Salsa dance and music go hand in hand together. However, people very often are asking if they can dance Salsa to any music? Many nightclubs have Salsa social events, but they play different music genres such as R&B or Reggaetón, including Salsa music throughout the night. In this article, you will find out if you can dance Salsa to other types of music and how.
Can you dance Salsa to any music? Yes, you can dance Salsa to any music as long that music has 8 beats in the bar and has the right rhythm. However, to have a full Salsa dance experience, it would be preferable to dance to Salsa music or some other music with a similar rhythm.
When I first stepped my feet into Salsa dance waters a few years ago, our dance instructor didn’t play Salsa music while teaching us. To my surprise, he was playing “J Balvin, Willy William – Mi Gente ft. Beyoncé”.
Members of the Salsa group, including myself, were questioning his choice of music. He explained that it is important to know how to find the beat and rhythm in non- Salsa music while dancing Salsa because this kind of music will be played in social settings, such as clubs. He was entirely correct, and I am glad that I learned to dance Salsa to other genres of music.
I love dancing Salsa to other music styles as long it has the right beat, rhythm, and lyrics are in Spanish.
As I mentioned earlier, you can dance to any music that has eight beats in the bar and has a fast tempo. Of course, it is easier to dance Salsa to Salsa music, but you won’t have that many opportunities to dance to typical Salsa music in social settings, especially in clubs.
Try to get comfortable dancing Salsa to other genres of music such as R&B, pop, or reggeaton because these types of music is most commonly played in clubs, even during Salsa nights.
Some people love Salsa dance, but they really dislike Salsa music. And I totally get it. It is not everyone’s cup of tea. The good news is you don’t have to dance Salsa to Salsa music. All you need is songs you really like, the right beat, and a fast tempo.
How To Find Beat To Any Song While Dancing Salsa?
Finding the beat while dancing Salsa can sometimes take a lot of time and practice. Once you find the beat, you won’t have any issue dancing to any music.
It is essential to know how to count and move to non- Salsa music. If you consistently practice counting and moving your body while listening to the music, you will learn quickly.
Here are simple steps on how to find the beat to any song.
Find a time in your day where you know you won’t be distracted by something or someone. For example, you could use headphones or move to a quiet area of your home when trying to find the beat by ear.
It is crucial that you pay close attention to the quieter instruments such as drums.
Here is an excellent video by Addicted by Salsa:
While trying to find the basic beat in a song, try to tune out the top instruments such as vocals and guitar. Focus on bass instruments such as bass guitar or bass drum.
Try to ignore complex melody and rhythm and focus on picking up what feels like a heartbeat in a song. Concentrating on the drums is the easiest way to find the beat.
Also, you could tap your foot on the ground whenever you hear the beat or try saying it aloud. Practicing out loud will be the easiest and the fastest way to find a beat to any song.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with a song you know and love a lot. It will be easier to find the beat if you are familiar with the particular song. It would be highly beneficial if you move your body along with the music. Your body will naturally find the beat.
To count the beat in music, you must understand the two parts of rhythm: tempo and meter. Meter is the regular pattern of beats in a song and determines how those beats are emphasized. Tempo is the measurement of how fast or slow the music is.
What Type Of Music Is Used For Salsa Dancing?
So far, I have talked about how you can dance Salsa to any music. But, what type of music is the most commonly used for Salsa dancing?
Traditional salsa music has lyrics in Spanish only. Salsa music is based on a 4/4 time signature and is mostly phrased in groups of eight beats or two bars. Salsa music may sound busy sometimes. It means that there are lots of instruments are playing at the same time.
This is why many people who just want to learn to dance Salsa socially prefer modern and commonly played music such as reggaeton, Pop, or R&B at social events.
What Are The Characteristics Of Salsa Music?
Salsa is energetic dance music with many different styles. Salsa music originates from Cuba, but it has African and Spanish influence.
Here are the main characteristics of Salsa music:
- has time signature 4/4
- Salsa lyrics are all about love and betrayal
- has Clave rhythms and is mostly played by Claves
- has melodic and rhythmic syncopation
- bell patterns
- afro-Cuban rhythm
- Spanish language lyrics
- Influenced by Latin American styles
The key Salsa music instruments are:
- Guiro
- Clave
- Piano
- Guitar
- Trumpet
- Saxophone
- Bongos
- Congas
- Trumpet
- Double bass
Final Words
Many people think that Salsa can be danced to Salsa music only. However, it is not entirely correct. You can dance Salsa to almost any music as long it has the right beat and tempo. As I mentioned earlier, people dance Salsa most commonly to R&B, Reggaetón, and pop in social settings. Traditional Salsa music is rarely played in clubs. This is why you should get comfortable finding the beat to any song if you want to dance Salsa socially.
