Cultural Dances: Salsa

Background

Like the sound of the name, salsa is a form of dancing that reigns supreme in Latin America. Basic traditions and evolutions of the dance date back to both Cuban and African movements. Even though the origins of this dance style originated in Latin countries such as Cuba and other island nations, the name was actually born in none other than New York City. Back in the 70’s, Americans coined this term in relation to Spanish culture and the rhythms present in this particular dance type. The most common movements in the dance practice are done with partners, similar to a very popular and traditional dance called the “Tango”. Movements are swift and quick, with a lot of emphasis on the hips and head turning. Many elaborate costumes can be worn, as well as high heels for the female dancer. Places that hold salsa dancing as a recreational event or competition tend to be in ballrooms during the evening or late night clubs. As a matter of fact, the club scene in New York City is where a lot of people discovered late night dancing as entertainment. It is one of the few dance forms besides ballroom that is held formally in the evening for a majority of the time. For a more in-depth history, Salsa Dancing Addict  breaks down the roots.

In the Media

Photo credit : onlinesalsa

Popular shows like Dancing with the Stars emulate this dance form during many of their shows. The salsa style is very upbeat and draws in a lot of the audiences attention. While it doesn’t have as many steps as other dances, people can still find it somewhat difficult to keep up with the momentum of their partners. An easy way to break down the dancing is to watch this simple and helpful video that introduces the basic steps. You will be shaking it up in no time!

The Dark Side of Dance

Dance Moms

Throughout history, many dance practices have been portrayed as extremely cruel and harsh. From the time children begin learning to dance at early ages, they are critiqued at an adult level in order to build a tough skin and self-confidence. However, are these methods ultimately helping children or harming their self-esteem?

A lot of attention has been drawn to this through the media and television shows. Lifetime’s Dance Moms highlights competition life for young dancers ranging from ages 6 – 14. Choreographer and owner of the studio, Abby Lee Miller, yells and screams at her young dancers to perform perfectly and the high levels of stress that they endure eventually end up taking a toll. Unfortunately, these methods seem to be taking away the passion and love for the art of dance.

ABC News  covered the subject of controversy within the show and whether it is healthy for young children to go through such intense critiques.

The Pyramid

What the show Dance Moms is well known for is the dreaded pyramid. Using this method, Abby ranks the way dancers have performed from the bottom tier to the top tier according to their most recent competition placements. It’s extremely controversial because it makes young children feel as if they aren’t good enough. If they don’t dance up to par, they get stuck at the bottom, leaving an imperfect feeling. The following clip shows a scene describing the pyramid and how the girls were ranked after a specific competition.

According to Abby Lee Miller, winning is everything. Unfortunately, I feel that ranking dancers sheds a very negative light on the dance world. Since dance is an art form, it’s terribly hard for me to view it as a competitive sport. Yes, some dancers are always going to be naturally better than others. But with the right training and skills, beginners can improve on technique and display really beautiful movement and choreography without being the “best” dancers in the world.

Weekly Step: The Pirouette

Throughout history, a lot of dance has its main roots through ballet and ballet technique. While ballet is argued to be one of the most difficult dance practices, other dance forms including modern and jazz use ballet steps. One of the most common steps incorporated is the Pirouette, which is a basic turning motion by going on the toes and spinning in a full 360 degree motion. As for ballet, pirouettes can be accomplished on flat or on pointe, and the number of pirouettes completed depends on how much momentum is occuring.

Photo credit : Photo credit by bichxa

Dance can even be looked at from a scientific perspective. Spinning in a fast motion is a form of acceleration. In reality, there are several different steps involved in the pirouette itself. You need to be able to balance up on one foot and most importantly, you need to be able to spot. Spotting is a common technique used by dancers in order to keep themselves from getting dizzy. To prevent this, the dancer will normally stare at a spot or an object straight in front of them and snap their head back to that spot within the turn as quickly as possible. To start the pirouette, both knees must be bent and one foot should be slightly in front of the other (usually the opposite of the direction turning). Using spring from the calf muscles, turn from the point of the foot in front.

This clip is of one of the most well-known professional male ballet dancers, Mikhail Baryshnikov. He completes 11 pirouettes in a row, which was featured in the movie White Nights. Take note of his spotting and accuracy. He makes the move look very clean, smooth, and simple.

This next clip is of a young girl during a record-breaking 40 pirouettes. Talk about skill! And people say that dance isn’t a sport..

The pirouette might seem a bit complicated to those who have never tried before, but it can be easily accomplished by following these simple steps!