What is Cuban salsa?
Cuban salsa (casino) is the social dance from Cuba. You dance in circles: lead and follow move around each other instead of along a line. The music is son and timba, driven by the clave. In group form it becomes rueda de casino — a caller shouts figures and the whole circle performs them at once.
The emphasis is on partner work, feel and play, not on shows. Many people find the Cuban basics quick to dance at a real party.
What is Linear salsa?
“Linear salsa” is the umbrella term for styles danced on a straight line — chiefly LA-style (on 1) and New York-style (on 2). Lead and follow swap places along that line, with a tight frame and lots of cross-body leads.
The key differences
| Aspect | Cuban salsa | Linear salsa |
|---|---|---|
| Music | Son, songo and timba — clave-driven and percussive. | Mambo and commercial salsa, on 1 or on 2. |
| Structure | Circular; lead and follow rotate around each other. | Linear; partners swap along a straight line. |
| Connection | Playful, lots of short hand changes and impulses. | Tight frame, long cross-body leads. |
| Footwork | Compact; emphasis on figures and partner work. | Many spins, shines and styling. |
| For beginners | Quick to dance at a party; rueda makes it social. | Logical structure; on-2 timing takes adjusting. |
Which style do you learn first?
Cuban salsa gets you onto the floor playing sooner; linear salsa is great if you enjoy technique and tight patterns. The clave counting you learn in casino helps you in linear styles later too.
Where do you dance Cuban salsa in the Netherlands?
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Leiden have weekly Cuban socials, workshops and courses. Most nights include rueda too.
Browse all Cuban salsa events or find a workshop near you.
· START DANCING
Want to try Cuban salsa?
The fastest way to feel the difference is to just go dance. Find a social or workshop near you.