Different spanish dances

[k187]

What exactly are the differences between spanish dances like merengue, salsa, bachata, etc? what's the difference b/w salsa and merengue?

 

[Sagitta]

Welcome to df k187! Very vague questions...

merengue - your basic step is 1,2, 1,2 or quick, quick, quick...classic merengue that everyone knows is Suavamente by Elvis Crespo

salsa - Your basic step is quick, quick, slow....many songs..good Cd with nice variety to "salsa fresca - hits of the 90s)

bachata -- you step quick, quick, quick, hip raise...one bachata CD I can think of is "bachata rosa"

I could go on about the different instruments that play etc, histories etc...but then I would be here all day. I suggest you do searches, such as for "bachata" to find about bachata and build up your knowledge that way.

 

[Sabor]

What exactly are the differences between spanish dances like merengue, salsa, bachata, etc? what's the difference b/w salsa and merengue?

hi k187.. far as i know these are latin (not spanish) music and dance genres .. mostly originating relatively in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic among others given the dances u named .. there's also Cumbia (Colombia)

Spanish dances would be Paso Doble, Flamenco, Sevillanas.. which are quite different in rythme and dance style..

As far as the difference betw. Salsa and merengue.. is that its different music, different beat composition and thus dance.. merengue is a simple 1,2 .. 1,2 .. 1,2 count structure, while salsa (mambo) is a relatively more complicated rythme comprised of 8 beats broken down into 2 sets of 4 counts 1234 .. 5678 where the 4 & 8 are the transition dance counts..

now to get a decent picture of the difference go check a salsa club in your area and it will become hopefully clearer and maybe someone will show u the difference in terms of the basic stepping to those counts.. so start there then see what happens.. cheers.

 

[Sagitta]

Good catch sabor - about Spanish vs Latin distinction. Another option if you fid it difficult to go to a latin club k187 is to look at video clips on the web.