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.