More Differences between Latino and Salsa Dance Culture

The Latino and the Salsa Dance culture have 3 things in common: having fun, their love for Salsa Music, and Salsa Dancing. But the manner in which they love these things are just one of the many differences which are explored in this article. Quote from a Latino "What they are doing on the dancefloor is not called dancing; it's called 'Looking for major trouble' my friend!"  

Most Latinos will say: ‘I do not have to learn to dance Salsa, because I was born dancing it. Salsa is in my blood’. Or when asked why they (want to) take Salsa Dance Classes the standard answer would be: ‘I already know how to dance Salsa. I have been dancing it my whole life. I just want to learn the turns’. They would prefer to skip the Beginners dance classes and immediately start learning intricate turn patterns. The problem with them having this superiority complex is that most of them lack the fundamental and basic partnering dance techniques which are necessary to learn Western Style Salsa (LA Style On1 and On2 Mambo Eddie Torres Style) properly. A large portion of the male Latino populace will go to Salsa dance classes only to ‘score’ women. But when this tactic does not work they soon change their goal from getting laid to being the Dance Kings on the Salsa dance floor.  

The reasoning  of  Westerners is the  complete opposite. When a man from a developed country is asked if he wants to learn Salsa his standard answer would be: ‘Dancing is for gay men. I just want to keep doing my football’. The women seem to worry about ‘stiffness in the hips’ and ‘not having any sense of rhythm or talent for dancing’.  A common verse: ‘You (Afro or Latino) people have dance genes. That is why we will never learn to dance Salsa the right way.’ This misconception disappears quickly when they see other people ‘of their own kind’ dancing Salsa the way they think all Latinos and Afro Caribbean does. They are willing to pay, invest time & energy, have patience with themselves, and maintain the discipline & dedication needed to achieve Salsa Stardom. 

Most men are ‘dragged’ or coerced to the Salsa dance classrooms by their spouses or girlfriends. This is the main reason why a great segment of the male Salsa students will stop dancing Salsa after taking a few Beginners classes: their female partners learn to master the dance much faster, but they do not show any patience to their budding leaders who are constantly at war with their own lack of self control. Generally speaking it is very difficult and it takes longer for men to get attuned with the fine art of ‘multi-tasking when dancing Salsa’.  But the ones who are more than determined to cross the ‘Salsa Lead Threshold’ will be rewarded with ‘Salsa Heaven’: their ‘Salsa Flow’ will make women keep them on the dance floor for the duration of the party.  

The last difference to address is the main attracting factor for learning Salsa. Latinos grow up with Salsa. They understand the culture, the lyrics and the intentions of Salsa music. Most of them will start to dance at an early age as a way to express the feelings they get from listening to the music, and to mimic their elders. This reason also applies to people of the West engaging in direct (social or musical) contacts with the Latino world.  But most Westerners will see the dancers in action first before they decide to learn the dance. Their love for Salsa music seems to play a lesser role when taking that decision. This is why so many Salsa dance schools organize ‘Open Houses’: to visually attract potential clients. These future students do not know that ‘what you see is not always what you get’.