How Many Styles of Salsa?

Salsa is a fusion of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances. Each played a large part in its evolution. Salsa is similar to Mambo. Both Salsa and Mambo have a pattern of six steps danced over eight counts of music. The dances share many of the same moves. In Salsa turns are an important feature giving it a overall look and feel that is quite different from Mambo. Mambo moves generally forward and backward while Salsa has more of a side to side feel.

There are many variations of Salsa Dancing. They are characterized by their various turns, body movements, foot movements and air movements. The list of Salsa styles include:

• Colombian Style Salsa also known as Cumbia
  
• Cuban Style Salsa
  
• Miami Style Salsa also known as Classico Cubano or Casino
  
• Casino Rueda Style Salsa also known as Rueda de Casino or Salsa Rueda
  
• L.A. Style Salsa
  
• New York Style Salsa also known as Mambo Salsa or Eddie Torres Style
  
• Puerto Rican Style Salsa
  
• Salsa Shines
  
• Salsa Styling
  

Latin Dance Exercise

Dancing can burn as many calories as walking, swimming or riding a bicycle. Latin dance is a wonderful form of cardiovascular exercise. It has been estimated that a half hour of salsa dancing will burn as much as 200-400 calories, an equivalent amount to such exercises as cycling, swimming or power walking. One factor that determines how many calories you'll expend is the distance you travel. In one study, researchers attached pedometers to dancers and found that each person covered five miles in a single evening.

Latin dance will:

• increase your heart rate
  
• help you burn more calories
  
• tone your muscles
  
• may even help you lose weight
  

Because of the unique movements of latin dancing, you will be:

• strengthening your body
  
• toning areas such as abs, hips, buttocks, thighs, calves, and arms
  

Vigorous dancing also has cardio benefits. The degree of cardiovascular conditioning depends on how vigorously you dance, how long you dance continuously, and how regularly you do it. Latin dance exercise is an excellent way to capitalize on the health benefits of dancing.
Latin dance exercise is an amazing way to relieve stress. When you begin your dance exercise, the world and all the issues you face daily will fade away and allow for complete fun and relaxation.