Dance the Cuban Salsa
Cuban salsa, also known as casino salsa, originated in Cuba and is characterized by intricate arm movements. With its fast steps and rhythmic body motions, it seems difficult to learn to dance this style of salsa, but like other forms of dance, it just takes a few basic steps and lots of practice. In the Cuba step, or Guapea, the leader moves in the opposite direction from traditional salsa, moving backward on beats one, two and three (performing a "backward basic") and forward on beats five, six and seven (performing a "forward basic").
Instructions
1. Let the man lead. The Cuban style of dancing draws heavily on male dominance during the dance, which means the man always leads the woman and is more heavily showcased.
2. Imagine an invisible axis between you and your partner. As you dance, you will circle this axis continuously. This circling technique is integral to of the Cuban style, in which couples move around the dance floor (and each other) throughout the song. The basic footwork builds on a basic walking step or quick-quick-slow, pausing every fourth beat.
3. Start with your feet together. The man should "break back" first, meaning that he steps back with his left foot. The woman should "break forward" with her right foot.
4. Use the second beat to change your body's direction, leaning in the opposite direction you stepped initially and shifting the weight from the foot you stepped with to the resting foot. The man should place the weight on his right foot, while the woman should shift the weight to her left. This should appear almost as if you are walking in place, with the majority of movement in your hips.
5. Bring your feet together on the third beat. This action should be done slowly in relation to the faster steps you performed on beats one and two. As you bring your feet together, make a swishing motion with your hips.
6. Pause on the fourth beat. Use this pause to get in sync with your partner if you've missed a step.
7. Repeat the basic in the opposite direction using the opposite feet for beats five through seven. The man should start by breaking forward with the right foot, while the woman breaks back with the left, moving back and forth together. Pause on the eighth beat. The whole eight beat measure makes up the entire basic step.
8. Keep your hips loose. The Cuban style requires you to move your hips--that goes for the men, too! Each movement, no matter how slight, should shift your hips. This can be accented by alternately bending and straightening your knees. When you dance the Cuban salsa, you should feel as though you're pressing yourself into the floor and then springing up from it, rather than gliding across the surface of the floor weightlessly.
9. Hold constant tension in your arms as the lead. You must be able to firmly lead your partner with your hands. If you are being led, allow a bit of relaxation and flexibility in your arms as your partner leads you through turns, twists and spins. Otherwise, match your partner's tension.
10. Learn more about what characterizes the Cuban style on Boogalu Productions (see Resources below). Moving beyond basic steps, this website also gives you hints on understand the history and meaning of the dance.
