Salsa for scintillating times

I started dancing around 15 years ago. I began with ballroom, competing in university and eventually moved to the social dance scenes of salsa, argentine tango and swing dance in both the Chicago and Memphis area. After moving to Korea in 2003, I was happy to find that all three of these dance scenes existed here, with salsa being the largest. I’ve been active in the Korean dance scene ever since, and consider myself fortunate to have befriended most of the top professionals and salsa organizers here.

Salsa dancing in the social dance scene comes in a variety of styles. Cuban style; Columbian style; L.A. style, which is often called “on 1” (with the accents on the first and fifth beat); and New York style, also known as “on 2” (with the accents on the second and sixth beat) are among the most well known variations in salsa around the world.

The Korean salsa scene today is mostly dominated by the on 2 style of dancing. However, depending on the venue, you can find salseros and salseras dancing to on 1, on 2 or on whatever beat they choose. Newcomers to the scene might find it difficult to find the right club to go to, so hopefully these clubs in Seoul will help you get started.

I’ve found that Korean dancers here are extremely dedicated to improving their dance skills. Their steps are precise, and their spins are immaculate. Sometimes this is seen as a critique of the local crowd in that they value performance over passion in dance. On the other hand, some expats from Latin American cultures, where they literally grew up with the music, might feel they don’t need to practice and learn new steps; because for them it’s all about the sabor (the flavor or passion) of the dance, more than learning the technical elements.

My experience, as a Korean-American who’s danced on both sides of the Pacific, is that no matter where you dance, you’ll always find the same arguments. It doesn’t matter if you dance on 1 or on 2 with passion or with precision. Dance is a physical expression of your personality, so just remember to be yourself on the dance floor. 

There’s no dress code: You’ll find that unless it’s a special event, most people will dress fairly casual. Of course you will have people come dressed to impress, but you won’t be turned away for dressing in jeans and a t-shirt.

Asking people to dance: Men, simply walk up to a girl you’d like to dance with, extend your hand and ask politely. No need to be shy about it, just don’t be creepy. If she says no, then “these aren’t the droids you’re looking for,” and move along. Ladies, it’s just one dance, not a lifetime. If you’re there to improve your dance moves, the more people you dance with, the faster you learn. Of course, you’re perfectly free to say no.

Drinking: The majority of Korean dancers will not get drunk while dancing, for the simple reason that it’s difficult to do double, triple and sometimes quadruple turns while inebriated. If the room is spinning, it’s not because of the alcohol. That’s generally saved for after you leave the club to get some chicken and beer.

Crowded floor: Even the best dancers bump into other people from time to time. It’s nothing personal, so there’s no need to get confrontational about things. Most of the time you just look at each other, acknowledge what happened with a gesture of the hand or a nod of the head and you carry on dancing.

One of the oldest Salsa clubs in Seoul with one of the largest dance floors. They have a rotating lineup of DJ’s on their roster, and the second Monday of every month is their DJ party where they all play their sets throughout the night. The Hongdae area has a large number of salsa academies, and most of their students gather here on the weekends to practice their moves and show off what they’ve learned. The unspoken rule is that the more seasoned dancers are closer to the DJ booth and the newer dancers are on the other side of the dance floor. 

This club has been around since 2012, and is named after the owner and operator Naomi, a veteran of the Korean salsa scene. The club is a reflection of her personality, which can best be described as “colorful.” Open every day, the most popular night to go dancing is on Friday, where they are open until about 5am. If you want to see the salsa dancing elite come out to party, this is one of the top clubs south of the Han River.

Itaewon’s salsa scene has been around for more than a decade. For most of that time, Club Caliente was the spot to go. A change in ownership led to their doors closing, leaving the faithful dance crowd in the lurch. Several others have come and gone to fill the void; but the Bulldog Pub has been the most successful, winning over the old dance crowd and bringing in their fair share of new people. Most days, it’s just a pub, but on Friday and Saturday nights, it’s salsa night. The dance crowd here is probably the most laid back of all the clubs in Seoul with a good mix of both foreign and Korean patrons. Some come to watch and others to dance, but all are welcome. If you are brand new to the salsa scene, this is the least intimidating of the salsa clubs to check out.