Salsa dancing is an activity that has spread worldwide. A dance that was once taught to you in your grandmothers’ living room at a family party has since morphed into a well known dance form.
Being danced not only by Hispanics and Latin’s but being adopted by all ethnicities.
As the love for salsa has touched others, advanced dancers have seen the opportunity to start their own salsa schools in different locations and have in turn exposed others to this beautiful dance form.
As salsa becomes more popular, thanks to amazing musicians, dance teachers and dedicated supporters, it has grown into a profitable industry. Salsa school owners host social events to give their students a chance to practice their dancing skills outside of the classroom and also opening their socials to the community. I am sure in the beginning everyone would attend each other’s socials, not only to practice their dancing but also support each other’s schools. This shaped the perfect dance community; people could meet others in the community, dance, socialize and have a good time right?
While this was a great idea, it caused the problem we face today. Greed set in and competition for business became their number one priority. Events began to be held on the same nights making dancers choose which socials to attend, often creating pointless competition and dividing the dancers. Those that were loyal to their schools continued to support those events, while others decided to attend the bigger events only.
So now the question is, does it matter that such a lack of unity exists in the salsa community? If so, what is the solution to this problem? By intervening and trying to solve it, are we interfering with the business of the salsa schools?
Written by:
Dawn Prado
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Posted by hunntyr, Dec 27, 2008
Great Article Dawn. Thank you for putting it up.
The way I see it, loyalty to "your school" is a great thing to have. But when you are done learning from that school, does that mean the wonderful world of Salsa is over? Are there no more patterns to learn? No more people to meet? No more exquisite dance experiences? I think not. There are so many opportunities to actively participate in the Salsa community where everything I mentioned above, and more, can be attained. It's all a matter of personal choice though. Some people will never fully venture out into the "Salsa World" due to fear of the unknown, being uncomfortable with learning new things or going to new places. In my opinion that is a damn shame.
To me, it does not matter that such a lack of unity exists in the salsa community because I will do what I can to support all schools, their socials and events. Mainly because I can always learn from others, meet great people, and experience some of the best dancing from all the salseras around. If everyone else wants to solely stay at 1 location. So be it.
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Posted by Salsera_54, Dec 29, 2008
This is a awesome article. Great job Dawn. We have many communities here in FL of Salsa. Can I really say I commit to one. No because I can learn something from all of them. I love all my schools that I have attended and taken classes. All the workshops from people all over the US. It's unity that should makes a strong Salsa Community. We will probably never solve the "lack of unity". For me myself, I will always give schools props for what they do and be friends with everyone in the salsa community. Because its what makes me happy. :D~
Salsera_54
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Posted by SoySalsero2062, Jan 21, 2009
Hello Dawn,
You just touched on something that is typical in a Capitalist Society,you mentioned Greed also. 30 years ago record sales and live performances were the big money makers in salsa. I don't recall ever seeing any dance schools or instructors for salsa at all in those days. Today however, you rarely see a "professional" Salsa artist perform live, at least compared to how it was 30 years ago. When I moved to Orlando I thought that would be different, a big city like Orlando with such a large Hispanic population. I was wrong. But salsa dance instructors and salsa dance schools are to be found EVERYWHERE these days, even internationally. That is a big money maker today and a fairly big BUSINESS. As long as the business aspect is part of the Salsa community,which it is and will be,especially when it comes to dance instructors and dance schools, there will be competition which at times can become fierce.
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