| Cali, Colombia is known by most of the Latin America | | | | Cha Cha Cha with Mambo in the early 1960's. It |
| as the world's "Capital of Salsa", not simply for the | | | | comprises of 7 original steps (in the pre Salsa era) and |
| dancing but also for its richness in music. The "Feria de | | | | literally hundreds of new steps (in the post Salsa era). |
| Cali" is the largest Salsa festival in the world and is held | | | | Pachanga started to decline in the mid 1960's being |
| every December, with the world's top dancers and | | | | overtaken by The Beatles and Rock'n'roll. |
| salsa groups performing. | | | | By fusing Latin music (Mambo, Pachanga, Cha Cha |
| Cali, is also home of some of the largest collections of | | | | Cha), The twist, rhythm'n'blues and Rock'n'Roll a new |
| Salsa Music in the world, including associated rhythms | | | | dance called Boogaloo was born. This new music had |
| such as Son, Mambo, Bolero, Guaracha, Vallenato, Fox, | | | | a mix of English and Spanish lyrics and was created to |
| Tango, Cumbia, Pachanga and Boogaloo as well as a | | | | appeal to both the Black and Latin races in North |
| further 145 folkloric Colombian dance rhythm's and | | | | America who led a hard life in the 1960's. This original |
| other dances from Cuba/Latin America. It is unique in | | | | Boogaloo rhythm was fairly slow paced with only |
| that many Salseros in Cali are able to dance all the | | | | twelve dance steps. One of the most famous |
| major styles of salsa: Cuban, Los Angeles/New York, | | | | Boogaloo songs of the era was "I like it like that" by |
| Puerto Rican, Miami and of course Cali Salsa. | | | | Pete Rodriguez, who was known at the time as the " |
| The lack of popularity of Colombian Salsa in the UK | | | | King of Boogaloo ". |
| and other countries used to be due to the fact that | | | | 'Modern' Boogaloo was developed by speeded up |
| that there were so few teachers outside of Cali that | | | | many of the original Boogaloo tracks from 33rpm to |
| were able to teach this style (many were not able to | | | | 45rpm (or faster) and adding more percussion, |
| leave Colombia due to visa restrictions). Luckily this has | | | | instrumentals and a harder beat. (This is why many of |
| changed due to many of the Salsa Championships | | | | the older Boogaloo tracks have distorted high-pitched |
| being won by Cali Style champions Swing Latino. | | | | voices!). Two of the most renowned musicians for |
| And now, Colombian style is back in the picture and | | | | Pachanga and Boogaloo were Richie Ray and Bobby |
| Colombian Salsa Dance Schools like Swing Latino, and | | | | Cruz; almost all of their songs were hits. This new |
| SalsaRhythm, with their current five world titles (Cali, | | | | faster music traveled to Cali, where Boogaloo dance |
| Miami & Las Vegas etc) are the main reason why the | | | | as we know it today thrived and grew into 30 new |
| Salsa world is taking cali style salsa so seriously. Swing | | | | steps that were faster and more complex, as well as |
| Latino group members learned their trade in the | | | | the original 12 steps. |
| popular quarters of Cali where Salsa is a way of life, | | | | Boogaloo reigned supreme until the 1970's before being |
| and are responsible for the new Colombian style called | | | | overtaken by Salsa, which was developed by mixing a |
| CALI LA Style, where Colombian salsa has been | | | | number of rhythms including Boogaloo. Many of the |
| influenced by the LA Cross Body style. | | | | Boogaloo and Pachanga steps are used in Colombian |
| Colombian Salsa is generally not danced to the Clave | | | | style salsa (adapted for the change in rhythm). In fact |
| rhythm, or to the count 1,2,3 - 5,6,7 etc. This style is | | | | without these steps the salsa cannot be considered to |
| danced to the instrumental rhythms, the beat and to | | | | be Colombian Salsa. |
| the sound of the instruments themselves, with steps | | | | In addition many of the New York Style Shines are |
| that vary in speed and timing in accordance with the | | | | taken directly from Colombian style. The main |
| main instrument being played. The advent of Cali LA | | | | difference being: In NY style, shines are part of a |
| style has made Cali style more accessible to the LA | | | | choreographed routine of steps, generally danced |
| and NY salsa dancers. | | | | individually (and normally to a count); In Colombian salsa |
| The development of Colombian style Salsa (and salsa | | | | the steps are danced in unison with a partner, |
| in general) owes its roots to Pachanga and Boogaloo | | | | incorporating spins dips and turns to the instrumental |
| which were its forerunners. | | | | beats, speeding up and slowing down as the music |
| Pachanga is a rhythm that was developed by mixing | | | | dictates. |
