Cuban Salsa and Rueda New York Style or…Salsa with Style!
At Salsaché, we have Crossbody Salsa, Chachacha and Mambo (New York Style) classes every Wednesday at Gym4All in Nottingham. These are our newest addition of classes in Nottingham and they attract people wanting to be pushed and become more knowledgeable about techniques in partnerwork and fancy footwork. They are always high energy classes!
Please click here to know the details of the classes in Nottingham or stay here to read on the history of the stylish New York Salsa and watch a few videos.
History
New York style is danced in a line similar to crossbody salsa “on 1”. However, unlike crossbody, it is danced on the second beat of the music (“on 2”). There is greater emphasis on performing “shines” in which dancers separate themselves and dance solo with intricate footwork and styling for a time.
Though he did not create New York style, Eddie Torres is credited with popularizing this dance.
There are two distinct developments of New York style as a music and dance genre:
- Primary evolution from Mambo era was introduced to New York due to influx of migrating dissidents from all the Caribbean and other Latin migrants during Pre/Post Cuban Revolution in the 1950s and 1960s This era is known as the “Palladium Era”. At this time, the music and dance was called “Mambo” or “Rhumba”—connoting the general term without being specific. The most famous dancer during this era was Puerto-Rican descendant Pedro “Cuban Pete” Aguilar, also known “The King of Latin Beat”.
- Secondary evolution during the late 1970s, Latin Puerto Ricans migrants, contributed amazingly to the New York style development during the “NuYorican” era of Héctor Lavoe which greatly popularized this dance and music and modern Latin music throughout the world. Puerto Rican style superstars were the most important musicians during the era, such as Ray Baretto (“The Godfather”) and many others. There are also artists that transcend both periods, notably the legendary Puerto Rican Tito Puente (“The Mambo King”).
New York style emphasizes harmony with the percussive instruments in salsa music, such as the congas, timbales, and clave, since many or all of those instruments often mark the second beat in the music. This feature makes this dance very musical that’s why a lot of artists use this style for shows.
New York salsa in Nottingham
Nottingham is predominantly a cross body salsa place which means there’s a lot of people dancing New York style on1 and L.A style. In Nottingham not a lot of people dance on2 New York style due to the lack of expertise in that style (even if there was a class taught by DJ Jamil, who used to live in Nottingham and now lives in London, in Via Fossa). Salsaché’s aim is to right that wrong and inspire people to dance New York style on2 in good old Nottingham! Every Wednesday at the Gym4all Studio in the centre of Nottingham, you have the opportunity to learn from Tamba (who trained with some of the best dancers in that style) and Emanuela who has countless years of experience! Not only you have the opportunity of dancing Salsa on2 but you can also learn Chachacha! Click here for more info!
Some important people in that style: Eddie Torres, Melissa Rosado, Santo Rico, Yamulee, Vittico, Juan Matos, Adoldo Indacochea, Griselle Ponce, Tito and Tamara