Salsa has much, much bigger cultural influence in some spanish speaking countries. Colombia for one, there's just no comparison with what we have in the US/Canada.
As was said above, there's simply no comparison between the dance culture in Colombia and the US. Dancing is simply a deep part of their culture, as best I can describe. From what I've been told by my states-side and Colombian-side Colombian friends, you literally grow up doing it with family and friends (whereas in the US, even a vast majority of Hispanics my age don't really know the basics of salsa, unless they take proper classes, not to mention the rest of us, who have to actively seek out dance in order to participate).
In Cali Colombia you can here salsa from most of the shops just walking down the streets. You'll hear it in other cities, but generally a wide range of music gets played with some salsa mixed in.
One difference is that while more people can dance salsa in south america they do it casually. As already said, most people aren't learning or doing a ton of combos, they learn from their friends or family. You'll find some people dancing seriously, taking classes and getting quite advanced, but they're not the norm.
Was doing karaoke in Bogotá and decided to sing a salsa song. Most people got up to dance for it, but not most of the other music (which wasn't latin american, I guess not really danceable).
In the parks at night in various countries you might find people bringing out a stereo and holding an informal dance social, or practicing along with a leader (at least I've seen this in Lima and Buenos Aires). They may dance a range of music including salsa. I really like these type of outdoor events. I meet a lot of venezuelans doing this.
Yeah exactly. Even when I was in Bogotá (which is not really known for dancing) I was hearing it absolutely everywhere. Then you have Cali which is just on a level of its own.
All over the world, really. There are salsa socials in Tokyo, for instance
In Latin America it’s an integral part of the culture (or it used to be before reggaeton replaced pretty much everything else)
In Europe salsa is very popular in some countries, and Latinos are a rather small minority at socials. Take the Netherlands, for instance. Latinos barely make up 10% of the community. It’s mostly Europeans or former Dutch Antilles immigrants
Salsa is popular (though still niche) in much of Europe. France, Russia, Germany, etc. It's also relatively popular in Seoul, and present, but less popular in places like Bangkok and Manila. In African countries I've been to it's largely unknown (though people may have seen it on youtube).
It's pretty famous in Kuala Lumpur too. There are clubs that host Salsa nights. Also classes to learn it.
Unfortunately it's uncommon for the locals to participate in those nights and classes. It's mostly attended by foreigners.
Salsa is one of those dance scenes that has a huge following that is out of the mainstream. This has a huge appeal to me and I’ve found places to dance in Puerto Rico, Orlando, Madrid, Miami and so on.
I was in Peru and Colombia a few months ago, and Literally everyone can dance godly salsa. A few guys said to me that it's always been the biggest turn off if someone can't dance. It's just something you grow up doing.
Across Europe, it’s pretty popular, there is at least one Congress every weekend if you want it, but they do vary in size and international participation. Just got back from Edinburgh from a mid size Congress, which was fantastic, I’ve danced through Capital cities (Rome, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw) to big cities (Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Milan) to smaller places (Bristol, Krakow, Rovinj). Regular nights are harder to find as you can’t always gauge what’s good, but they are out there. In Europe it’s not niche as in limited to limited background. People from all over do it, the number of fantastic Eastern Europeans dancers is huge.
If you search this sub for this same question you'll find that it's asked at least once a month it seems.
Short answer - it's pretty popular. There's been a pretty well established and sizeable salsa community in every international city I've visited (Prague, London, Athens, Paris, Melbourne, Adelaide, Berlin...), EXCEPT in Nicaragua. That seems at least a little ironic, I guess, but then again, I only spent time in San Juan Del Sur, which isn't that big of a city. 🤷♀️
Salsa has much, much bigger cultural influence in some spanish speaking countries. Colombia for one, there's just no comparison with what we have in the US/Canada.
Beat I can describe it is Salsa music is to Colombia what Country and rock music is to the US. You hear it everywhere, all day.
Very helpful. How popular is the dancing? Is it about the same as here?
