When does salsa not become salsa?

[Sagitta]

I'm at a point where my dancing is getting weirder. I mean I barely know west coast, but I love doing this sugar push kind of move where I make contact with the follower and push off her. Then there is a little tango in there...now and then a ronde slips in...oh and a couple swing moves...

I still believe I'm dancing salsa...but I started thinking how much further can I take this... What do you think?

How much do you incorporate of your other dances into salsa?

[Josh]

When does salsa not become salsa?

I'd have to say it's almost gone when you do a corte, and long gone when you do a twinkle. :p

[genEus]

I'd have to say it's almost gone when you do a corte, and long gone when you do a twinkle. :p

(or if you actually know what the heck those things mean)


j/k

[DCR]

I enjoy doing a lil curly shuffle every now and then

[Big10]

How much do you incorporate of your other dances into salsa?
The particular level of "mixing" depends on the song, but I've incorporated bits of every other dance I know into Salsa at some point. All roads lead to Salsa. :cool:

It's hard to say how much non-Salsa dancing will turn it into something else. Probably one main factor is to stay within an 8-count framework. Also, you should be able to transition back to the Salsa basic anytime you stray away. Other than that, just have fun!

[tangotime]

maybe you do not realise that 95 % of the moves you dance, came from other dances. remember , salsa is a hybrid, born out of mambo, born out of bolero ,born out of son etc.etc., the dance has also " borrowed " and adapted moves from some of the strangest places. For eg. , the stutter that is sometimes danced , came from q.step , take too long to list all the swing moves ,so---- I think as long as one modifies the movements, and retains the essence of the dance , many things work very well. ( the snake is another eg. and pot stirrer ) The acrobatics that are employed in show work, all come from other genres . If one looks at the original Mambo from the 40/ 50s, it really is much closer to its original intent ., but , like most genres, change happens-- for the good ?-- sometimes . I think the current music being played gives far more leeway to interpretation , but I think you also have to have some restraint to preserve its identity .And, lastly, if it please you, then I guess thats what really counts .

[Sabor]

salsa does not become salsa when the sun is eclipsed by a heavenly body..

[tangotime]

Very ethereal !

[danzur]

the moves you dance, came from other dances.

I tell my students to see if they can incorporate moves they are learning/have learned from other dances into other dances. There is a lot of them you can use, though some of them may have to be modified slightly. This is what I find exciting about dancing!

[MacMoto]

I still believe I'm dancing salsa...but I started thinking how much further can I take this... What do you think?

You should be able to do pretty much whatever you like with a good follower as long as it doesn't screw up her timing (right on the 1, left on the 5). Happy experimenting ;).

[Joe]

You would seem to be dancing swango. :)

[tangotime]

I know what you are refering to-- it has not reached the u.k. yet ( I dont think ? ) Curious to know , what effect its having elsewhere ?--- Ceroc/leroc is the current fad here .

[marktheshark]

Well, you should try to avoid cross-overs/New Yorks...

[tj]

Being able to mix in whatever styles/moves you've borrowed is one of the strengths of salsa...

[borikensalsero]

When a circle becomes a square, you can pretty much notice the original object is gone... The square neither revolutionized nor evolved, the circle simply went extinct...