I do not want to start arguments about what style is better because they are all good. That is not what I am writing about. I learned cuban salsa where I came from and I am a student at this time living in the UK and I am still dancing cuban style when I can. I am finding that where I live here in the UK many of the younger dancers dance crossbody salsa and some colombian and a bit of cuban but not many. I do notice that the very big crossbody parties are trying to get cuban dancers in though and having cuban rooms and this surprise me. I wonder if cuban is getting more popular or if it is getting less popular. What I am asking is that in the UK is there a more popular style for different age or different parts of the country?
Different age and places
- Thread starter Ema
- Start date
DJ Yuca
Son Montuno
As far as I know Cuban was the most popular style here in the 90s then crossbody overtook it over the last decade. The scene has become fractured with many Cuban style dancers sticking to exclusively Cuban nights. The nights just advertised as 'salsa' are mostly xbody/linear dancers but with some Cuban style dancers in attendance, there's usually a mix of music, including some timba. Then there's a few salsa dura/mambo style nights where the music is more hardcore.
There are regional variations but I doubt if anyone knows what they all are, unless someone's done a lot of travelling.
Where are you based?
There are regional variations but I doubt if anyone knows what they all are, unless someone's done a lot of travelling.
Where are you based?
sweavo
Changui
As far as I've gathered from hearing people talk, Cuban style was the first style to go crazy in London, sometime (in the late '80s?) then L.A. style came along as the new kid on the block, and got melded in with Cuban style, leading to "london style" or "cross-body style" which did not claim to be pure LA and fused slot and circular movements. This was pretty much the state of things when I started to get into it in 2001. Then "New York style" started catching on, which meant stricter slot orientation and more spins, though it was still danced on 1. Then in the mid 2000s, on 2 started to catch on, though it's met with a lot of resistance. Now we have quite separate slot and cuban scenes, and it's possible to go for years in one style without seeing more than a couple of flyers for stuff in the other style.
There's the complication too that within the styles called "cuban" you have people dancing actual Casino to Timba music, Son to Son music, and Rumba to Rumba music, then you have people doing random low-grade movements to any old latin pop, reggaeton, etc.
But there is a strong Cuban scene out there. I share the perception that it tends to be the older people.
There's the complication too that within the styles called "cuban" you have people dancing actual Casino to Timba music, Son to Son music, and Rumba to Rumba music, then you have people doing random low-grade movements to any old latin pop, reggaeton, etc.
But there is a strong Cuban scene out there. I share the perception that it tends to be the older people.
Thankyou. I am from the Czech Republic. I stay near Manchester at now but I plan to move to near Birmingham soon. My perception is too that the cuban scene is older but I find that odd because I think the cuban timba music has a young sound to it to me. I love son music and dance as well as timba.
azzey
Son Montuno
Come to Glasgow for a weekend. It's 95% Cuban dancers here. Most of the club nights are free and if you come near the end/beginning of the month you can probably dance wed, thurs, fri, sat, sun.
Generally a mixed crowd age wise, 20s, 30s, 40s etc.
Arta gets a good young crowd of both dancers and non-dancers but is one of the best nights for dancing around here.
Top clubs nights:
- Boteco (every Wednesday). 100% Timba, the odd Bachata and Merengue
- Arta (every Thursday). 100% Timba, the odd Bachata and Merengue
- Boteco (saturdays twice a month). 100% Timba, the odd Bachata and Merengue
- Sunday social (once a month), party in the afternoon. Mix of Timba, Colombian salsa, NY Salsa, the odd Bachata.
- Barca (first and last friday of the month). This is a smaller venue and may or may not be busy. Mix of Timba, Colombian, NY Salsa, the odd Bachata.
salsaholics.co.uk/index.php?Operation=Clubs
The main style is cuban in the dance clubs I have attended...
Where are those clubs you had attended?
I have not noticed any age-related differences in the UK - there are people of all ages in any style. There are some regional differences but I expect it's due to promoting skills and coincidences. For example a strong Cuban-style promotor starts attracting people, once the majority starts dancing Cuban then the newcomers are more likely to learn Cuban, so it continues.
The good news is that if you are prepared to travel you are never too far away from your favourite style
Get some tips from DJ Yuca and you'll be ok in the Midlands.
The good news is that if you are prepared to travel you are never too far away from your favourite style
Get some tips from DJ Yuca and you'll be ok in the Midlands.
WessexSalsero
Changui
Hey Ema, I dance xbody and Cuban in London.
I have to go with SG on the age question. The average age in the Salsa scene is something around 35 regardless of style.
I recall that there was young girl from Leeds posting here some time ago about how she and her (presumably young) mates all love Cuban
and struggle to appreciate xbody.
Other than that I agree with what the others have said about xbody being the dominant style in the UK/London but Cuban and NY/on2
having a signficant presence, too. All 3 styles are growing steadily in my view.
I can only recommend that you try and pick up xbody, too, particularly if you are already a good Cuban dancer.
You are likely to come across xbody Salseros a lot unless you make a concerted effort to go to 100% Cuban places only.
I have to go with SG on the age question. The average age in the Salsa scene is something around 35 regardless of style.
I recall that there was young girl from Leeds posting here some time ago about how she and her (presumably young) mates all love Cuban
and struggle to appreciate xbody.
Other than that I agree with what the others have said about xbody being the dominant style in the UK/London but Cuban and NY/on2
having a signficant presence, too. All 3 styles are growing steadily in my view.
I can only recommend that you try and pick up xbody, too, particularly if you are already a good Cuban dancer.
You are likely to come across xbody Salseros a lot unless you make a concerted effort to go to 100% Cuban places only.
WessexSalsero
Changui
It depends on how competent they both are at social dancing, i.e. how good they are at adapting to their partner.
its really painful actually..i don't know what's worse: leading cross body style on a cuban dancer regardless of level or leading cross body style with a beginner cross body dancer..
I'm a Cross Body dancer, and even if Cuban style dancers tend to actively avoid any event that is not specifically Cuban, it happens all the time. The Cuban follows usually try to say no with, "I only dance Cuban" etc, but it usually work out just fine, to their surprise. Probably they have bad experiences with stiff CB leads trying to teach them to dance "correctly" instead of working with what's there.
You just have to be aware of those loose arms and other Cuban behaviors. They usually are very grounded with excellent body movement. This gives great feedback about where their weight is, and more time to compensate.
SnowDancer
Son Montuno
its really painful actually..i don't know what's worse: leading cross body style on a cuban dancer regardless of level or leading cross body style with a beginner cross body dancer..
The WORST is trying to lead a cumbia dancer who thinks cumbia IS salsa!
salsera_alemana
Changui
Of course not! When I started dancing salsa 19 years ago, there was just "salsa", no distinction between Cuban or Xbody or else. Once you knew the basic step and a few turns, you danced with everbody and went from a Cuban lead to a Puerto Rican (xbody) lead and then to maybe a Colombian lead. The key is your ability to follow. If you are a good follower and your lead is a fairly good lead then you should have no problem at all, no matter what style, and you should become very versatile.