<P> In some styles of salsa , such as the New York style , the dancers remain mostly in front of one another ( switching places ) , while in Latin American styles , such as Cuban style , the dancers circle around each other , sometimes in 3 points . This circular style is inspired by Cuban Son , specifically to the beat of son montuno in the 1920s . However , as it is a popular music , it is open to improvisation and thus it is continuously evolving . Modern salsa styles are associated and named to the original geographic areas that developed them . There are often devotees of each of these styles outside their home territory . Characteristics that may identify a style include : timing , basic steps , foot patterns , body movement , turns and figures , attitude , dance influences and the way that partners hold each other . The point in a musical bar music where a slightly larger step is taken ( the break step ) and the direction the step moves can often be used to identify a style . </P>
<P> In some styles of salsa , such as the New York style , the dancers remain mostly in front of one another ( switching places ) , while in Latin American styles , such as Cuban style , the dancers circle around each other , sometimes in 3 points . This circular style is inspired by Cuban Son , specifically to the beat of son montuno in the 1920s . However , as it is a popular music , it is open to improvisation and thus it is continuously evolving . Modern salsa styles are associated and named to the original geographic areas that developed them . There are often devotees of each of these styles outside their home territory . Characteristics that may identify a style include : timing , basic steps , foot patterns , body movement , turns and figures , attitude , dance influences and the way that partners hold each other . The point in a musical bar music where a slightly larger step is taken ( the break step ) and the direction the step moves can often be used to identify a style . </P>
which latin dance started out as a circle dance
which latin dance started out as a circle dance
salsa
salsa