Since I am working on New York On2 Style and Cuban Casino, I decide to
make a list of Salsa Styles that I know (please don't add stuff such
as Salsa Picante, Chile Verde, or .... etc, we'll open a food forum if
you want to talk about that :P)
1. West Coast On 1 Style - Maybe the second most popular style. You
can find this style in most of the West Coast (and Mid-West) and lots
of European salsa clubs. On a 2-3 Clave, you dance one beat 1-2-3 and
5-6-7. Pauses happens on beat 4 and 8. The style has lots of hand
styling, spins, and some shines (using Hip Hop movements). The major
con of this style for me is the pause. I like salsa being free-flowing
dance, and the pause on 4/8 really takes the fluidness out of it. I
have seen people doing this style by dragging through 3-4 and 7-8 to
make it really fluid rather than robotic. Famous Dancers: Francisco
Vasquez, Joby Brava, Cesar, Natasha, David Stein, Junior, Emily,
Johnny Giraldo, and Andres Giraldo (the later five also dance on2
regularly).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6nHqU5jx3c - Francisco Vasquez/
Follower's name needs confirmation
2. Mayan Show Style - Started at the Mayan salsa club in LA, this
style is the most showy one (even more showy than BallRoom style).
This is what got me into salsa dancing (sadly speaking). They compete
and perform annually with difficult routines, lifts/dips, themes, and
all the crazy stuff. Most of the things you see there will not be done
at a salsa club because some of the moves are too dangerous and
required too much space. Famous Dancer: Liz Lira, Alex da Silva, and
Josie Neglia,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcdajrpIJa4 - Liz Lira and Alex Da
Silva
3. Millennium Style - This is a space saving and energy conserving
salsa style (keep the count without stepping and .... etc), hence , an
environmental salsa style :P. The style also include lots of spin
techniques, hip hop foot works, so and so. Famous Dance: Edie the
Salsa Freak, Al Spinoza.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUJ7XRUmTgU - Al and Edie
4. Mambo On2 - This not the on2 style that we see everywhere now. This
is the origin of it though. You will be dancing on 2-3-4 and 6-7-8.
The shines of this style is very mambo like (well, of course!!) with
quick movements (kinda like swing jazz and disco mixed with one
another :P). I saw this style in clubs and even danced a couple songs
to it. Unfortunately I can't get any recording of this style anywhere
online....
5. New York on 2 - I am not gonna bother explaining this style,
especially if you are dancing on one. You just have to learn it and
keep working on it until you get it. This is the smoothest style and
the most invasive style as well (SF Salsa Congress' Jack and Jill
masters level was done in On2 style (everyone including Junior/Emily,
Ryoko/Ryu, and David Stein). Now even Emma and I are practicing the
on2 style so I can dance with more good dancers. Famous Dances: Milton
Cobo, Super Mario, Samantha Erskine, Sarai Farrant, Isamael Otero,
Magna Gopal, Juan Matos, Jason Molina, Griselle Ponce, and Masha...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEX7qXpFPhs - Magna and Duane
6. Puerto Rican On2 - The reverse side of New York On2. I guess I
should put Jason Molina here as a famous dancer in this style instead
of NY On2.
7. Casino Cubano - This is the real Cuban Style - Dance on 1 or 5,
or.... whatever else is out there...; Dance with hip and chest sticks
out, or... whatever looks sexy....; dance with timba music (many
people will confuse it with salsa because the two sound very
similar)...; dance more flat-footed (like classic rumba guaguanco)
with lots of beautiful body movement...; dance with crazy footwork
(from Mamba and rumba), more turns than spins...; dance without much
restrictions (see how their arms twist?), just have fun and be sexy!!
There are some incredible dancers out there, even though I don't know
their names....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bTE79j8qBY - Casino Competition
8. Rueda de Casino - This is the infamous wheel of Casino. I have seen
many people love to do it, but never had the true Cuban feeling of it.
Why? They didn't move their body enough... if want to dance Casino
Cubano, then dance like a Cubano/Cubana. Rueda will be more fun that
way...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmfzZhiY7sM
9. Cumbia - I have seen people done it, but never did it myself....
Can anyone provide some videos for this one?
10. Mexican Cumbia - I've seen it, and done it. However, I have never
done it right. It feels like Casino that you can switch beats
depending on moves, but then people go back to the original beat some
how.... anyway, I will learn some more about this then post more
information and videos online for this style...
Are there other styles that you know of? Are there any thing you want
to add (videos or comments)?