venues:

www.quepasa.co.za in Cape Town

www.salsaspirit.co.za in Pretoria

www.salsa.za.net in Johannesburg

or call Lara McDonogh on 0828269922 for information on Salsa in Pietermaritzburg