5 Latin Dance Styles That You Will Love | Our dance Shoes recommendations for each!

Looking for a new dance style to add to your repertoire? Check out our list of Latin dance styles! From salsa to zouk, each has its own unique rhythm and dance shoes that you’ll love to wear.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer, these styles will have you moving to the beat! So what are you waiting for? Get started on your Latin dance journey today with our guide and dance shoes recommendations!

Salsa

Latin dance is a popular style that is enjoyed by people of all ages. Salsa is the most popular Latin dance style. It is also the most danced around the world. There is 3 main type of salsa:

•  L.a. Salsa / portorican salsa / On 1 and On 2 salsa:

  This is a linear stye salsa. At the opposite of Cuban salsa, that is defined by movement and travelling, in LA salsa, you aim to stay in a straight line of dance. you can obviously change line and create new lines. But you want to stay in one. This style is define by a lot of spinning and require womens to really contract their core muscle! Just remember: good dance shoes are essential if you want to execute this style properly! This style was extremely popular in New York City. and in America.

• Cuban Salsa:

  Originated from Cuba, it is an afro Caribbean dance. Cuban salsa, also called Casino, is a street style dance. People everywhere in Cuba dance it and enjoy the music. People usually mix rumba, Son Cubano (also called Cuban Son), Orishas and afro move in their cuban salsa, in order to give more flavour to their dance and get an unique style of dance. Expect a lot of body movement!Cuban salsa starts spreading to the United States and start getting extremely popular from the 1950s. Cuban salsa is mainly dance in Miami where there is a strong cuban community. While New York and LA are a lot more linear salsa. It is extremely popular in France where there is a big community of Cubans, growing community since 1970s.

  Here is our recommendation for a dance sneaker that would be great for salsa lessons Here

• Cali Salsa (colombian salsa):

  This is the fastest salsa in the world! Their footwork is extremely fast, and there is a lot of acrobatics and lifts and tricks! Cali salsa is often used by professional dancers to do impressive shows! Extremely popular in Latin America! Their style is so popular that many dancers travel to Colombia to get the best formation dance training!

Salsa tips and recommendations

Such dances are perfect to socialise and make new friends! It can be a bit harder for absolute beginners to dance Salsa. The music can be a bit fast, and rhythm not easy to catch. We always recommend to start with Bachata in your Latin dance journey!

However, salsa is more fun! you can shimmy and get to know your partner in a fun way!

We recommend you to use dance shoes to dance salsa. Indeed it will protect your knees and foot from injuries, as well as help you spin faster and better! We recommend a 7cm flare heel dance shoes. You can choose different style of flare dance heels but we recommend to start with a black heels with ankle strap closed toe or a black t bar heels to start your salsa dancing journey.

You don’t even have to be a Latin lover to enjoy this dance – everyone can get in on the action! Once you learn the basics steps, go to practice and get some social dance. That will be the best way to practice what you just learned and meet new people! So Go social dance, Get up on the floor, invite one of your dance partners and start shaking your booty to salsa!

Related articles for salsa

Shop our Salsa heels & Salsa shoes.

Check here for the best salsa shoes for beginners guide.

Check where is the next social event at Latin dance Calendar!

Learn new cuban salsa dance moves

Listen to the latest freshest new music and song with our playlist!

Differences between Salsa and son cubano

Bachata

Bachata is a dance that is sure to get your heart rate up. It is a passionate, medium-paced dance. Bachata originated from the Dominican Republic and evolved a lot since then.

• Dominican bachata: The traditional one, is defined by a lot of hips movements and fast footwork! The music is played by a band and you can find typical instruments like guiro to mark the rhythm!
• Bachata Moderna: Bachata moderna come from a mix of salsa spins and lead into a bachata song. The dance is still defined by some footwork, but also more spins for the girls like you can find in salsa.
• Sensual bachata: Then it finally evolve to what is extremely popular worldwide. Sensual bachata! As the name say, this is the most sensual version. Expect less travel, still couple of spins, almost no footwork, but. a lot of. body roll, head roll, and sensual moves! This style is particularly popular in Europe, America, United States and Spain!

