I was born and raised in Mexico. I grew up listening and dancing to Salsa music, but I didn't know enough to teach others how to dance. When I moved to the U.S., I thought it was weird that everyone assumed I was qualified to do so. I realized that a lot of people think all people from Latin America know how to dance/teach these rhythms. For Salsa specifically, many assumed it was from Mexico. This is what sparked my curiosity, and I embarked on a learning journey to educate myself on the roots of Salsa.

 

The salsa (sauce) that we eat with chips and tacos originated in Mexico. We fully claim that. While you need 6 main ingredients to make it (tomato, onion, cilantro, lime juice, chili peppers, and salt), the list can increase based on what type of salsa you're making. There are an endless number of salsa recipes (salsa roja, salsa verde, salsa macha, avocado salsa, fruit salsa, roasted salsa, taquera, ranchera, the list goes on and on). This is one of the reasons why it now shares the name with the type of music. 

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What we now know and classify as Salsa music is a combination of many Afro-Caribbean-Latin rhythms (Mambo, Rumba, Son, Danzon, Guaracha, Cha Cha Cha, Pachanga, etc.). There are also many types of Salsa dancing (Salsa Cubana, Rueda de Casino, Salsa Caleña, NY Style or On 2, L.A. Style or on 1, Salsaton, to name a few).

 

The origin of the use of "Salsa" in music is disputed by musicians and historians. It could be traced to 1930 when Cuban son musician, Ignacio Piñeiro composed the song "Echale Salsita" (Put some sauce in it). The phrase is seen as a cry from Piñeiro to his band, telling them to increase the tempo to "put the dancers into high gear". In 1945, Cuban musician Beny Moré was based in Mexico. He would shout "Salsa!" during a performance to acknowledge a musical moment's "heat", making a connection with hot salsa made in Mexico. In the 1940s, Cuban Cheo Marquetti emigrated to Mexico. In 1955, he named his group Conjunto Los Salseros and put out an album called Salsa Y Sabor (Sauce and Flavor) in the 1950s. In 1973, Puerto Rican graphic designer and music promoter Izzy Sanabria (the first artist to design posters for dances and concert events in NYC), hosted the T.V. show "Salsa", preferring the term since it was a name that everyone could pronounce. 

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Our creativity when it comes to food, music, dance, and the arts in general is infinite. It is in our nature to create something new by mixing things together (that's why we have fusions!). The boundaries between rhythm, dance, instruments, and musical styles are not always clear. The roots of Salsa are rich and diverse. That's why, when someone asks: "Where is Salsa from?" It has a complex answer. 

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Salsa is African
The rhythms and dances of the Yoruba people (one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, mainly Nigeria) and Bantu (originating in Central Africa and spreading to other parts) were a major influence. Among its contributions were: the clave, percussion, polyrhythms, syncopation, the call-and-response singing (montuno section), improvisation, and the strong connection between music and dance, to name a few. African drumming traditions, including instruments like congas, bongos, timbales, and rhythms like tumbao, became a defining feature of Salsa and what we now classify as "Latin" music. The term "Mambo" is of Bantu origin, originally signifying a "conversation with the gods" in Congo rituals. 

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Salsa is Indigenous

The original inhabitants of the Caribbean islands, the Taíno, left their mark on Caribbean music and dance. Their use of instruments like maracas, scrapers, and drums, which later became incorporated into Salsa, is notable. Afro-Caribbean musical traditions of Cuba and Puerto Rico blended African, Indigenous, and European elements. Afro-Cuban music, particularly the Son Cubano, evolved from Folkloric styles like Cumbia and Rumba. Additionally, Puerto Rican styles like Bomba and Plena were also influenced by African, Indigenous, and Spanish music, as well as by the rural highlands (jibaro).  

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Salsa is Cuban
The enslaved Africans forcibly transported to Cuba brought and preserved their musical and dance practices. Cuban musicians of Bantu descent in Eastern Cuba (Las Tunas, Granma, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo) created the Son Cubano by fusing Bantu rhythms with Spanish elements like the tres guitar. This formed the foundation of Salsa music. Cuban music and its variations like the Son montuno, Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, and Mambo, provided the rhythmic and melodic basis for Salsa. Cuban musicians like Arsenio Rodriguez, Benny Moré, Adalberto Santiago, Irakere, Los Van Van, Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Issac Delgado, La Lupe, and Celia Cruz (Queen of Salsa) were pioneers in the development of Salsa and helped bring the genre to international recognition. 

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Salsa is Puerto Rican
The Bomba and Plena, musical and dance traditions in Puerto Rico, heavily influenced by African rhythms and practices, provided a foundation for the rhythmic and melodic structures of Salsa. Bomba, with its use of barrel drums and call-and-response singing, and Plena, with its lively percussion and storytelling, contributed to the dynamic and energetic sound of Salsa. Puerto Rican musicians like Tito Rodriguez, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Fania Records/Fania All-Stars, Hector Lavoe, Ismael Rivera, Ray Barretto, and Willie Colon helped solidify Salsa's global appeal and influence. More recently, Gilberto Santa Rosa, La India, and Marc Anthony continue contributing to the evolution of Salsa. ​

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Salsa is Dominican 

Dominican music, particularly Merengue, played a significant role in the early development of Salsa music and dance. The Dominican Diaspora in NYC, along with other communities, created a fertile ground for musical exchange and fusion, resulting in a unique and diverse musical landscape. Dominican musicians like Johnny Pacheco, who co-founded Fania Records (label that championed Salsa artists), contributed to the genre's emergence and popularization. While Salsa is primarily rooted in Cuban and Puerto Rican music, Dominican influences, including rhythms and melodies, helped shape its distinct sound. Salsa compositions sometimes incorporated Dominican elements like the güira (metal scraper instrument), and even the accordion. More recently, Juan Luis Guerra and Rita Indiana are contributing to modern music. 

