Salsa is one of the most popular dances today and is practiced worldwide. From nightclubs to people’s living rooms, the dance has a rich history originating in Cuba in the late 19th century. Influenced by a variety of music genres and forms of dance, the modern form of Salsa dancing and Salsa music came to be in the 1920s. The contemporary Salsa dance that we know today contains roots within dance traditions from Puerto Rico, Columbia, and an array of other Caribbean countries.
It has a pattern of six steps over eight with a basic rhythm of quick, quick, slow; quick, quick, slow, using the 1,2,3 and 5,6,7 beats (skipping beats 4 and 8). Salsa is traditionally danced with partners facing each other in small steps with men taking the lead as they step forward with their left foot first and their partner moves in the opposite direction, moving by stepping backward with their right foot.
With a structure that’s easy to learn, Salsa dancing has a variety of benefits when it comes to getting more in tune with your body.
Here are a few ways Salsa dancing can help you:
- Improve Mood & Mental Health
- Get In Shape
- Better Communication Skills
Improve Mood & Mental Health
We all strive to be better both physically and mentally. As with other forms of dance, salsa dancing greatly improves your mood and mental health. According to a 2007 study on dance published in the British Journal of General Practice, dance has been shown to boost one’s self-esteem which results from moving to music and cooperating with others, as well as from making new friends.
A UCLA Health study from 2021 also found similar results. They surveyed 1,000 dancers across the world with a history of depression, anxiety, or trauma, and found that conscious, free-flowing dance produced positive health benefits among participants. 98% of the dancers surveyed said that dancing improved their mood, stating more confidence and compassion as some of its benefits.
Dance has also been shown to improve your memory as repeating these patterns and rhythms fires off synapses in your brain which are responsible for transmitting information across your body and activates your long-term memory.
Get In Shape
As Salsa is a dance focused on fast-paced movement, it provides a variety of heart-healthy benefits. Like running or lifting weights, Salsa helps you build endurance and stamina. It can also help you lose weight, being shown to burn off over 400 calories in just one hour. As you release this extra energy, it’s a great way to get rid of pent-up stress and feel more relaxed overall as a result. Other long-term benefits include better coordination, increased muscle tone, and better posture.
Compared to traditional forms of exercise, it’s a great way to change up your routine and try something new whether you’re taking a private dance lesson or in a group setting. The confidence gained by being more comfortable in your body will translate to other aspects of your life as you’ll carry yourself more proudly and feel less shy.
Better Communication Skills
Like learning various other dances, being able to communicate clearly is key to becoming a good Salsa dancer. Whether you’re dancing with a partner in a group setting or an instructor one-on-one, you’ll need to be able to tell them if they’re moving too fast or making you uncomfortable in any way. This process also helps you develop your communication skills based on body language and signals. While you develop clear communication with your dance partner, it also allows you to feel confident and in sync as you’re both on the same page.
Get Moving With World Champion Productions
Interested in learning Salsa? At World Champion Productions, we offer Salsa dance lessons in a variety of styles fit for any skill level. Try taking a beginner’s class with us to decide which dance style is for you!
Ready to get started? Contact us today to learn more about our dance lessons!