About: History
Houston Salsa Dancers, Inc. is a non-profit organization which hosts the annual Houston Salsa Congress and uses the proceeds to promote fine arts programs, education, and community service for Houston’s youth. Houston Salsa Dancers, Inc. serves the community through a scholarship program, a college/career day program, dance classes, dance programs at HISD schools, and various cultural events.
The purpose of the Houston Salsa Congress is not only to expose students to different communities, cultures and heritages through dance, but also to help them build a positive body image, promote healthy self-esteem, increase strength, flexibility, and agility, and encourage positive socialization.
The Houston Salsa Dancers, Inc. dance team is a diverse group that shares a passion for dancing with the purpose of promoting cultural awareness. Dancing creates an environment that encourages collaboration, socialization, and decision-making. Their mission is to be a professional dance company that focuses on the community through purposeful, creative performances designed to uplift and motivate the audience.
Houston Salsa Dancers, Inc. is celebrating our ninth year of planning the Houston Salsa Congress. Planning for the event begins months in advance with the cooperation of the team of board members. Board members attend monthly meetings to discuss current projects and the plans for future endeavors.
In the last six years, we have established a well-rounded accounting system. With the financial policies and practices employed by the organization, Houston Salsa Congress, Inc. is able to maintain a cost- effective approach to promoting salsa dancing. The organization keeps costs to a minimum and passes the savings on to the community by hosting inexpensive events.
Among the Houston Salsa Dancers' priorities is the effort to preserve the history of salsa and expose it to the public. The music originated in Cuba in the early 1930's. Its roots come from various African rhythms and the traditional Cuban musical genre known as "Son". There are many different styles of salsa dance that vary by region. What makes salsa dancing unique is its ability to absorb many dance steps from such other dances as mambo, cumbia, hustle, swing, and jazz, among others. One element that all styles of salsa share is an underlying rhythmic frame established by the clave, a pair of smooth wooden, cylindrical dowels. The salsa beat is formed when they are struck together in a very specific 2-3 or 3-2 phrase with intriguing, provocative timing. Everyone who dances salsa must do so in synchrony with the beat of the clave. As the famous veteran conga player, Joe Cuba, once said, "the Clave makes the world go round."
Since its birth, this Afro-Cuban rhythm has traveled throughout Latin America with major influences coming from both Puerto Rico and Colombia. Salsa was later brought to the United States with the Latino immigration to big cities such as New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. With its sensual style and flashy turns, it is crossing cultural barriers and sweeping the nation from coast to coast.
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