Dance is at the heart of all traditional African societies, and Ghana is certainly no exception. No wonder a dance like salsa has come to stay, extending its influential magic to both the young and old in a country that loves to dance.
The Saturday Statesman visited the Coconut Groove Regency Hotel, noted as Accra's centre of salsa dance on a Wednesday night to find out just what kind of spell this dance was weaving on the nation.
"Salsa is a form of exercising, entertaining and also one way of braking rational boundaries", said Rosina A Kwawukume, a salsa instructor. She also emphasised that salsa is a form of expressing how you feel and brings out communication between partners.
Nii Armah Dagadu, host of Salsa Mania also had this to say "salsa serves as a network that brings people together, what we are providing is the opportunity to learn the dance for free and also grow business for people". He acknowledged Baileys, Coconut Grove Regency and Edwen for their support in making Citi FM salsa night an enjoyable and (most importantly) free experience for Accra residents.
Presently, Accra can boast of over ten centres where salsa is being taught to eager students.
Here's a little history of the emerging phenomenon.
Once the national dance of Cubans, modern salsa is a fusion of the Danzon (traditional Cuban dance) and Son, a dance brought over by the slaves on their painful journey from Africa.
With the discovery of the musical potential of a type of hardwood used for building boats known as the daves, as well as the bongos, salsa’s rhythmic sound makes it easy to follow.
Salsa started in Ghana about 8 and half years ago by Jamaicans, Patey and Sparter. The first lessons were held at Afrikico and was attended by very small group of medical students.
