Salsa and Tango?

Question

Just wanted to know about salsa and tango!

Answer 1

Two of my favorite ballroom dances, but what did you want to know about them?

Salsa has two basic steps, forward basic and side basic. Both have the same quick-quick-slow, quick-quick-slow .tempo.

The leader is going to be starting with his left foot while the follower starts with their right foot, that way you're doing the natural opposites.

The Leaders signal for the follower to do the underarm turn is to raise their left arm (your right arm) when they are bringing their left foot backwards (while your right foot is going forwards)

Those are all the basics for salsa. That's pretty much all I know of salsa anyway, although yesterday I saw a couple dance salsa incorporating crossover breaks and 5th position breaks (first time i've seen that) and I was intrigued, because I know those moves from other latin dances.

I learned salsa at a University class in "Latin Nightclub Dancing", which was given for credit, although many universities and community colleges also teach similar classes in their "extension" or "lifelong learning" departments which don't always offer college credit. You might also find group salsa classes at night clubs, public libraries, community and senior centers, parks and recreation departments, and churches.

I've danced in all of these venues.

Now as for Tango, I learned American Ballroom Tango in my university ballroom dance classes, and Argentine Tango in clubs and studios. They are different, but I've had fun mixing them up.

American Ballroom Tango really travels and eats up the floor. Argentine Tango doesn't require as much floor space, and can be danced in very crowded floors with minimal space. Both can be very intricate.

Tango is considered the last bastion of male chauvanism because the man leads and the woman follows. It's really a beautiful dance.

Have fun!

-Experienced Newbie-

Answer 2

They are both partner dances. I.e. you need a partner to dance them with. Salsa is a latin dance. Tango is originally a latin dance, but it made its way into Smooth and Standard category of ballroom. There are different varieties of salsa and tango. There is "salsa on 1" and "salsa on 2".. I think salsa on 1 is most commonly known and most generally refered to as simply salsa. The music is the same for both, but the difference is on what beat of music do you brake (meaning of the brake: basic step forward or basic step back) - on 1 or on 2. That actually changes a lot to what dancing feels like.
There are different varieties of Tango as well - Argentine Tango and Ballroom/social tango (plus some other types). The music has different character, but you can tell it's both tango.

Here is more reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsa_dance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tango_%28dance%29

Answer 3

What would you like to know?

Answer 4

http://www.latinobeat.co.uk/homepage.htm