Cuban Salsa. Why You Should Start with L.A. Salsa.
Cuban, New York, and Cali are all beautiful Salsa styles. But you should start by learning LA. Salsa. If you live in North America, especially in Toronto, most clubs will play “Los Angeles or L.A. Salsa,” also called “On One” Salsa or “Nightclub” Salsa. But it is not just because it is the most played. Here are some other reasons why you should start with LA. Salsa.
L.A. Salsa is the Most Popular Around the World
At Salsa Congresses and Conventions, as well as Salsa clubs, L.A. Salsa is the most popular. Ultimately, you want to learn all kinds of Salsa styles. You want to include elements from all of them to make Salsa your own. So you shouldn’t be favouring one, but if you are starting and want to learn, L.A. Salsa is the most danced and practical choice. You will have a large community of people with whom you can practice, hone and share your skill.
L.A. Salsa has Amazing and Beautiful Moves
I love L.A. Style because of all the tricks, dips, and quick turns. The variety of moves is possible because you’re dancing in a straight line instead of in circular movements. Cuban Salsa is known for circular movements, and quite often, you’re not signalling your partner but using their momentum.
This might sound like jargon for someone who’s never danced before. But, if you want a visual aid to understand LA Salsa, go on YouTube and look up Salsa dance. What you will see most is L.A. Salsa, where the leader turns the follower, and the follower does multiple turns into a dip.
I like to describe L.A. Salsa as a road trip on the highway with friends. It is fast and exciting. Imagine that the sun is shining and you are in your convertible with the top down, listening to the music and enjoying the speed, energy and adventure. That’s L.A. Salsa and why you should start your Salsa journey here.
L.A. Salsa is Easier to Learn
For me, L.A. Salsa was easier to learn because of the rules and structure. For example, I had two left feet when I started to dance Salsa, so the counts helped me understand where my body was supposed to be. In addition, the structure and the clear patterns also guided me on how to twist, land, etc. Having clarity built my confidence as I knew that if I put effort into learning the rules, I would be able to dance. Although there are rules and structure in Cuban Salsa, in my experience, there’s a lot more flow, which was confusing at the beginning.
I loved learning Los Angeles Style Salsa first because it helped build my confidence and gave me the skills to master many different dance styles, including Kizomba, Bachata, and Tango. So my advice is to start with L.A. Salsa because of its popularity, excitement and ease of learning. Then add Cali, Cuban and New York styles to your mix and you will never be short of partners on the dance floor.
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