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A colorful, tireless mass of swirling couples crowded the dance floor at Miguel's La Bodega. Though faces were difficult to discern in this dark salsa club, Aaron Smith, a graduate student at the University, estimates he knew at least half the dancers present.
Nearby, bartender Dulane Mellor scrubbed down the counter. For the last three years, she's worked at Miguel's, observing Austin's ever-expanding salsa community. She, too, recognizes most of the dancers.
She said Miguel's doesn't attract heavy drinkers; most people visit simply to dance salsa. Week after week, such regulars congregate to forget their worries and dance the night away.
"It's almost like everybody here, that's their only hobby. They're very devoted. It's like when they're at work, they're thinking about where they're going to go salsa dancing tonight," Mellor said.
Replete with turns, dips and hips sashaying side to side, salsa involves couples rhythmically moving in a pattern of six steps over eight counts of up-tempo Latin music.
This dance style originated in the Caribbean, though the term "salsa" wasn't coined until 1933 in New York City, when a Cuban composer, Ignacio Piñeiro wrote a song venerating salsa, a spicy sauce used in Latin American cuisine. Missing his homeland and bemoaning the lack of spices in American food, he encouraged dancers to spice up their dance moves.
The popularity of salsa continues to grow. In Austin, people enjoy salsa not only at night clubs, but also at parties, dance festivals and the University's West Mall. And with affordable salsa lessons offered throughout Austin, one can't complain about a lack of salsa know-how.
All in all, the local scene proves salsa is more than just a style of dance; it's a style of life.
"I've made a lot of friends through dancing. We go dancing every week," said Megan Fredericks, an international business senior.
A variety of local venues host salsa nights, including Ruta Maya, Spiro's and Caribbean Lights. However, most salsa dancers agree Miguel's represents the center of Austin's salsa community.
"The people who come to Miguel's all the time are the people who come to dance. I know them all on a first name basis," said Shilpa Chneda, a UT alumna, taking a quick break from Miguel's dance floor.
Looking around the dance club, Chneda pointed out friends from Russia, France and China, describing the salsa community as "diverse."
Antonio Quinn, educator and salsa DJ, agrees with Chneda.
"It's pretty eclectic. You've got a lot of liberal-minded people and then a lot of Latinos. It's almost like two separate communities, but they mix when they salsa-dance," Quinn said.
Quinn said salsa is a fashionable trend for some, and an integral cultural component for others. Marina del Sol, an anthropology graduate student, agrees with Quinn's differentiation.
"You have people that do highly stylized dances," del Sol said. "They have routines and more established forms of moving around. Then, you have people who grew up dancing salsa with their families. You have to move your hips a lot more. You just go with the flow. It's more improvisational."
Members of Austin's Latino community said salsa's popularity reigns throughout Latin America.
"The aunts, your mom, the old people all try to teach you salsa," said Adafel Acosta, a mechanical engineering freshman who was born in Venezuela. "Even when you're a baby. I think that's where we get the rhythm. If I hear salsa music, I can't just stand there doing nothing. I have to dance."
Such music is rooted in Caribbean history. The region's slave trade and Spanish colonialism evoked a musical conflux of African drum beats and Spanish guitar melodies. Later, new instruments and extra percussion were added, resulting in a lively, upbeat sound with Spanish lyrics.
"The music, because it's in Spanish, makes me feel more at home," said Agnes Hernandez, a pre-med sophomore who was born in Spain.
For both Latinos and non-Latinos, the cultural connection with the Latin world often functions as the most appealing part of salsa dancing.
"People are dancing. People are smiling. Latin life is like that. It's about dancing and smiling," said Clarence Tan of Austin.
Several salsa practitioners link the gender relations affiliated with salsa to the Latin culture.
"It's kind of weird for a girl to ask a guy to dance, unless it's her friend. That's something very typical of the culture," Hernandez said.
When dancing, the man leads while the woman follows. Subsequently, Hernandez believes salsa is less difficult for females to learn.
From a male perspective, Smith agrees. He began taking salsa lessons a year ago, specifically because he sought such a challenge.
"It's harder for guys because you gotta lead, but once you break that barrier there's tons of women," Smith said. "There's more women than men. I've met dates here. I've taken dates here. It's a really good social outlet that women like."
Salsa is popular for a variety of reasons, often depending upon the individual. As a decathlete, Smith said he uses salsa dancing as a means of staying in shape.
For Imtiaz Ahmed, a geological sciences graduate student, salsa serves as a break from his studies during which he doesn't have to exert a lot of mental effort.
Mina Dadgar, a public affairs graduate student, said she likes to salsa because it looks beautiful without being too complicated. The main challenge is learning to dance with a new partner, she said.
"It's communication through dance moves," Dadgar said. "You have to be able to understand and respond to a person's actions. That can be a fun challenge, cooperating with someone."
Dwip Banerjee, a local salsa teacher, said a sense of rhythm and the capability to construct "moves" makes for a good salsa dancer.
"It's exhilarating, uplifting, fun. You get to express yourself in ways you never do outside. Anyone can learn, no doubt about that," Banerjee said.
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