Thanksgiving Eve
Salsa Pizza Party
November 26th
9:00p – 2:00a

Every Wednesday
Westie Wednesday West Coast Swing
9:00p – 11:30p

1^st & 3^rd Fridays
R&B Line Dance Party
8:00p – 1:00a

Second Friday
West-Coast Swing
and Hustle Party
8:00p – 1:00a

Fourth Friday
California Mix Party
8:00p – 12:30a

1^st & 3^rd Saturdays
Latin Night Salsa Party
9:00p – 2:30a

1^st, 3^rd, 5^th Sundays
Tango Brunch Milonga
11:30a – 3:00p

Every Sunday
Ballroom Mix Party
3:00p – 7:30p

No partner necessary
Wear comfortable shoes
All classes are $10
Lesson Pricing Info.

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Where to dance
in South Jersey <–New
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Last updated
Thu, 11/20/08 8:12 AM

Salsa

The basic step of salsa dancing probably derives from the Rumba, often called the grandfather of the Latin dances. The Rumba originates from Cuba and it was first seen in the United States around 1920. Salsa dancing as we know it today was mainly developed by Puerto Rican musicians in the Latin Quarter in New York City. Casino Rueda from Cuba has also had a big influence on the Miami style of salsa.

Salsa is danced by stepping on 3 consecutive beats of music and then pausing for 1 beat, then repeating. The step timing can be thought of as step, step, step, pause; step, step, step, pause. Dance teachers count the step timing as quick, quick, slow; quick, quick, slow. Each quick consumes one beat of music, each slow consumes two beats of music. Depending on how you hear and feel the music, you may start the dance on any beat of the measure you wish. Most beginners start the dance on the first beat of the measure.

Though salsa is danced at approximately twice the tempo of the Rumba, the two dances share much in common. Salsa and Rumba music are both written in 4/4 time, with four beats to each measure. Two measures of music are required to complete one full basic step. In the music, the heavy beat is the one beat, the first beat of the measure. While the music tempo of rumba is typically 104 beats per minute, the music tempo of salsa is typically 180 to 210 beats per minute.

In both dances three steps are taken during each measure of music. In other words, three steps are taken to four beats of music. Recall that the step timing is counted quick, quick, slow; quick, quick, slow. Learning to count the music correctly is the first big hurdle for beginners. Students are seldom able to understand the dance fully until they are able to count the music and the step timing correctly. Notice that the cow bell sounds on the first and third beats of each measure.

Learn more about Salsa Lessons at the Atrium

Salsa/Latin Dance Parties at the Atrium

ATRIUM DANCE STUDIO
4721 N. Crescent Blvd. (Route 130)
Pennsauken, NJ 08110
856-661-9166