Travelers Increasingly Headed to Cuba for Salsa Dancing

Travelers Increasingly Headed to Cuba for Salsa Dancing

Young and old burn up the dance floor at Havana’s Las Canitas nightclub every weekend. On a recent Saturday night, half of the dancers twirling to the latest salsa hits were from Switzerland.

Cubans pride themselves on their intricate, hip-swiveling moves and can usually tell the difference between locals and foreigners. This Caribbean island may be best known among tourists for its pristine beaches and classic American cars, but travelers are increasingly headed to Cuba for salsa dancing.

The tropical music has taken Europe and Asia by storm, with salsa clubs and dance studios in high demand, especially in the UK, Germany and Japan. And when it comes time to travel, they’ve still got salsa on the mind.

Cuba’s Culture Ministry also offers salsa packages with state-run dance studios like SprachCaffe, where tourists are paired with individual instructors. A two-week tour including dance classes, hotel and some meals runs about 900 euros, or about $1,300.

The origins of salsa are disputed. It has its roots in Cuba’s son but was heavily influenced by American music and Latin Americans living in New York.