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Latin Dance Today: 4 Trends Spreading Around the World

YUJI 2 min read
Latin Dance Today: 4 Trends Spreading Around the World
Contents
  1. 1. Spread through videos
  2. 2. People gather at international festivals
  3. 3. Styles keep splitting
  4. 4. You can also learn online
  5. For beginners
  6. Related articles
  7. Sources

This page is a reference translation of the Japanese original (日本語の原文). It has not been checked by a native speaker. Please confirm details with each organizer.

Latin dance today can be understood through four trends: spread through videos, international festivals, more and more styles, and online learning.

Latin dance has not stood still. This article sums up four trends now spreading around the world. It covers only broad trends that you can check in public information. I plan to introduce the real situation in Sapporo separately, and only what I have actually researched.

1. Spread through videos

Steps and the mood of parties are now shared in videos. The kizomba history article explains that videos helped it spread (History of Kizomba).

2. People gather at international festivals

Salsa, bachata, kizomba and tango each have big festivals held around the world. People travel across borders just to go and dance.

3. Styles keep splitting

Even within the same dance, styles have split into finer groups.

  • Salsa: Cuban, On1, On2 and others (What Is Salsa?)
  • Bachata: Dominican, modern, sensual and others (History of Bachata)
  • Kizomba: traditional styles and new styles (such as UrbanKiz)
  • Tango: traditional styles and new styles (History of Tango)

No one style is “correct.” Preferences differ by venue and teacher.

4. You can also learn online

There are more chances to learn the basics from videos and online lessons. However, the feel of dancing as a pair is hard to get without meeting and dancing with someone in person.

For beginners

As these trends spread, there are more ways in. At the same time, more styles and names can make things confusing. On this site, you can read in order, starting with the guide to getting started in Sapporo.

Sources

Sources are listed at the end of each history article.

Note: the trends here are a summary of broad tendencies that can be read from public information. I avoid stating numbers or proper names as fact.

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