Understanding bolero will make you dance bachata much better and master better footwork! Read our full article about Bachata dance

Learn Bachata steps to improve your repertoire.

Shop our bachata dance shoes.

We recommend the following shoes for bachata dance:

Dominican merengue

Merengue is a dance that is sure to get your blood pumping – and it’s a classic that you will love to learn. It is a fast pace dance, using some turns and lead from salsa. But the rhythm and steps are different. It is an easy one beat one step dance. And you can do anything with your dance moves. Just stick to one beat per step, and then start leading your partner!

Our Dance Shoes recommendations will help you perfect this routine, so you can enjoy it at any social occasion.

Zouk

There is two different zouk dance:

• Caribbean Zouk, Slow and romantic love song. We dance it extremely close to each other. We almost don’t move our arms and chest. But our hips are constantly moving, forming a figure 8 move. and we sometimes incline our chest back and forth while constantly moving our hips. Extremely popular in Antilles and in France where it was a popular dance before any other Latin dance.
• Brazilian Zouk: this one is also a partner dance, but with a lot more space between you and your partner. Less than salsa, more than bachata. Defined by a lot of head roll and body movement. Fast-paced music.

People who dance Zouk also usually dance compas from Haiti . A slightly fastest pace dance than Zouk with more spinning on the spot / movement.

Kizomba

Kizomba is a slow paced dance that is similar to Zouk. Music actually derive from Zouk. But the dance is from Angola!

Then people have been mixing it up with other moves like the one used in tango to create Urban Kiz.

In Kizomba, the focus is on connection, and musicality ! Styling matter a lot in kizomba as well as hips movements and musicality !

There is a lot of music genre in what we called Kizomba umbrella!

Shop kizomba dance shoes here.

Additional style of Latin dance

Other style of Latin dance includes

• Cha-cha-cha
• Mambo
• Rumba
• Bolero
• Samba from brazil
• Reggaeton

Bonus: Wedding dance

Yes, you heard it right! We often have our students asking us to choreograph a Latin dance for their first dance. And we love doing it !

Adding some Latin dance steps and moves, always spice up your wedding dance and made it a lot more fun!

We still give that extremely romantic aspect for our future married couple – and they all love how we incorporate them together!

Check our Wedding Dance video below to learn more!

Frequently Asked Questions

What dances are considered Ballroom Dancing?

Ballroom dancing is a type of dance that is usually performed at formal events like weddings or birthday parties. The five dances that are considered ballroom dancing are waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, tango and salsa. Each dance has its own set of steps and moves that need to be learned and executed correctly. For instance, the waltz is a dance in which the couple dances around the floor with their hands held together. Foxtrot is a dance in which the couple walks quickly forward and backward across the floor. Quickstep is a dance in which the couple walks quickly side-by-side. Tango is a dance in which the couple slow dances. Salsa is a Latin dance in which the couple interacts intimately with each other in a passionate way!

What are the social benefits?

Dancing is one of the most social activities you can do. Not only is it great to release stress, having fun, and getting in shape, but it also has social benefits like reducing anxiety levels, building relationships, and improving communication skills. In fact, dancing can help people become more social as it creates social play opportunities. Finally, once you learn how to dance, you will be able to go social dancing .That’s where you meet and socialise with many more people and get to know them!If you are a beginner, be aware of the tempo for each song! Don’t choose a fast-paced song with a fast tempo. Go for a slower one to start to build that confidence!Isbn.

Is there any health benefit to dance salsa?

There is some evidence that dance salsa can help in reducing anxiety and stress levels. Additionally, research suggests that the social aspect of dancing salsa may promote better moods and cognitive function. In addition, dancing salsa also helps improve coordination, balance, agility, strength and endurance.

Do I need a partner to dance?

No, you do not need a partner to dance any of the Latin styles previously talked about. When you join a dance school to learn salsa dancing for example, there is a lot of other students there that are in the same situation as you. What happen is that we will make you all rotate and change partner. It is the best way to socialise and meet new people, while practicing your lead and follow with different people. By doing so you will improve your skills as leader and/or follower! Our team of experts have put together the best pair of shoes for each of the 5 Latin dances below – so whether you’re looking for beginner or intermediate level shoes, we’ve got them covered!

