These dances were considered sinful by the Europeans but a composite dance evolved in the 1830's combining the plait figures from these Negro dances and the indigenous Lundu dance. Later, carnival steps were added like the Copacabana and gradually members of high society in Rio embraced it, although they modified it to more stiff ballroom dancing moves. Spanish for 'sauce', this dance is, like its namesake, a little bit of this mixed with a little bit of that. It is a commercial name for several rhythmic, danceable expression forms that have their roots in the Caribbean. Salsa developed among the Puerto Ricans and Cubans in New York City and spread out in the beginning of the seventies to roughly all Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America.
Salsa is already the dance of the nineties and the new millennium.
This dance has its roots in the Spanish cultures. It also has a four beat rhythm, just like the salsa. Digital Publishing Innovations Ltd. All rights reserved.