Jacquiline Afua Bondzie
5 September 2008
The ability of Salsa to create social interaction in a non-pressured environment is perhaps the underlying reason why Unilever, producers of 'Close-Up three in one mouth Freshness,' has decided to host one of the biggest-ever gathering of Salsa lovers in Ghana.
The invigorating dance steps and moves in Salsa, serve as a great work-out routine for patrons, while allowing them to be involved in an activity, which builds social skills and confidence.
Salsa was introduced into the country, about 12 years ago, and from all indications, it has come to stay. The prevalence of the dance can be witnessed in the many Salsa Clubs established on campuses, with large followings, and in the many social clubs and institutions scattered all over town.
Salsa has shown the great potential of assisting people in developing team-building skills, because most of dance moves require patrons to depend each other.
It is also a great source of relieving stress associated with daily life, as patrons can, for the duration of the dance, lose their worries in the intricacies of the dance.
From leisure it has developed into a form of entertainment, where many professional salsa dancers perform at various social events, for a fee.
It is hard to tell exactly how the dance Salsa was invented, and where exactly it originates from, but one can safely say that the root of the dance is in Latin America.
The music blend, which inspires the dance, is a blend of traditional African drum rhythms, and the Spanish guitar, that has evolved over time into what is known as Latin American music.
Salsa is basically an active couple dance, which involves coordination and corporation between partners, who move their body, waist, arms and feet to the fast paced rhythm of the salsa beat.
The twirls and turns of the body, in tune to the music, are beguiling to watch. Other dance forms such as Mambo, Meringue, Chachacha and Tango, share similar evolutionary traits as Salsa, but it is only the latter that has gained ascendancy in Ghana.
The Close-Up Salsa Fiesta is scheduled to be launched this Friday September 5, at the Coconut Groove Hotel in Accra, at 6 p.m.
Salsa enthusiasts are therefore encouraged to join in the party, come Friday, to witness what this fiesta is all about.
There is bound to be a highly infectious fever this September, so watch out.
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