Men have often asked me how they can be an exciting dancer every dance, even if they dance with the same partner all the time.  There is a way that every dance can be a unique and exciting experience if the leader choreographs specifically to the song he is dancing at the moment.  This will always make it exciting and thrilling for the follower.

Does a leader have to know the song to be able to dance well to it?

No.  The leader just has to be familiar with the structure of all salsa music.  I met with Carlos Campos, former music professor at Berklee College Of Music (Boston) who specialized in Salsa, and he explained the musical composition of all salsa songs.  Carlos explained the structure from a musicians perspective, however, I have comprised the "dancer's version" of this structure.  

I was asked to present this structure to the dancers at the First World Salsa Congress in Puerto Rico 1997.  The relationship between the music and the dance is directly related to the energy level of each section of the song and the movements used to interpret it.   Therefore a dancer uses the appropriate choreography that best interprets the energy level, speed, and mood of that section and uses the "breaks" to do stops and/or movements that punctuate the breaks in the music.  This is what I call "Level 6" dancing (as described in the article "Six Levels of Salsa Dancing" ).

SALSA MUSIC SECTIONS
BREAK DOWN OF EACH SALSA SONG
By Carlos Campos & Josie Neglia

INTRODUCTION
(USUALLY INSTRUMENTAL)
                  (Either low energy or high energy
                   depending on the song)

BREAK    (Accent or Stop in the music)  
                 
VERSE (STORY, LYRICS)
                  (Low energy)

BREAK    (Accent or Stop in the music)
                 
CORO & SONEO (CHORUS & SINGER IMPROVISATION)
                  (high energy)

BREAK    (Accent or Stop in the music)
                 
MAMBO (INSTRUMENTAL JAM SESSION)
                  (high energy)

BREAK    (Accent or Stop in the music)
                 
ENDING
(TRADITIONAL SALSA = SHARP ABRUPT)
(ROMANTIC SALSA = FADE OUT)
                  (Either low energy or high energy
                   depending on the song)

* Each song will vary in the number or order of these sections

To improve upon the appropriate choreography for each of these sections, or obtain more information about this topic, it may be necessary to book a private lesson or attend a workshop with Josie.   Please see contact information below.

Dec. 30, 1998
-- Josie Neglia

Can you relate to this break down?  Let me know what you think..