Clermont Salsa

Here’s a great watch! It’s a little history and theory behind the style of salsa we teach.

What we now call salsa was introduced to the world through the incredible musicians and dancers of the Palladium era in New York City during the 1940s–1960s. This was a time when Latin music and American jazz collided, creating a completely new energy, sound, and way of moving.

At the famous Palladium Ballroom, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms blended with big band jazz. The music of legends like Tito Puente, Machito, and Tito Rodríguez inspired dancers to interpret the music with precision, musicality, and individuality. Dancers weren’t just memorizing steps — they were expressing the conversation between clave, percussion, and jazz phrasing.

If you watch the clips closely, you’ll recognize many movements we still use today.
Even classic steps like the Susie Q, shines, turns, and the structure of partner work come directly from this era. What we teach is rooted in that same rhythmic foundation and elegance.

Why should dancers know this history?

Because salsa is not just a collection of steps — it’s a cultural language.

Understanding where it comes from helps you:
• Dance with the music instead of just dancing to counts
• Appreciate the Afro-Caribbean roots and the jazz influence that shape timing and styling
• Develop authenticity, flavor, and confidence on the floor
• Realize that shines, musical breaks, and improvisation are not “extras” — they are the tradition
• Carry forward a legacy that was built by social dancers, not just performers

When you learn the history, you don’t just learn how to dance salsa — you understand why it feels the way it does.

We are continuing that lineage every time we step on the floor.

Cortometraje: The Palladium Ballroom. Duración: 12 minutos. Idiomas: Inglés y Castellano. Famoso salón de baile neoyorquino que se caracterizó por ser el centro de la música latina y sus bailes en EE.UU. durante el período de 1948 a 1966. Por esce...

See you Monday!

We’re looking for motivated students with some fundamental salsa knowledge to join our Clermont salsa Performance Team!
If you’re passionate about dance, eager to grow, and excited to perform, we want to hear from you!

Fill out the form below and we’ll contact you with more info!

Performance Team — Clermont Salsa & Latin Dance