difference between salsa and ballroom dancing?

Question

this is i am dating who is in grade 10 shows me salsa alot. hes latino/ spanish and very hot lol im italian he said that he doesnt like italian dancing, ballroom.. hes sort of joking though and saying it jokingly, not mean. but i was wondering what is the major difference. i never did ballroom. what are some differences? and is salsa more sexy, close kind of dancing .. if that makes sense..! also do u think we would look cute together an italian and a spanish.. like not nessarally dancing but on the streets and when we are dating, now.? cause my grandma thinks i should end up marrying an italian lol

Answer 1

There's basically no difference between salsa and mambo, one of the nine competed dances in American-style ballroom. Also, salsa is too fast to be as sexy as rumba, and can't have the close contact required in International Standard or American Smooth dances like foxtrot and waltz. It's a bit tiring to hear people talking about salsa as a sexy dance, and denigrating ballroom, when they obviously don't dance the latter. By the way, in the US at least, salsa is taught in most ballroom studios, so ballroom dancers have a basis for comparison.

Answer 2

Salsa = 1 dance
Ballroom = many dances (9 or 10, depending on the style)

Ballroom includes a dance that is very similar to salsa, which is mambo. The music is the same, some steps are common, but you use the music differently. Salsa is easier to learn because it's not as strict in terms of posture and technique.
As for which dance uses closer stance - there is nothing closer than International Standard, that is, Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz. You remain the body contact throughout the whole dance. In salsa, you only make it look like it's danced in close contact.
As for your grandma thinking you should marry an italian - always listen to your grandma. LOL.

Answer 3

In theory are Salsa and Mambo the same. However, they feel different. Since Salsa music is usually slower it gives the appearance of being a more sultry dance. Generally Mambo music tends to be a bit harsher, or not as smooth a salsa. Some Ballroom Studios offer Salsa classes. Otherwise, one can learn it at one of the Latin clubs. Either way, I'm sure you two will have a lot of fun figuring it out!

Answer 4

So far everyone who has answered this question has done so from the point of view of the way people dance salsa in the United States. Indeed in the US there is much more similarity between ballroom latin dances and salsa than in other salsa dancing countries. The dance is stiffer and is done i a linear style. If your boyfriend is Span Spanish it's possible he learned to dance Cuban salsa rather than US styles.

It is important to know that salsa is danced differently in different countries and even in different cities in the US. It is a "street" dance originally that later was codified for use in ballroom contests.

In general ballroom dancing is very stiff and very affected, with people even making goofy faces (well goofy IMO) There is all the talk about the "frame" etc which you will never find among latinos in actual latin american countries. This stuff comes from the anglo-influence in the US and UK.

I think the best way to understand the difference is to see it.
Below are some video clips to illustrate the difference bewteen ballroom and various styles of salsa.

A ballroom performance:
Here they are starting with something meant to approximate Afro-cuban rumba followed by salsa. this sala is very similar to "regular" US salsa. (see below for real afro-cuban rumba video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPvCF-k3bnQ

NY Style Salsa (danced "on2")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEUAx8BWui4

LA style salsa (danced "on1")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usLkis1AJoc

Colombian style salsa (lots of boogalu influenced footwork)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEuhOR_Arh8

Cuban style salsa also called "casino" (danced in a rotational pattern rather than in a straight line, more complex turn patterns, less acrobatics)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=850RmnQNC6s

Rueda de casino - cuban salsa danced in a group; one person calls the moves and everyone performs them in unison.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrl1uAGw8yw

Afro-cuban rumba (the real deal - what the ballroom guys were imitating at the beginning of their show). Look at how the women's bodies move, not stiff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO2Wk0r9wac

Ballroom rhumba (actually it's bolero and not related to Cuba rumba at all, but they changed the name from bolero to rhumba when it left Cuba)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGpvc5QSSXs

Cuban son (the type of dance done to Buena Vista Social Club type music and the predecessor of Cuban style salsa "casino") Son is danced contratiempo i.e. on the upbeat not the downbeat (pause 2,3,4) and is very elegant. Note the bodymotion. This is the opposite of stiff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI7TDQxMACQ

As for your relationship, I would never date someone or not depending on how we "look together" but how we feel when we are together.