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Latin Dance - Salsa Dance,
Attire
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| What is Latin Dance? |
| by: Shawn
Trautman |
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| Latin couples dancing is the hot
and spicy corner of the dance world. Just as the dances
and subcultures vary in different parts of Latin
America, so the Latin dances and related dance
subcultures vary across the globe. The Latin dances
include Cha-Cha, Salsa, Mambo, Samba, and several
others. |
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| Where to Learn and
Attire for Learning |
| You can find Latin dance
instruction at many ballrooms; however, once you have
the hang of the basic timing and some of the
foundational moves, you might want to broaden your
horizons. If you want to learn the truly Latin versions
of the dances and dance in the subculture, you might be
better off seeking out a specialized dance studio or a
freelance instructor who teaches salsa, meringue,
bacchata, or cha-cha at a local Latin nightclub or even
restaurant. The dress code might be dictated by where
you are learning to dance and whether you will be
staying out dancing to practice following your lesson.
That being said, you should strive to be comfortable
when learning the Latin dances; you will be getting an
aerobic workout, especially with salsa. When learning,
wear as comfortable of shoes as possible. Save your
feet for when you go out dancing. |
| Where to Dance and
Attire for Going out Dancing |
| Salsa clubs are the most popular
place to go out Latin dancing. Prepare yourself for a
high-energy evening followed by a day of very sore
feet. When Latin dancers, particularly salsa dancers,
show up to party, they get down to business and go
until the wee hours of the morning. Be prepared to
dress to the nines in your club wear ladies, this is
the only dance subculture where strappy sandals are not
only acceptable, but the norm for footwear. A few words
of caution for the ladies regarding footwear: Try not
to twist or break your ankles, and try to protect your
toes from errant feet of other dancers. Gentlemen,
dress sharply and wear polished shoes. Your clothing
will most likely be dictated by your local climate and
the season for both ladies and gentlemen. |
| Most Popular
Dances |
| The most popular Latin dance is
the salsa. There are several types of salsa out there,
some of them being called dances, similar to a square
dance, except they are performed in a circle (no
corners necessary). However, the rumba, tango,
meringue, bacchata, cha-cha, mambo, and samba also fall
into the Latin dance category. |
| Of Special
Note |
| As you dive into the Latin dancing
subculture, keep in mind two key descriptive terms: fun
and sensual. The Latin dances are often described as
the most fun and sensual of all four social dance
subcultures. As with any of the dance subcultures, it
is important to be sensitive to cultural differences as
you get out and embark upon new communities of people
everyone is out dancing to have a good time. If you are
not Latin American by birth or heritage, keep in mind
that you are immersing yourself in a corner of someone
else's heritage for the evening, so be respectful of
that. |
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