Many persons might have heard of salsa as a dance form, perhaps have seen it through some sort of media, but there is a strong and long-lasting community of Latin dancers who have taught and enjoyed the dance style here in Jamaica.

The dance style is typically done to music of the same name and is a combination of Cuban dances specifically mambo, pachanga and rumba and gained popularity in clubs in New York City. There is also influence from movement styles in Africa and Spain.

Separate from salsa, Latin clubs or social dancing nights usually involve a myriad of Latin styles particularly bachata, which originates from the Dominican Republic; cha-cha, which also has Cuban roots; and kizomba, which though originally a dance from Angola, has been incorporated into the Latin dance scene.

There is a Latin scene in Jamaica that has a faithful community that have danced and taught the styles for well over a decade. Most dancers are based in Kingston and credit Keith Cousins as the ‘godfather of Jamaican Latin dance’ and the person who got them interested taking in classes and participating in social dance.

A prominent fixture on the scene is the Salsa Society Jamaica led by Aung Chan and his wife Michelle Dawson-Chan. Themselves longtime friends with Cousins have taught classes at various venues all over the Corporate Area, as well as stints in Montego Bay.

Chan has danced for 22 years but formed the society officially in 2010.

“The objective is to create a community in which all Salsa lovers (dancers, instructors, promoters and Djs) in Jamaica to keep in touch, help and share with each other,” Chan shared in an interview with Our Today.

Chan went further to say he has always enjoyed helping people be more confident in heir approach to life by translating lessons through learning dance.

Keifa-gay Sandcroft is also an associate teacher and said she jumped at the chance to assist Cousins with classes as he “is a father to me in this community.”

Sandcroft told Our Today that she has been Latin dancing for almost eleven years, having begun in 2013 and relished the opportunity to add another style of dance to her arsenal, having done other styles during her life. For her, she mentions Latin sessions in her everyday life and always encourages people to join the classes and stay for the social dancing sessions as well.

“The Latin dances are amazing and I believe everyone should experience it at least once in their life. It is great exercise as well for the young and young at heart”, she shared.

Another ‘Keith disciple’, Shawna-Lee Tai, has also gained popularity in the space for teaching and dancing. She credits an act of spontaneity during a bachata session as the genesis of her teaching. She also stresses the importance of learning both sides of the dance in order to effectively teach.

That is, the lead, who guides the movements and the follow, the person being taken through the dance by the lead. As the Latin styles are an exchange, both sides of the equation are necessary for it to occur and Tai emphasises the importance of knowing how to dance both sides in making her an effective teacher of the style.

All three of the dancers/teachers also mention the social benefit of the community.

“Those folks add to the beat of my heart,” Sandcroft shared when asked what she specifically loves about being a part of the community.

Tai contended that social dancing provides a unique way of enjoying a social activity.

“I love that it does not take verbal conversations to build a connection with someone through Latin dancing. If you know the same dance styles you can have a great exchange with someone who does not even speak the same language as you. You dance with someone frequently enough and have conversations through dancing on the floor together,” she mused.

Chan adds to the benefits with mention of the improved agility, flexibility and well as leadership qualities and social skills gained through the activity.

“I recommend everyone learn for all the reasons mentioned, many of which I benefit from myself.”

Interested persons can attend the series of classes by SalsaSociety Jamaica (IG:@salsasocietyjamaica) at the Inmotion Dance Studio located on the campus of Shortwood Teacher’s College on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

There are also weekly social dancing sessions on Tuesday nights at HolySmokes Bar and Grill as well as bi-weekly at Up Close and Latin at Wickie Wackie Beach, Bull Bay.