Cuban Salsa Dress Code

One of the most common questions we get asked by new beginners before they join their first Cuban salsa class is “What should I wear for Cuban salsa?” Of course, the answer depends entirely on the dance school, the event, the venue and to some extent the country that people dance in. In our classes we do not normally place any restrictions on people’s clothes but we recommend comfortable shoes and clothing and depending on where we dance there may be further restrictions based on the venue. I.e. in general, dance studios will usually require people to wear non-marking shoes to protect the dance floor. Moreover, it is etiquette to not wear any clothing that can hurt other people i.e. jackets with spikes, high heels etc. Many dancers may ignore this so it may not seem like a big deal to wear high heels on a night out but it is an extremely unpleasant experience for anyone to be stood on by high heels so at the very least this should be reserved for more advanced dancers who are in complete control of their movements and it is definitely never a good idea on a crowded dance floor.

In Cuba people often dance on the street or even on the beach so it is not uncommon to see people dancing barefooted or wearing any type of street wear. That being said, many of the original dances that mixed together to eventually produce Cuban salsa such as Son, Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, etc. place a huge emphasis on clothing and they all have their specific style as we discuss in the various blog posts relating to each dance. It is therefore not uncommon to see people dance salsa in suits and dresses especially for performances despite it being a very fast dance where such clothing can make dancers feel quite hot.

Many dance moves and forms of styling have a theme around emphasising a particular piece of clothing such as grabbing one’s trousers for leaders to show off their shiny shoes and white socks coming from the Rumba history of Casino dancing. Moreover, props such as fans and traditional clothing i.e. for Orisha dancing are all aspects that can enhance salsa as a dance even if it may not be the central theme of it. In summary, Cuban salsa is a very flexible dance which focuses less on one’s choice of clothing but rather lets everyone wear what they feel most comfortable in. That being said, studying the history and culture surrounding Cuban salsa and incorporating certain pieces of clothing accordingly can hugely add to the experience and style of each dancer.

Orishas (Part 2)

While Orisha dancing was historically introduced to Cuba by black afro-cubans as a form of religious expression it is today seen as part of every-day life in Cuba. Thanks to the communist revolution it went through a process of secularisation. Nowadays it is therefore seen predominantly outside of its ritual context in isolation or as part of wider dance performances as well as mixed into Casino dancing. Orishas are today understood in Cuba as part of its cultural heritage and they are discussed and performed in schools and local dance groups as well as reaching more professional platforms such as Cuban TV-shows.

Many Orisha dances such as Yewa, Oba, Erinle and Osanyin are still predominantly used in their non-secular form today. However, often their specific dance steps to honour them have been lost or changed over time and generic steps are used in ritual dancing. By contrast the Orishas that have become a secular dance are predominantly marked by their incorporation into the syllabus of the Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba. Specifically the following Orisha fall into this category: Obatala, Babalu, Aye Ogun, Oshun, Aganju Shola, Oshosi, Elegba, Yemaya, Oya and Shango.

While Orishas in their spiritual form are often accepted to be deities, in reality they are a more complex anthropomorphic entity connected to objects and power whose definition defies many scholars. Orishas in its religious context can be classified as “ara orun” which are primordial and therefore predate the creation of earth and mankind and “irunmole” which came after the creation of earth. Ara orun reside in heaven whereas irunmole are on and in the earth and were the first earth beings created. Orishas can also be deified ancestors who had such an impact that their descendants continue to uphold their memory. These ancestors become orishas via a metamorphosis such as petrification or ascension which is not seen as their death but rather as a transition into a higher being. Finally, orishas can be the most powerful spirits dwelling in natural forces and phenomena according to the Yoruba belief. These type of orishas mediate between humans and the controllable part of nature.