Salsa

The most important instruments in this type of music is the clave (pronounced "clah-vay"), the conga, which is a tall drum that is played with both hands, the timbala (basically a drum stick on the side of a drum), and the guiro, which is used to create a scraping sound.  Salsa has evolved from influences from many different countries.  There always has been and always will be a debate on whether it originated in Cuba or Puerto Rico.  The majority of people say it originated in Cuba, but Puerto Ricans made it famous.  When Americans think of salsa, they think of salsa romantica, which really didn't come around until the 1970's. Before that, it was artist's stories about life in hard neighborhoods.  Today, it serves as a good way for a man to seduce a woman.  There are different styles of this dance including New York-style, Cuban-style, Puerto Rican-style, and LA-style.  The most commonly danced form consists of a simple 3-step weight change done over and over again.  Below is a good example of a beginner salsa lesson to illustrate how easy it really is.  As you become more experienced, which direction you head and when you decide to turn is entirely up to you and your partner.  There is nothing set in stone.  It doesn't have to be a coreographed routine.  It can be pretty casual and less fancy in a house party type atmosphere.  It's all about having fun.