Salsa is a different dance style, which has six steps of dance for eight counts of music. It is a combination of many cultural dances like the Afro-Caribbean and Latin sounds. Salsa is not a dance evolved from one single place. It is a mixture of many dances like Mambo from Cuba, Danzon from England/France, Rhumbas from Africa, etc; but still many believe that Cubans created this passionate dance style that has won the heartsof people all over the world. The French that fled from an island Haiti brought the country-dance or the Danzón of England/ France

The name Salsa is given by New York, though the dance was not created by them. Salsa is a partner dance. The Salsa dance has many same moves. It has forward and backward moves but more of side to side moves. Most of the present steps of Salsa come from Latin America and U.S.A. Salsa is not only a couple dance, it can be a solo or a line performance or many other art forms. Invention of Salsa was not only by person but different people played wonderful role in molding the dance.

While it is definitely more than just Cuban, a large part of the dance originated on the island. The French who fled from Haiti brought the Danzón or the country-dance of England/France to Cuba. This dance began to mix with the African rhumbas such as Guaguanco, Colombia and Yambú. Added to this is the Són of the Cuban people, which was a mixture of the Spanish troubadour (sonero) and the African drumbeats. This type of syncretism occurred in other places like the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Puerto Rico, albeit not at the same grand level and manner as in Cuba.

Before and around the time of World War II, the music traveled to Mexico City and New York. It was in New York where the term "Salsa" was created. In fact, the use of the word salsa for danceable Latin Music was coined in 1933 when Cuban song composer Ignacio Piñerio wrote the song Échale Salsita. According to the late Alfredo Valdés Sr. the idea occurred to Piñerio after eating food that lacked Cuban spices. According to Valdés, the word served as a type of protest against bland food. It then flourished as a popular nickname for a variety of Hispanic influenced music including the rhumba, Són, Montuno, Guaracha, Mambo, Cha, cha, cha, Merengue, Guajira, Cumbia and others. Increased syncretism in New York occurred of the different sounds.

It is not only Cuban; nevertheless we must give credit to Cuba for the origin and ancestry of creation. It is here where Contra-Danze (Country Dance) of England/France, later called Danzón, which was brought by the French who fled from Haiti, begins to mix itself with Rhumbas of African origin (Guaguanco, Colombia, Yambú). Add Són of the Cuban people, which was a mixture of the Spanish troubadour (sonero) and the African drumbeats and flavora and a partner dance flowered to the beat of the clave.

New York created the term "Salsa", but it did not create the dance. The term became popular as nickname to refer to a variety of different music, from several countries of Hispanic influence: Rhumba, Són Montuno, Guaracha, Mambo, Cha cha cha, Danzón, Són, Guguanco, Cubop, Guajira, Charanga, Cumbia, Plena, Bomba, Festejo, Merengue, among others. Many of these have maintained their individuality and many were mixed creating "Salsa".

Incorporating styling techniques into salsa has become very common, for both men and women: shimmies, leg work, arm work, body movement, spins, body isolations, shoulder shimmies, rolls, and even hand styling have become a huge trend in the salsa scene. Salsa's roots are Cuban, but salsa is open to improvisation and thus it is continuously evolving. Dance styles are associated with the original geographic areas that developed them. There are often devotees of each of these styles outside of their home territory. Characteristics that may identify a style include: foot patterns, body rolls and movements, turns and figures, attitude, dance influences, and the way that partners hold each other. The point in a musical bar music where a slightly larger step is taken (the break step) and the direction the step moves can often be used to identify a style.It has a Funky, sexy, spicy feel to it. You must feel the vibes between you and your partner.

Latin American Styles, originating from Cuba and surrounding areas and then expanding to Colombia, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the rest of the Latin states; also heavily influence "Miami" style which is a fusion of Cuban style and North American version.

North American Salsa, (sometimes referred by Latin Americans as "American Salsa"). Two types of Salsa with distinct tempo differences; Los Angeles Salsa which breaks on the first beat "On 1" and New York Salsa which breaks on the second beat "On 2". Both have different origins and evolutionary path, as the New York Salsa is heavily influenced by Mambo and Jazz instruments in its early growth stage.

The appropriate name for Cuban Salsa is Casino as it is known throughout Latin America. Dancing Casino is an expression of popular social culture; Latin Americans consider casino as part of social and cultural activities centering around their popular music. The origins of the name Casino is derived from the Spanish term for "hall". Historically, Casino traces its origin as a partner dance from the Cuban Son dancing and its rhythmic body motions from Afro-Cuban Rhumba heritage. Son is considered an older version and ancestor to Salsa. Son is danced on delay measure upbeat (contra-tiempo) following the 2-3 clave (Son Clave) whereas Casino is usually danced on downbeat break on 1 or 3 (a-tiempo). Beats 1, 3, 5 and 7 are considered downbeats and 2, 4, 6 and 8 are considered upbeats.

The appropriate name for Cuban Salsa is Casino as it is known throughout Latin America. Dancing Casino is an expression of popular social culture; Latin Americans consider casino as part of social and cultural activities centering around their popular music. The origins of the name Casino is derived from the Spanish term for "hall". Historically, Casino traces its origin as a partner dance from the Cuban Son dancing and its rhythmic body motions from Afro-Cuban Rhumba heritage. Son is considered an older version and ancestor to Salsa. Son is danced on delay measure upbeat (contra-tiempo) following the 2-3 clave (Son Clave) whereas Casino is usually danced on downbeat break on 1 or 3 (a-tiempo). Beats 1, 3, 5 and 7 are considered downbeats and 2, 4, 6 and 8 are considered upbeats.

