Salsa

(Sp., sauce). Modern Latin American dance in a raucous rhythmic manner. It originated in the Caribbean islands, most notably Cuba, with roots traceable to Africa. It emigrated to the U.S. with those fleeing Castro's 1959 revolution.

Salsa may have received its name because of its hot, peppery, and pervasive rhythm over a hypnotically repetitive melodic line. Its meter is invariably 4, with quarter notes alternating with eighth notes in syncopated beats.