Salsa City Forum » Salsa Music and Dance » exponent of da cubanisms

Heyo,
I was out last night in Monkey, and was watching the great dancing of Duncan - he’s really great wow!
Well my friend was telling me that Duncan’s dancing is New York all the way, so I can watch what he does and think hmm this is new york styling.
So which guys are there who are all the way cuban? So as I can watch and see the differences? I already know who is ‘good’ and everyone is ‘different’ but who is totally cuban?

(and you’ll probably have to explain who they are cos I might not know them.)

I was wondering some more about this tonight.
Surely its not just for the men, and there will be some women who normally dance more cuban or more new york style. Spanish women for example, or cuban women!!
So how does this affect things?
If a cuban style woman dances with a new york style man who wins? I mean if she’s cool enough she’ll just follow his lead and play new york style or will she put in all her own cuban shakes?
And if a couple are very much both the same style does the dancing work better?
More questions, no answers!

In answer to the first question, your best bet is to go to Callaghan’s on a Tuesday where they teach Cuban style, and watch how the instructors dance. Or you could ask Kate James to demonstrate - she can lead Cuban-style beautifully!

The lead and follow thing is not as simple as you think. Women who dance LA/NY style don’t usually have a problem with following Cuban-style men but it can be difficult the other way round. In general LA/NY style is more technically challenging for women but also allows more scope for individual expression. (One instructor once told me “LA-style is about the woman, Cuban style is about the man.” )

And yes, it works much better if you both dance the same style.

If you go onto the internet, and download clips of Osbanis (and Iris) or Rafael,(and Yanet) they dance totally cuban style.

NY try frankie Martinez, Juan Matos, Franklin Diaz or the Eddie Torez dancers

Tommy, don’t go to Callaghan’s as it’s ended - go to the Great Western on a Monday instead!