Salsa

We teach cross-body style Salsa On1 and On2; as well as Cuban and casino/’la rueda. In many styles of Salsa dancing, as a dancer shifts their weight by stepping, the upper body remains level and nearly unaffected by the weight changes. Weight shifts cause the hips to move. Arm and shoulder movements are also incorporated. Paradiso Academy’s style of salsa dancing involves significant movement above and below the waist, with up-and-down shoulder movements and shifting of the rib-cage. We call this “Cuban body movement” as it mimics the authentic movements of the originators of this exciting style of dance called ‘Salsa’.

Since Salsa is a popular music form, it is open to improvisation and thus it is continuously evolving. Modern salsa styles are associated and named to the original geographic areas that developed them. There are often devotees of each of these styles outside of their home territory. Characteristics that may identify a style include: timing, basic steps, foot patterns, body movement, turns and figures, attitude, dance influences and the way that partners hold each other. At Paradiso Academy, we teach first the authentic and traditional foundations of Salsa, while guiding students to find their own personality and creativity within the genre.