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| Terence,
I have a question for you about Cuban son, and other styles, but will start a new thread, since the topic doesn't fit here. |
| OK--will do my best to answer |
| Terence. Although I don't agree with with your suggestion that we have already messed up-beyond recognition every Latino dance we get our hands. On the contrary If they are dances that are going to be taught then there has to be basic rules for the basic timing.I would say in the case of the Salsa the most popular tempo is about 30bpm. Now that there is a Salsa World Championship and a Salsa World Champion there has to be a set speed the music is played at. Breaking on two is another point. Question. Is Salsa music 4/4 and Phrased into 8 bars. Also as the footwork appears to be ball flat does the toe arrive before the beat and the heel is down on the beat just like it is supposed to be in a Samba. Unless you want to be chasing the beat.Then that is out of time and begins to look muddy. |
| How can YOU possibly define the MOST popular ?-- where you happen to dance ?
Have danced in latin clubs all over the states since the late 50s and the uk and there is NEVER a set tempo for ANY type of salsa--the different styles of music does not permit that .
Many NYC clubs thrive on Descarga-- down south Miami-- Ga etc-- ALL clubs play ALL speeds .-- Once again -- this NOT ballroom. The evidence I present is empirical- not opinion-- what YOU like-- thats a different story, and what i play for my beginners classes, generally, in a club situation , is a very small part of any DJs( including me when I play )reportoire .( Personally-- I am not a big fan of dancing to warp speed music, but I respect those that do )
And I have a flash for you-- the so called " world " champ. comps-- of which there are many ? (?) tend to play primarily Descarga .
Again-- you are displaying your complete lack of knowledge , supplanted by opinion--
As to the present day so called " latin" that is danced-- do not tell this to any latino-- they may fall on the floor with un controllable laughter !!.
Everyone is so brainwashed as to what latin dances are supposed to look. sound and feel like ( dance schools have perpetuated this for multi yrs )--it morphed from " social " dance, to the present day debacle-- you should read what the last meeting by the chairman of one of the world bodies had to say about "latin "-- even he criticised its direction !!
the music selections proffered in the CHA post speaks volumes !!--- but-- weve been down this rd. before.
You need to walk into a " real " latino club, one where no one hardly speaks english , and the clientele are 99% latino-- only then will you start to understand what this culture, music and dance is all about .
( PS-- I was raised on the b/room " style when there was no Cha and no Jive and rumba was sq.-- at least they had that right ! )
The responses I invariably get when I site what is happening in the " real " latino world, are-- " well things have changed " -- or --" youre living in the past"-- and-- my favorite-- " progress ". The last one might be true to a certain degree, and does have some validity-- but- it has come at the expense of obscuring the integrity of the roots of the genre, in pretty much all cases . |
| Terence. Does Descarga have four beats to each bar of music and three steps with the fourth a movement of the hips.If that is so then Descarga is the only one I have seen. |
| Apologies for not making it clearer-- Descarga is a " style " of music that is strongly jazz based and very very up tempo--popular in NYC.
ALL salsa is based on an octave-- 2 bars-- the rhythm is standard QQS employing 4 beats-- how those are used, is sometimes accented slightly different to portray a specific style such as-- Power 2-- P.Rican-- Cuban etc . "Son" is a style that is indigenous to Cuba-- it is a musical style as well as a dance style and is very mellow ( My favorite )
Have just been invited to teach a Son class in march in another city-- should be interesting |
| I am not an"expert," but have listened to some...have to agree with indy...mambo is normally played at a faster bpm than cha cha, for the reasons indy mentioned. u can ague about it all day long, but their is no question which is "typically" the faster music. |
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I dont think anyone was disputing that. But, there are mambos which are very slow , remember, mambo is MUSIC first,and a Dance 2nd; but of course, like most social dances, one can find extremes in tempo thru a wide range, and this includes both Cha and mambo/salsa .
And by the way, Mambo, outside of the States(primarily in Chain schools ) , is seldom taught anymore.. its ALL salsa .
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| yes, unfortunately, u r correct. back in the day, mambo was real popular. i guess those folks have gotten old and don't dance anymore. although, (i'am not from ny) i understand that they do salsa like mambo, i.e. on 2...outside of the states, i am clueless..though i understand that at least some in pr do salsa on 2, i.e like mambo. i would be interested in hearing from pr natives as to whether salsa on 1 or salsa on 2 is the "norm" in pr; maybe it depends what city in pr you come from... |
| Firstly.. I AM one of those old folks !! ( theres till quite a few of us around, still teaching ).
As to PRs many dance on 2, and also 1, is common.. but.. its nothing remotely like Mambo .
Styles have changed ,and many variations from Mambo, never crossed over . The Cuban influence in some styles, is very strong, particularly in casino .
PRs dance a more "blended " style ( what I dance and teach ) has some " slot " and also "circular " , very popular in NY, among other places .
** A footnote on the Son rhythms.. true Son was origianlly written in 6/8 timing.
And today , the Clave is used in a 3/2 and 2/3 based rhythm ,one being a Rumba clave and the other a Son Clave.
Most of the old time Mambo was written a Guaguanco style which is a 2/3 clave, whereas most of todays Salsa, is 3/2.. and the Guaracha which was taught back when, was also a 3/2 clave ( thats the style you will see danced in the old black and white movies, in a Sq Rumba format.. its really more like a fast Danzon ) |
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