Geographically, in Latin America, Casino and its variants are danced in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Nicaragua. It is also highly popular in Europe and parts of Asia; there are dedicated small communities all over the world that often meet to dance this form of salsa.This style of salsa is relatively easy to learn, and thus popular among beginners. Few teaching materials have been translated from Spanish to other languages. The music related to the Cuban salsa genre is known as Timba. Many of its musicians have migrated to Europe and North America. Cuban salsa can be seen at the Cuban Salsa Congress [1], which bring dance instructors and musicians to many parts of the world.

Cuban-style Salsa is danced in three points which makes up the circular motion as couple face each other in intricate patterns of arms and body movement. This is distinctive from the North American Salsa styles which is danced in a slot (two points) and linear positions as taught by the North American and European dance studios.

Cuban-style Salsa styling includes men being "machochissmo" and women being feminely sexy, with major body and muscle isolations, through the influence of Rhumba dancing. During the dance, dancers break from each other during percussion solos and perform the "despolete", and advance form of styling in which the male and female partner gets physically close and tease each other without touching through the gyrating of hips and shoulders while performing muscle isolations.The major distinction of Cuban Salsa Styling is that male partners have tendencies to show off (following Afro-Cuban Guaguanco influence) under the guise of cultural behavior of males having to attract attention and tease females. This is the major point of differences between Casino and the rest of the Northern American Salsa as the North American Salsa ascribed to the ballroom adage of "man being the picture frame while women being the picture

Cuban-Salsa Solo Dancing (Suelta) is dancing salsa without having a partner. It originates from stage singers and dancers who setup routines during orchestra and live performance. Dance singularly or in a group (usually male facing females on the dance floor) the movements are based on a-tiempo or contra-tiempo with intricate footwork and lively body movements

Other partner dancing styles include "Trios" or "Quattros" in which a male lead will dance with two or more female partners in each arm in in intricate patterns. There are also a "Trios" version in which two male leaders share a female partner

Developed by Cuban migrants to Florida, and centered around Miami, this form of Cuban-salsa fused with American culture and LA Style. Major differences of Miami-style Casino is that it is exclusive dance to downbeat (On1), and has elements of shines and showstyle added to it following repertoires of L.A. Style.

The World's Salsa Capital - "Capital de la Salsa" is a Colombian city of Cali. Here salsa is the main genre in parties, nightclubs, and festivals. Unlike in the other styles the dancers do not shift their body weights greatly. The dancers keep their upper body still and relaxed while their feet carry on endless movements. There is a dance speed in the steps of a Colombian salsa dancer. "World Salsa Cali Festival" and "Encuentro de Melomanos y Coleccionistas" are the salsa festivals held by Cali every year.

New York salsa's evolution is from old Mambo fused with New York jazz and swing to bring about a new salsa style. In New York style the etiquette is very particular about remaining in the slot and avoid traveling. New York style gives more importance on performing 'shines' i.e; where dancers separate and dance solo for sometime. NEW YORK Style dancers are very particular about the musicality and the timing of their dance.

Los Angeles Salsa Style is got from the recent development in North American dance. It is mainly influenced by the Mambo, Swing, and Argentine Tango dances. The two main elements of this dance are the forward-backward basic and the cross-body lead. In this, the leader steps forward on 1, steps to the right on 2-3 while turning 90 degrees counter-clockwise (facing to the left). The follower then steps forward on 5-6, and turns on 7-8, while the leader makes another 90 degrees counter-clockwise. After these 8 counts, the leader and follower have exchanged their positions. Today's acrobatic stunts are copied from the L.A Style

The music of Salsa was originally not a rhythm. It was a name given to modern style of playing Cuban style, such as Son Montuno, Guaracha, and Son. Salsa is a Cuban by origin but it is a mixture of pop, jazz, rock. There are a variety of instruments used like claves, cowbells, timbales, conga, guitar, piano, etc.

Salsa is very much popular in Latin America and North America. Salsa refers to a particular music style brought in by the 1960s and '70s by Puerto Rican and Cuban immigrants in the New York City. Its later stylistic version includes 1980s Salsa Romantica and many more. The terms Latin jazz and salsa are seldom used interchangeably; many musicians are considered a part of either or both, fields, especially performers from prior to the 1970s

There was great investment and promotion of salsa, which gave rise to more commercial music. However the term did not create magic till 1960s. One of the early albums of salsa was the Cal Tjader Quintet plus 5's Cal Tjader Soul Sauce. Many Mexicans in San Francisco started using the term 'Salsa' to specify Tjader's brand of music. This music spread to other cities also including Los Angeles and the East Coast. After this Latin music was aired on radio stations across the country. In 1974 Fania Records released Larry Harlow's Salsa and with this his album enjoyed tremendous sales. This popularized the term salsa a lot. With this popularity of the term salsa, in June of 1976, Billboard magazine's issue dedicated a 24-page supplement to Latin music called "Salsa explosion".

The change in salsa to what it is today has been a long, slow, and varied process. Not a particular person or place can be attributed as the founder of salsa. Instead, the music and dance has evolved over time through an elaborate syncretism of various sounds, cultures, and meanings. Salsa varies from place to place and from song to song. The variety and complexity of the music is what keeps its listeners enticed, and its dancers on their toes. This is what is unique in salsa.

It was Latin America that gave a new and a better look to the dance style called SALSA.