What is the difference between Cuban and line salsa?
Salsa styles, explained
Cuban, line, On1, On2 and Cali style: what actually separates them, and which one suits where you dance.
The difference that actually matters
Every style uses the same music and the same count. What changes is how the two bodies move through space, and everything else follows from that.
In Cuban salsa the couple turns in a circle, around each other. In line salsa the couple moves along a lane, forwards and back, as if there were a line drawn on the floor.
- Cuban (casino)
- Circular, with a lot of arm work and a looser feel. The most widespread style in Spain and usually the first one taught there.
- Line On1
- Also called LA style. You break on beat 1 of the music. Very visual, full of turns and figures.
- Line On2
- New York style. You break on beat 2, following the percussion rather than the melody. It feels more measured and is the favourite of people who come from the music.
- Cali style
- From Cali, Colombia. Much faster, with footwork as the main event and little partner turning.
Which one to pick
Whichever they dance where you live. You can be excellent at On2 and have nobody to dance with if everyone in your city dances Cuban.
Check your city listings before choosing a school: the styles show on every event and you will see straight away which one dominates.
You can mix them
Over time almost everyone dances more than one. Starting with a single style and staying there for a year is normal; switching later is easy, because you already have the count and the music.
Which one you will find, depending on where you are
It is not the same everywhere, which is why the answer to "which one should I learn" is a local one. Spain is dominated by Cuban. New York and much of the United States dance On2. Colombia dances Cali style. Buenos Aires and Mexico City run Cuban and line side by side, and one night often has both.
The way to settle it without asking anyone is to look at your city listing: every event carries its styles, so a minute of scrolling shows you what dominates where you live.