Matthew David Parker On The Different Types Of Salsa

There are many types of salsa dance, but most of them fall into five main categories. These styles differ in speed, tempo, tone and general appeal, including pace and agility. Matthew David Parker says there are a lot of similarities among the moves, but the differences though subtle, uniquely alter the personality of each style.

Los Angeles Style

This style carries with it the usual Hollywood feel of dramatization, flashy appeal and self-indulgence. It is fast-paced, impressionable and eye-catching with acrobatic moves involved. It is the most commonly known of all dance styles owing to its publicity on TV shows.

Colombian / Cali Style

The Colombian salsa also known as the Cali style is based on the Colombian city of Cali. Cali is famed as being ‘Capital De la Salsa’ (Capital of Salsa) because of the influence of salsa on the city’s music culture. Cali salsa borrows heavily from other Caribbean rhythms such as Boogaloo and Pachanga.

New York Style

Unlike the Los Angeles style, which changes basic step on beat I, the New York style changes steps on beat II. That is why most New Yorkers tend to dance on beat ‘two.’ This style lays emphasis on smooth sways which are more accommodating of the multiple spins.

Miami Style

Rueda (the Cuban style) is the most common salsa dance move in the Miami style. In this style the dance partners tend to move in a circular rather than linear patterns. The movements involve interconnected arms in complex locked patterns.

Cuban Style

This style is characterised by fast multiple spins. The partners also make circular and not linear spins. ‘Cuban style has much more body movement than any of its variants’, says Matthew David Parker, a salsa dance instructor from Lafayette.

Matthew David Parker’s Tips For Perfect Salsa Dancing

For one to become a pro at salsa you have to master a number of moves and beats depending on the type of salsa and your level of experience. According to Matthew David Parker, you can dance as the leader, you can dance as a follower and once you’ve grasped it, you can then add turns and tricks that amplify your dance experience. When it comes to basics there are four things to grasp.

Master the closed dance position.

A closed position is achieved when the leader claps her partner’s hand in his left hand and places his right hand on her left shoulder blades. In turn the follower should place her left hand on his right shoulder blade with her arm going over his.

Keep a proper posture.

To avoid aches you should strive to keep your spine straight up. Your chin should be up, your chest puffed out and your shoulders hunched back. Always look up ahead with your neck slightly tilted out. Avoid looking down at your feet movement as it makes you look like a novice. While your hands are clasped, keep your arms horizontal and bent at the elbows for easier coordination with your partner.

Monitor Your Hip Movement. 
                                                                            
Most of your movements in a salsa dance will be done with your hip. Keep your hips loose and flexible. Incorporate a hip movement - no matter how slight - in every move to accompany your legs and arms’ movements. Relax your body and sway the hips away.

Pick A Salsa Song      
                                                                                         
Matthew David Parker, a salsa instructor, insists that choosing a song is just as important as learning the moves. When you are starting out, pick a song that has a range of about four beats to the bar. A more appropriate song will have about 180 beats per minute. Internalize its beats and tempo so that you can master the speed and choose your moves.

Matthew David Parker, A Master of Salsa Formations

Matthew David Parker has mastered all the styles of salsa dancing and is now spreading his art and knowledge with students at his very own dance studio, Lafayette Salsa Dance Studio, in Lafayette, Louisiana. Here Matthew David Parker imparts his students with the knowledge of basic step patterns and movements.

Salsa has its roots in different cultures that give it different genres and style formations. The formations mostly get their names from their land of origin. The Los Angeles style is a linear form of salsa using dips and arm movement. There are sensual intricacies which are also revealed in its styling. The Miami style originates from Cuba, and is known for its “Tap & Step” characteristics as its formation includes tap between measures. The famous Rueda style also traces its origins to Cuba. It is a group dance performed to the sound of lively music beats which makes it visually spectacular. The Casino style is more circular in formation and is considered to be one of the more tricky and complex styles. The Puerto Rican style mostly focuses on the footwork aspect of the dance. The mambo originates from New York – it is characterized by the use of body waves, rib cage movement, shimmying, freestyle footwork and shines.

No one style can be considered better or less so to any others. Every dancer has their own form that suits him or her best. Matthew David Parker understands the flexibility of each dancer and trains each student accordingly. In salsa, as they commonly say “to each, their own”.