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.

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 .

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 )