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A look at the
origin of Salsa
By: Jaime Andrés Pretell
It is not only Cuban; nevertheless we must give credit to Cuba for the origin and ancestry
of creation. It is here where Contra-Danze (Country Dance) of England/France, later called
Danzón, which was brought by the French who fled from Haiti, begins to mix itself with
Rhumbas of African origin (Guaguanco, Colombia, Yambú). Add Són of the Cuban people,
which was a mixture of the Spanish troubadour (sonero) and the African drumbeats and
flavora and a partner dance flowered to the beat of the clave. This syncretism also
occurred in smaller degrees and with variations in other countries like the Dominican
Republic, Colombia, Puerto Rico, among others. Bands of these countries took their music
to Mexico City in the era of the famous films of that country (Perez Prado, most famous
...). Shortly after, a similar movement to New York occurred. In these two cities, more
promotion and syncretism occurred and more commercial music was generated because there
was more investment.
New York created the term "Salsa", but it did not create the dance. The term
became popular as nickname to refer to a variety of different music, from several
countries of Hispanic influence: Rhumba, Són Montuno, Guaracha, Mambo, Cha cha cha,
Danzón, Són, Guguanco, Cubop, Guajira, Charanga, Cumbia, Plena, Bomba, Festejo,
Merengue, among others. Many of these have maintained their individuality and many were
mixed creating "Salsa".
If you are listening to today's Salsa, you are going to find the base of són, and you are
going to hear Cumbia, and you are going to hear Guaracha. You will also hear some old
Merengue, built-in the rhythm of different songs. You will hear many of the old styles
somewhere within the modern beats. Salsa varies from site to site. In New York, for
example, new instrumentalization and extra percussion were added to some Colombian songs
so that New Yorkers - that dance mambo "on the two" - can feel comfortable
dancing to the rhythm and beat of the song, because the original arrangement is not one
they easily recognize.
Quote of the day
"Music creates a platform where we all become one - forgetting our
differences and that which separates us."
— Jimmy Bosch |