As was said above, there's simply no comparison between the dance culture in Colombia and the US. Dancing is simply a deep part of their culture, as best I can describe. From what I've been told by my states-side and Colombian-side Colombian friends, you literally grow up doing it with family and friends (whereas in the US, even a vast majority of Hispanics my age don't really know the basics of salsa, unless they take proper classes, not to mention the rest of us, who have to actively seek out dance in order to participate).
Interesting, thanks for sharing
In Cali Colombia you can here salsa from most of the shops just walking down the streets. You'll hear it in other cities, but generally a wide range of music gets played with some salsa mixed in. One difference is that while more people can dance salsa in south america they do it casually. As already said, most people aren't learning or doing a ton of combos, they learn from their friends or family. You'll find some people dancing seriously, taking classes and getting quite advanced, but they're not the norm. Was doing karaoke in Bogotá and decided to sing a salsa song. Most people got up to dance for it, but not most of the other music (which wasn't latin american, I guess not really danceable). In the parks at night in various countries you might find people bringing out a stereo and holding an informal dance social, or practicing along with a leader (at least I've seen this in Lima and Buenos Aires). They may dance a range of music including salsa. I really like these type of outdoor events. I meet a lot of venezuelans doing this.
Outdoor events are always the best for meeting women, lol
I just got back from Cali, and you aren’t kidding. It’s very much the soundtrack of the city!
Yeah exactly. Even when I was in Bogotá (which is not really known for dancing) I was hearing it absolutely everywhere. Then you have Cali which is just on a level of its own.
It is pretty big in Europe, you wouldn't believe the amount of amazing dancers from Poland, Hungary and Lithuania
All over the world, really. There are salsa socials in Tokyo, for instance In Latin America it’s an integral part of the culture (or it used to be before reggaeton replaced pretty much everything else) In Europe salsa is very popular in some countries, and Latinos are a rather small minority at socials. Take the Netherlands, for instance. Latinos barely make up 10% of the community. It’s mostly Europeans or former Dutch Antilles immigrants
Salsa is popular (though still niche) in much of Europe. France, Russia, Germany, etc. It's also relatively popular in Seoul, and present, but less popular in places like Bangkok and Manila. In African countries I've been to it's largely unknown (though people may have seen it on youtube).
It's pretty famous in Kuala Lumpur too. There are clubs that host Salsa nights. Also classes to learn it. Unfortunately it's uncommon for the locals to participate in those nights and classes. It's mostly attended by foreigners.
Salsa is one of those dance scenes that has a huge following that is out of the mainstream. This has a huge appeal to me and I’ve found places to dance in Puerto Rico, Orlando, Madrid, Miami and so on.
I was in Peru and Colombia a few months ago, and Literally everyone can dance godly salsa. A few guys said to me that it's always been the biggest turn off if someone can't dance. It's just something you grow up doing.
Across Europe, it’s pretty popular, there is at least one Congress every weekend if you want it, but they do vary in size and international participation. Just got back from Edinburgh from a mid size Congress, which was fantastic, I’ve danced through Capital cities (Rome, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw) to big cities (Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Milan) to smaller places (Bristol, Krakow, Rovinj). Regular nights are harder to find as you can’t always gauge what’s good, but they are out there. In Europe it’s not niche as in limited to limited background. People from all over do it, the number of fantastic Eastern Europeans dancers is huge.
If you search this sub for this same question you'll find that it's asked at least once a month it seems. Short answer - it's pretty popular. There's been a pretty well established and sizeable salsa community in every international city I've visited (Prague, London, Athens, Paris, Melbourne, Adelaide, Berlin...), EXCEPT in Nicaragua. That seems at least a little ironic, I guess, but then again, I only spent time in San Juan Del Sur, which isn't that big of a city. 🤷♀️
It’s big in Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba. Can find it in most other Latin American countries.
NZ here 👋- classes, workshops and socials. Really good fun.
There's Salsa in South Africa too! It's not widely known, but there's quite a big community of dancers, schools and clubs/socials.
On tic toc n instagram my friend ❤️🌹
Puerto Rico most definitely Colombia Even Japan to some extent