What are the most popular Latin American dances? What are the basic steps?

Answer 1

Probably tango is the most popular.

Tango is a social dance form originating in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay. The musical styles that evolved together with the dance are also known as "tango".

Answer 2

Salsa - it's popularity is not challenged. Just check online to see how many internation Salsa Congresses are there. It is definitely spread throughout the world. The basic salsa step varies with the style you do. For on-1 style, you step on 1-2-3 (L-R-L for leaders, and R-L-L for follower), 5-6-7 (opposite to 1-2-3) and rest for 4,8. For New York style (New Mambo), you have 5-6-7 (RLR for leader), 1-2-3 (LRL), and pause on 4,8. The old mambo style dance on 2-3-4 and 6-7-8, which the stepping pattern is the same as on-1 patter.

There are also Cuban Casino style (can be danced on-1, classic mambo, or new mambo, and you have to dance pretty heavily with very intense hip motion), ballroom style, and columbia style (cumbia).

Merengue is another popular dance. There are not much to it besides the L-R patterns. The feeling is the difficult part. The sexuality of this dance can get pretty out of hand sometimes.

Reggaeton is an uprising music style and dance style. There is not much to the music, and you can do anything you want to it.

Tango is a very good one as well. It is difficult (may be the most difficult), because there is no set beat to it. On the other hand, there is no set basics to it. People may argue with me that a basic 8-step partter is their basic, but you can start on almost any count of that basic pattern. Anyhow, Tango also has lots of styles such as Salon, Show, Ballroom, Tango Nuevo....

Samba is largely popular in Brazil, and throughout the world. I can't teach you that basic step here. You will need to watch and learn.

Answer 3

I think the most popular Latin American dances are Salsa and Merengue. And for both you need a lot of "movimiento de cadera, de cadera" that's a lyric to a song, it means "a lot of hip movement. That's what makes the dance. You can find DVD's on it. There's an exercise DVD that's called CardioSalsa from Crunch. Its a good workout video, but you learn different latin dance steps at the same time.

Answer 4

Mambo is a moderately fast, fun dance. For the man (the lady's is the natural opposite), the basic step is: on1, shift weight to right foot, no step; on2, a short step forward with the left foot; on 3, replace weight on right foot; on 4, step left foot just to the side of the right foot; on 5, no step; on 6,step back a small step with the right foot; on 7, replace weight on left foot; on 8, step right foot just to side of left foot.
Merengue is also moderately fast and fun, and the basic steps are quite simple: a series of chassez, stepping on every beat. That is, for the man, on 1, step a short step to the side on 1; on 2, step the right foot next to the left; repeat.
Rumba is a slow and sensual dance. In the International form, the basic steps are the same as mambo. In the American form the basic is a box step with two fast steps of one beats' duration and a slow step of two beats' duration.
Bachata's basic is reminiscent of merengue, but instead of side-together-side-together over and over again, it's side-together-side-tap(without a change of weight), then side-together-side-tap in the other direction.
Samba of the ballroom type has both International and American forms that are similar. Not difficult, but I'm afraid you'll miss the style if you try to get it from a written description. Better to have somebody show you. And then there's Brazilian samba, a completely different critter.
Something similar occurs with Tango. In International style, I suppose the basic step is the forward walk, but that's pedantic. There are a group of basic little patterns. For Argentine tango, I suppose I could describe the lady's ten-step basic, but that would do you little good. There are some good videos avaliable.
American-style tango has a basic you may have seen on the screen. Beginning with the left foot, the man steps forward slow, forward slow, forward quick, to the side quick, and finally the left foot comes to the side of the right, without a weight change, slow. This is an eight-count that you may have heard counted as T--A--N-G-O(pause).
Cha cha is something of a mambo with a chasse in the middle. I'd recommend you find a video clip on-line.
Jive I suppose I should mention. It's the fifth of the five Latin dances in International ballroom competitions, along with rumba, cha cha, samba, and paso doble. It's based on American swing, and I suspect not at all what you're asking about.
Salsa. Here is a point where I'll probably stir up a hornet's nest. Tito Puente once said, "Salsa is something you eat." Not a formal dance. Roughly, in New York, salsa is almost identical with mambo, and they tend to "break on 2" as with mambo, though the feeling is less forward-and-back, more side-to-side.
Elsewhere, especially out west, they tend to "break on 1." And, since it's street dance without formal rules, you may see elements of bachata, vallenato, cumbia, etc. thrown into the mix. At any rate, after a couple cervesas it doesn't make much difference anyway. Just try them and have fun.

Answer 5

Salsa is probably the most popular. There are many latin american countries that even have their own versions of it. Puerto Rican on2, Cuban-style on1, Colombian-style salsa, etc. The basic steps vary a bit by some of the versions. On1 involves the woman stepping back with her right foot, while the man steps forward with his left. Then the feet come back to the original position, and the woman steps forward with her left foot while the man steps back with his right. While doing this your left hip should be swinging out when your right foot is moved, and vice versa. (salsa hips, difficult to explain with words) I hope I remembered that correctly. lol On 2 is a bit harder to explain, but I like it better. Search online for video clips that can show you the steps, or look into buying instructional dvds if you don't wish to take any classes.

Answer 6

Salsa, Tango, Samba, Merengue, Lambada!

Answer 7

There's a good Salsa lesson here
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7520153182534973136&q=salsa+lesson

Answer 8

Salsa: front and back
Merengue: side to side

There are probably videos online

Answer 9

you HAVE to learn salsa. there is no other social latin dance that is more sexy and captivating!!!

Answer 10

salsa, tango, merengue