Do you have more ballroom dancing articles?

Thank you for your question! We do have more articles relating to ballroom dancing. Check them out!

• Am I Doing These Heel Moves Wrong?
• The Best salsa dance shoes for beginners: Our top picks!
• Kizomba, Bachata, Zouk & Salsa shoes Melbourne
• Aruba – Salsa Dance Shoes
• The perfect Dance Wear for every type of Dance | 10 Best dancing shoes for women
• The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Dance Shoes for Ballroom Dancing!
• Advantages of a pair of good dance shoes | Do they make a Difference in your dancing?
• Ballroom And Latin dance Shoes – Belinda
• Looking for some colourful, fashion Latin dance Shoes?

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Why do people like Latin dance?

Latin dance is known for its passionate, syncopated feel that is addicting. It’s a great way to get your heart rate up and let go all the stress from the day. With so many different styles of Latin dance, you are sure to find one that you love. Our recommended Latin dance shoes will help in making sure that your feet are safe and comfortable during your dancing experience!

How does Latin dance help your body and soul?

Latin dance is a therapeutic form of dance that helps to improve your body and soul in a number of ways. Once you start your dance journey, you’ll improve your spatial awareness, coordination, balance, and muscle strength. In addition to these physical benefits, Latin dancing is also great for cardio workout and weight loss. Moreover, Latin music has a calming effect on the mind and can be used as an antidepressant. So, if you’re feeling stressed out or just want to take a break from your hectic daily routine, learning Latin dance is a great way to do so!

Where can I learn to dance in a Latin dance style?

If you’re looking to learn Latin dance, one of the best places to do so is at a salsa or ballroom studio. There are many such studios in your city, so it’s easy to find one that meets your needs and fits your style. Additionally, online tutorials can help you learn the basics of different styles of Latin dancing isbn.

If you are on the Gold Coast, we do recommend this guys:

Dance Classes Gold Coast

Latin dancing gold coast

salsa Gold Coast

How much does it cost to take lessons in a specific style of dancing, and how many lessons should I take before I feel comfortable on the floor with my teacher?

When it comes to learning a specific Latin dance style, it all depends on your level and what style you’re looking to learn. Here are a few examples: – If you are just starting out, beginner lessons may cost around $15 per hour, while more experienced dancers may pay upwards of $100 an hour for a private dance class. Generally speaking, 4 hours of lessons will cover the basics for most people. However, some styles may require more or fewer hours of tuition depending on your skill level.

What is the difference between a Zumba and a Latin Dance class?

There is a big difference between Zumba and Latin Dance classes, both in terms of the songs and dance moves. In a Zumba class, the whole dance floor is used as one big circuit. This is perfect for people who want to stay active and Sweaty all at the same time! The music played in Zumba classes is usually more upbeat and fast than that of Latin classes, which makes it easier to get into the swing of things.

Latin dances are different in that it its a partner dance. Each partner has their own space on the floor and execute their own moves. This makes it a lot harder for beginners to get started, as they have to remember where to go and what to do at all times. However, it is a great way to socialise and once you learn your basics, it will just get easier and easier!

Is Latin dance as hard as ballet?

No, it is not! Ballet is one of the hardest style of dance. Latin dance is easier. However, styling can be trickier for womens !

Is there any other styles of dance?

Yes, defintively!

Here are some of them including the very popular folk dance:

• Folk Dance
• Charleston
• Jive
• Viennes waltz
• Argentine tango
• Cadence
• samba
• West coast swing
• Lindy hop (and its very popular music!)

Conclusion

Latin dance styles are a popular choice for wedding dances, as they are energetic and fun. Our dance shoes recommendations for each Latin dance style will help you find the perfect pair of shoes for your dance floor performance. So, whether you’re looking for Salsa, Zouk, or ballroom dance shoes, we’ve got you covered!