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Many dance forms are recognisable by their tempo, metre and characteristic rhythms. These rhythms also have an impact on the dance steps for each form.

Salsa

Salsa music:

• has a time signature of 4/4
• uses clave rhythms - usually played by claves - which provide the rhythmic foundation
• has melodic and rhythmic syncopation
• uses simple harmony based on repeated chord patterns, often in the minor key
• uses call and response vocals in which the leader sings a line - the call and is answered by a chorus - the response
• usually has a structure of simple melodies followed by coro, or improvised sections
• uses lyrics of love and everyday life

The clave rhythm is a syncopated rhythm grouped in 3 + 2 or 2 + 3:

Tango

Tango is a sensuous paired dance that originated in the 1880s in the slums and bars of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The tango can be identified by its rhythmic characteristics. It has:

• four beats in a bar
• a syncopated ostinato (repeated) rhythm
• accented notes

Here are the two main rhythms found in a tango:

Habenara

Habanera is a variation on the tango that comes from Cuba. It is based on a dotted rhythm, which also appears in some other tango influenced dances. The most well-known habanera is from George Bizet’s Carmen.

Merengue

Merengue was originally the national dance of the Dominican Republic and has African and Spanish influences. Its rhythmic characteristics include:

• a fast 2/4 beat
• catchy melodies and rhythms
• syncopated rhythms played on a tambura (a double-headed drum)

Bossa nova

Bossa nova means ‘new trend’. It is a fusion of samba and jazz. Its rhythmic characteristics include:

• a fast 4/4 or 2/4 beat
• a rhythm with a ‘swaying’ feel

Here is a typical bossa nova rhythm:

Rumba

The rumba is a slow dance in 4/4 time. This rhythm is the foundation of the rumba and can be heard in accompaniments and melodies:

A well-known example of the rumba is the Jamaican Farewell.