A Review of The New York Movement: Salsa Dancers Unite to Represent their City
S ALSA DANCING, for a non-dancer, is like making sense of Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights at first glance. The movements are intricate and electric, and it’s clear that it takes many hours of training to be a salsa aficionado.
It’s not the first time New York salsa dancers unite to represent their city. Two-time champions of the World Salsa Summit, Ernesto Bulnes and Denisse Cambria (@ernestoanddenisse on Instagram), are one of the most talented salsa duos. Not only did these pro-performers enhance top salsa team, The New York Movement, but they have raised the standard for upcoming dancers. Challenging the stigma that salseros take the lead, this team strays away from Cuban salsa traditions as both the men and women are in the spotlight.
In the 2016 World Salsa Summit, four sets of dancers step into the limelight of the stage—bouncing with passion as the salsaras shake their bold, piñata-like pants. It would be impossible to overlook the lively yellow, orange, and pink tassels that embellish their outfits. The men, bedazzled with sparkles, glisten with every sensual stride to the Afro-Cuban rhythm.
It's the group’s nod to the glamorous roots of New York-style salsa from the ‘40s and ‘50s that makes this artform so striking. A “laid-back” take on Cuban salsa allows the ladies to “shine” solo on the dancefloor, and this team does just that. Distinctive twirling and hip-shaking grooves intensify the Cuban spirit and with a history of many leading performances at the world's most prestigious championship, The New York Movement is an unyielding contender for latin dance.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Eddie Torres, known as the "the Mambo King,” inspired this choreography. Torres has trained world-famous salseros like Adolfo Indacochea and Wilton Beltre. Side-by-side with June Laberta, Eddie developed New York style salsa where performers dance “On2”—breaking on the second beat that targets the bass, conga, and clave. Originating in Cuba, this dance is a Latin movement that draws on styles from around the world.
Just shy of three minutes, the dancer’s movements are far from predictable. With perpetual pizazz, the performers break apart on their own thrilling and fast-paced stride. No one misses a beat—and that’s impressive. Not to mention, The New York Movement’s success is measured by the audience’s exuberant cheering and applause. Regardless of dance expertise, it's apparent that anyone can appreciate this performance.
The group’s unity left me captivated; the men and women harmonize one another, pausing for the occasional flipping and dipping of their partner. Although the dancers look peppy, it’s no mystery that salsa’s fast-tempo is tiring. As the team bows to finalize the dance, I can’t help but wonder if their faces hurt from smiling the entire time.