Salsa Dance

The Salsa dance originated in the 1970's in conjunction with with a shift in Latin music from the stacatto style cha cha and mambo music to a smoother style of Latin music. Salsa was derived from Mambo and is sometimes called the next generation mambo or salsa on two. Salsa dancing has been influenced by many other dance genres but has been more heavily influenced by various swing and hustle dance genres. Many of the patterns and movements in Salsa came from Hustle dancing. The music is faster than the West Coast or East Coast swing or Hustle but smooth and has its own signature style.

The Salsa dance combines a walking step, which can be done in place, forward and back or sideways with a two beat with a rock step that is used as a breaking action. Salsa is probably currently the most popular dance in San Diego county and perhaps in the United States. There are many places to dance Salsa in San Diego county including most dance studios, nightclubs, Salsa meet up groups and Salsa competitions. There are a few different styles of salsa depending on the region of the U.S., for instance there is a L.A. style that uses a more linear form, whereas Colombian is more circular and uses a different style of footwork. There is also a Miami and a New York style of salsa. Because of the salsa congresses and conventions going global, more and more there is a generic salsa that is used everywhere with some minor distinctions by region.

The Pattie Wells' Dancetime studio has one of the largest number of qualified American style Latin dance instructors in San Diego including Jose Bello, Stephanie Swain, David Nguyen and MaryBeth Hughes. Our salsa professional dance instructors use the innovative Core Elements Training program and include education on the different forms of Salsa including Columbian, L.A. style and New York style Salsa variations. We are crazy about Latin dancing, particularly the salsa and feature group dance classes on Tuesdays and Fridays, a Latin & Salsa monthly dance party and salsa gathering around town and meet up groups.

View Our Salsa Dance Videos

Learn Salsa Dance
in San Diego
Dance Classes & Private Lessons