History of Latin Dance

Whether it's the Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Macarena or Lambada, all of them have two common factors - rhythm and rhyme. Rhythm is defined by distinct beats and rhyme gets the whole lot grooving! We all have at some point danced, seen the dance or wished to dance in the sensuous Latin style. The frilly colorful dresses, haute pair of heels and gorgeous bodies have enamored endless spectators. Streamline bodies of male dancers have left enough number of women, just gaping at them. Such is the power of Latin dances, that it is the rhythm that the world dances to today!

The origin of Latin dances stems from the poor Europeans and negro slaves. As a recreational activity, these slaves would create music with the beat of the drums or with the mere tapping of feet. This form of music developed over the years, into Latin music for such dances. The negroes used to dance to these beats, to relax after a hard day's labor. Latin music later evolved as an amalgamation of jazz and Afro-American music.

Salsa
Salsa has its roots from the fusion of Cuban and Puerto Rican music and the jazz culture of New York. To look at its etymology, 'Salsa' literally means 'sauce'. Evidently, it derives its name from a strong flavored sauce. The dance form originates from the time when the slaves were given the liberty to dance to their own beats, on the streets. The congregation on the streets to perform these dances was called 'Santerias'. The music had complex drum beats called as 'toques'. The early stages of Salsa saw drummers mimicking the dancer's body, whereas in the modern day, it is the dancer dancing to the beats of the drummer.

Mambo
Mambo grew as a dance form of the Haitians in Cuba. Back home in Haiti, 'Mambo' means a voodoo priestess who perform the rituals of witch craft, through dancing. The music of Mambo is a blend of the Swing and Cuban music. It was Perez Prado, who introduced the dance in a night-club in Havana, in 1943. The Mambo craze did not last long however. Its biggest contribution to the Latin American dances is that it led to the origin of Cha Cha Cha.

Cha Cha Cha
Cha Cha Cha gained popularity in 1954, as an offshoot of Mambo. Previously, Cha Cha Cha was known as the 'Triple Mambo'. This dance form developed as dancers began dancing to the 'Rumba' with an extra beat. The dance derives its name from the beat, that the feet create, while performing the dance.

Macarena
The credit of Macarena goes to a Venezuelan dance teacher, who came up with the dance steps to engage her class in some activity. The famous song by 'Los del Rio' has been associated with it, since its inception.

Brazilian Samba
As the name suggests, the dance found its originators among the Brazilian people. The slaves from south-west Africa came to Brazil, to work in the colonies in the Bahia plantation. Today, it has become Brazil. For these slaves, Samba meant praying, the calling upon, the blessings of God. It was when the African rhythms merged with Latin beats, that it gave birth to this unique style of dancing. Samba was danced on the streets and at the festivals to celebrate.

Happiness many a times finds its manifestation in dance. Dance has always been a spontaneous reaction to a jubilant mood. Many dancing styles have evolved and transformed over the ages, yet it remains an inherent quality among us, waiting to be explored. So pull on those dancing shoes and shake a leg like there's no tomorrow!