Action Figures - Salsa Dancing Then and Now

Salsa Dancing has been one of the major types of dance culture that has been very popular these days all over the world. This type of dance originally was a Cuban cultural dance but now becoming a worldwide dance craze and we can see festivals of it in every parts of the globe.

Yes! Salsa dancing has reached the pedestal of success in the realm of arts. But as years go by, its true essence and its cultural message that embodies in the dance is slowly diminishing. The traditional dance that was exclusively Cuban is now becoming a world wide tradition. What are those factors that are gradually changing now in Salsa Dancing that many are afraid of that our new generation of youth can barely recognized it as a cultural dance?

Steps.

Before: What makes salsa, salsa before? Salsa dancing is a dance of emotion: love, joy, hatred and despair. It is a very sensuous type of dance with loads of flirtatious moves and facial expressions. Commonly, it is danced by male and a female in a tune of a song that will fit to their emotion that they are trying to reveal. The steps are more subtle and were centered on the traditional steps inherited through their Cuban ancestors.

Now: Although the basic steps are still used but the routines are more modern and have included some combination of different steps of other dances of different countries like Ballroom dancing, Jazz, Cha-Cha and Merengue.

Music.

Before: The beat of Son Motuno is the typical beat that you can hear then in salsa dancing. It is purely Cuban.

Now: The type of music is now a rich blend of Latin-American and Western influences. Aside from the collaboration of steps with different dances, the music is also mixed to give variations to the moves and routines. The rhythm has been altered just to cope with today?s modern type of songs.

Costume.

Before: Since Salsa is a Cuban cultural dance, the costume is colorful and ruffles are the prominent design in the costume without revealing more skin.

Now: Salsaleras costumes are very sexy and revealing. That is why many ?huggable? women don?t dare to do salsa dancing because they are afraid of being laughed at when they wear a salsa dress. You can see in the competitions that Salsaleras are almost wearing undies with designs.

Salsa dancing has changed a lot in steps, music and costume but what was more interesting in salsa dancing today is that it is now becoming an effective workout routine. Many fitness enthusiasts are now promoting salsa dancing as a new enjoyable and effective fitness program and are now gaining positive commentary worldwide especially from prominent celebrities.

But, others are greatly concerned that Salsa won?t be salsa later on. And many are afraid that its true cultural message will soon vanish. As one Cuban says ?there’s no crime in dancing “shallow” salsa or “strange” salsa… but there is a crime in willful ignorance, in disregarding the heritage and origins of the dance that we love. It’s alright not to know, but not to care is a poor approach.?

Maybe it?s now a battle of culture and modernization. But everything has its boundaries. And every culture has its tradition that should be highly preserved for the next generation to come.

?We should stick to Salsa dancing if we say it’s Salsa?

Joanna Rossi, www.salsacircuit.com

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