Salsa Dancing with Matthew David Parker

You have been longing to learn salsa dancing.  Matthew David Parker, a salsa dance instructor, tells more about this sexy and seductive dance.

Salsa Styles
There are two major categories of salsa styles. Those that mainly use forward and backward movements done in a straight line (linear style), and those where the dancers circle each other during movements, also called circular style. Both styles use the mambo step as a foundation for the moves.

Linear Styles

Los Angeles Style
Los Angeles Style is very flashy using very linear moves with many flips and dips. The dance is more sensual and the dancers more synchronized. It is mainly done in display dancing. The dancers break on the ‘1’

New York Style
This style is also called the mambo style. This style allows for more individual display. It has more footwork, rib cage movement, body waves, shines, and shimmying. Dancers break on the ‘2’ it was popularized by Eddie Torres.

Puerto Rican Style
This style has very technical footwork. The style is more popular in the East Coast where more Puerto Rican Migrants settled. 

Circular Styles

Miami Style
This style is also known as the Classico Cubano or Casino style. There are numerous arm hooks known as ganchos.  The dancers make taps in between steps, such that the dance is characteristic of the tap and step. 

Cuban Style
Dancers in Cuban style display more individual moves. It is more of a non-partner dance. The female partner is more restricted but is able to vary her movements with the percussive beat.  It is tougher for new leaners but is becoming more popular.

Rueda
This is a group dance. The dancers follow a leader who dictates pace and movement.

Matthew David Parker says dancers are only limited by their creativity in salsa dancing. There is so much experimentation to be done in moves and pace.

Matthew David Parker - How Salsa Keeps You Fit

Are you looking for a way to combine fun and fitness? Salsa dancing to keep fit is a good way to combine these two needs. It is well known that the best dancers also have some of the most attractive figures. Matthew David Parker, who owns a salsa dance studio in Lafayette, Louisiana, explains some benefits of learning this beautiful dance.

Better movement- A Salsa dance uses different movements that involve weight shifting, small kicks, and tapping.  The muscles in the lower limbs do most of the execution of these movements. The upper body must remain level during movement which commands better core movement and conditioning. The dancer also develops better motor skills by mastering forward-backward movements, and turns.

Weight loss –It takes 3500 calories to burn 1 pound of fat. An average of 1 pound of weight per week can be lost if you put in around 2 hours of dancing daily. Dancing firms up your muscles by development of more muscle.

Cardio endurance – more hours dancing means more exercise for the heart and lungs.

Natural high – you will induce a natural high with the release of the hormone dopamine, which is a “feel good” hormone.

Higher sex appeal – improved confidence, better-toned muscles and the ability to execute dance moves will generally make you more attractive.

Matthew David Parker says learning salsa can see you reaping health and body image benefits in a relatively short time. It is the perfect hobby; letting you learn something useful and have fun.