Latin Social Dance: Styles, History & Tempo Guide
Club and social partner dances from Latin America and the African diaspora — salsa, bachata, merengue, kizomba, cumbia and zouk.
Salsa
New York City — Cuban son and mambo, Puerto Rican musicians
Bachata
Dominican Republic
Merengue
Dominican Republic
K
Kizomba
Angola
C
Cumbia
Caribbean coast of Colombia
B
Brazilian Zouk
Brazil (evolved from lambada)
Compare latin social styles
| Style | Origin | Meter | Tempo (BPM) | Difficulty | Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salsa | New York City — Cuban son and mambo, Puerto Rican musicians | 4/4 | 150–220 | Yes | |
| Bachata | Dominican Republic | 4/4 | 110–150 | Yes | |
| Merengue | Dominican Republic | 2/4 | 116–160 | Yes | |
| Kizomba | Angola | 4/4 | 80–100 | Yes | |
| Cumbia | Caribbean coast of Colombia | 2/4 or 4/4 | 80–110 | Yes | |
| Brazilian Zouk | Brazil (evolved from lambada) | 4/4 | 70–100 | Yes |
Tempo ranges are typical social and competition ranges; ballroom figures follow WDSF/NDCA bars-per-minute standards. Difficulty is our editorial estimate for adult beginners (1 = easiest).