Cha-cha, Merengue, Salsa—What’s the Difference?

So many dances, so little time, so much confusion.  Here’s a quick guide to the most popular Latin dances.  You won’t be able to hit the dance floor after this quick review, but you’ll be able to talk the talk.

Cha-cha is probably the easiest Latin dance to recognize. There are two slower steps followed by three quick steps (ONE-TWO, cha-cha-cha).  This Cuban dance is a favorite on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS).

The Merengue, which hails from the Dominican Republic, is probably the easiest dance to learn.  Partners move their knees slightly right, then left, which causes the hips to move left and right—that’s the basic step. Remember Dirty Dancing? Baby dances the merengue with the lodge owner’s son (Neil). If Neil can do it, anyone can.

The Salsa is also a Cuban dance (with Afro-Cuban origins). This dance is harder for the novice to recognize, especially since there are numerous variations of the steps and the dance.  The dance has a quick-quick slow rhythm and can often be identified by the free leg (the foot not bearing any weight) which is frequently tapped or kicked. This dance is also well known for the Cuban hip movement.

Unfortunately, there are more Latin dances and more confusion.  There’s the Mambo—you’ll probably have better luck recognizing the music. Perez Prado actually came up with the dance for Mambo music.

The Rumba is another dance you can easily identify. Often called the dance of love, the ballroom version is typically much slower than cha-cha, merengue or salsa. Frequently, the Rumba looks like upright sex.  This dance is also characterized by a quick-quick, slow cadence, but the slooow step is very slow and very sensual.

The Paso Doble is pretty easy to spot. Just imagine the woman as the bullfighter’s cape. This is another dance popular on DWTS and the music often sounds like a charging bull will arrive any second.

There’s also the Jive (a variation of the American jitterbug), the Tango (almost everyone recognizes this dance), the Argentine Tango (a variation of the Tango with flamenco influence) and the Sambo, a Brazilian dance characterized by bending and straightening of the knee.

Have I totally confused you? Just remember, dancing should be fun. Forget the names and just shake that booty.