In a previous article we described the differences between Cuban salsa, Puerto Rican salsa and Colombian salsa, and now we are going to focus on Cuban salsa (casino) and Puerto Rican salsa.
Both types of salsa have very interesting features, making these two dances rich and able to enrich each other on certain points.
A list of differences between the two salsas is available at the end of the article.
Puerto Rican salsa
After the Cuban revolution in 1959, many Cubans emigrated to the United States and joined other Latin communities.
It was mainly in New York and Los Angeles that “Porto” salsa, or salsa on line, developed, meeting the needs of Americans. Puerto Rican salsa offers a more structured and codified dance, both in the way it is danced and the way it is taught.
In a sense it is easier to learn, because the teaching is more precise and there is less room for improvisation than in Cuban salsa.
The name “salsa Porto” is very much a French-speaking usage. You will find it in France, Switzerland, Belgium and a few other countries, but the name of this dance is salsa on line (LA or New York style) or crossbody lead salsa.
In Puerto Rico, people dance… Cuban salsa!
Those who dance Puerto Rican salsa or salsa on line are called liners.
Here is a video of Puerto Rican style salsa with Andrea and Filip:
Cuban salsa
In Cuba, people dance Casino (later called salsa by the Americans).
Cuban salsa, danced in casinos (social clubs), comes from a mix of dances (Cuban, rock, jazz, chachachá, etc.), which led to the famous ruedas (circle dances).
The band The Fania All-Stars (1971), which brought together great Latino musicians and singers, mostly Puerto Rican and New York-based, looked for a more commercial name to export Cuban dance and music, and the name “salsa” (sauce) was chosen for the mix of elements from different dances.
Although Cuban salsa dancers are called salseros, they are really casineros, since the dance was originally called casino.
Here is a video of Cuban salsa with Alina and Paolo:
Puerto Rican vs Cuban
There is no real rivalry or animosity, but the dance congresses launched in the mid-90s and especially in the 2000s brought a tidal wave of on line salsa.
The Cubame Mucho festival kept Cuban salsa in the spotlight and helped it shine worldwide, before it came to an end through poor management. Either way, Cuban salsa was very much alive.
Other notable differences between Puerto Rican and Cuban salsa:
- Visually, Puerto Rican salsa is danced in a line (slot), while Cuban salsa is danced in a circular way.
- In Puerto Rican salsa, you don’t leave the line.
- Cuban salsa incorporates elements of rumba, orishas, mambo, son, etc.
- In Puerto Rican salsa, partners let go of each other more (even though the salsa taught in Europe includes suelta phases – soltar = to let go).
- More shines are included in Puerto Rican salsa.
- Partners look at each other more in Puerto Rican salsa than in Cuban salsa.
- Cuban salsa is a little less sophisticated, but more festive.
- Puerto Rican salsa is more theatrical.
- There are more successive spins in Puerto Rican salsa.
- Puerto Rican salsa includes more arm styling for the woman, more hair styling or caresses.
- The two salsas are not always danced to the same music: in Cuban salsa the arrangements build in stages and evolve or sometimes change, while in Puerto Rican salsa the music is more linear.