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Salsa is American
Cuban and Puerto Rican migration to the U.S. boomed after 1945. New York City, particularly neighborhoods like Spanish Harlem (El Barrio), attracted a significant number of Cuban immigrants due to economic opportunities and political pressures within Cuba in the face of the Batista dictatorship. Similarly, Puerto Ricans boarded planes for NYC to ease post-WWII labor shortages and alleviate the territory's poverty. They mostly settled in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, especially East Harlem and the Lower East Side (Loisaida). The "Nuyorican Movement" emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as a cultural and intellectual movement among Puerto Ricans and those of Puerto Rican descent in NYC, blending African-American influences. Cuban and Puerto Rican artists in NYC incorporated Jazz (harmonies, rhythms, and instruments), street Funk, and R&B influences. Among these artists were: Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, Dizzy Gillespie, Machito, Mario Bauza, Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Chano Pozo, Eddie Palmieri, Willie Colon, Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco, Fania Records/Fania All-Stars, Ray Barretto, and Arturo O'Farrill. The Palladium Ballroom was a New York City venue that helped popularize this music during this time. 

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Boogaloo/Bugalú, a genre of music/dance originated in NYC during this time by Puerto Rican, Cuban, and African American music influences (Jump Blues, R&B, doo-wop, Soul music, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Son Montuno) with songs in both English and Spanish. Pete Rodríguez's "I Like It like That" was a famous boogaloo song.

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The Los Angeles Salsa style (LA style) is danced "On 1", with dancers taking their break step on the first beat of the measure, in a slot/line, using elements of various North American and stage dances. This helps prevent dancers from hitting other couples on a crowded dance floor. It is strongly influenced by the Latin Hustle, Swing, Argentine Tango, Mambo dancers from Mexico and Latin Ballroom dancing styles. LA style places strong emphasis on sensuousness, theatricality and acrobatics. The lifts, stunts and aerial works of today's salsa shows are derived mostly from LA style forms with origins in Latin Ballroom and Ballet lifts. The two essential elements of this dance are the forward–backward basic step and the cross-body lead. Rogelio Moreno, Francisco and Luis Vazquez are credited for the early development and growth of LA Style as well as Albert Torres, Laura Canellias and Joe Cassiniare. Later dancers such as Alex Da Silva, Edie Lewis, Joby Martinez and Johnny Vazquez are often credited with developing the LA style of dancing as we know it today.

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The New York Salsa style (NY Style) is danced "On 2", meaning that dancers take their break step on the second beat of the measure. It is also danced in a slot, as opposed to the more circular style of Cuban or Colombian Salsa. It was popularized by Eddie Torres ("the Mambo King"), who helped formalize the timing of the dance. On 2 Salsa is also sometimes referred to as Mambo, which is also danced on the 2nd beat of the measure. NY Style is known for its smooth and elegant turn patterns and footwork sequences, as opposed to the "flashier" LA style. The timing of on2 salsa can be tricky for beginners to master, so many dancers start off learning On 1 first before transitioning to On 2, although the styles are similar enough that followers can usually be led on either. Many experienced dancers prefer dancing on 2 since it can be more musical and connects well with the rhythmic patterns of the clave and tumbao. Well-known dancers include: Shani Talmor, Augie and Margo Rodriguez, Pablo "Cuban pete" Aguilar and Millie Donay, Louie Makina, Billy Fajardo, Frankie Martinez, Shani Talmor, Ana Masacote, Magna Gopal, and Karel Flores. 

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Salsa is Colombian

Styles from Colombia, like Cumbia and Vallenato, have significantly influenced Salsa music, especially in Cali, known as the "Salsa Capital of the World". Cali musicians adapted existing Salsa styles and infused them with Colombian elements, creating a unique, energetic style called Salsa Caleña. It is characterized by fast, intricate footwork, high jumpy kicks, and a focus on athleticism and acrobatics. It incorporates elements from cumbia, vallenato, and other Colombian styles. Cali embraced Salsa music so much that they developed its own unique dance styles. The 1958 Cali Fair marked the beginning of this development, but the "Salsa Boom" in Caly truly took off in the 1970s, with Salsa Caleña emerging. Well-known dancers include: Brando Perez, Viviana Vargas, Juan Camilo, and Jhon Rodriguez. Among Colombian musicians who contributed greatly are: Joe Arroyo, David Pabon, Orquesta Canela, Son de Cali, Fruko y sus Tesos, Gabino Pampini, Los Titanes, Mauro Castillo, Pedro Conga and Tito Gomez.