Some believe that Cuba is the birthplace of salsa dance and music, but neither is exclusively Cuban.
Instead, most agree that the style is really a combination of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances and rhythms.
As for the actual term, Salsa Central Denver founder Malina Farias credits the great Tito Puente with labeling the hypnotic blend of sound and movement "salsa." His point: It was hot, hot, hot -- like the sauce of the same name.
Yet as potently spicy as salsa's spell can be, this year it was no match for a Colorado winter flu, which upset organizers' plans for the Colorado Salsa Open Finals to be held on Thursday, April 7.
"We've had to adapt," says Farias, who organized the event with Barbie Novoryta, founder of SalsaBarbie.com.
So many dancers had to miss last month's three preliminary rounds that judges will consider the finals an open invitation for dancers to compete for the title of state champ -- and for the grand prize of a trip to Puerto Rico, plus entrance fees for a salsa contest there. Farias expects a crowd of dancers who are healthy enough to have come off the dancing-disabled list, ensuring that the flashy, sparkly spectacle -- complete with back flips and acrobatics -- will unfold.
Spectators can watch as judges evaluate the couples while they electrify the dance floor. Five duos will be picked as finalists, and each will then have two and a half minutes to perform alone. Each pair's stage presence will be appraised, along with rhythm, complexity of routines, and couple interaction.
Regardless of who takes first place, all five of the top couples will win spots on Team Colorado, which is scheduled to participate in an exhibition later this month with Team Utah at the salsa-fied Rumble in the Rockies.
But for one night, La Rumba will heat up with sights and sounds of salsa.
"All the best dancers in Denver will be there -- and the music's very happy," Farias says. "This will be awesome to watch."
Not to mention, in the spirit of the late, great Puente, caliente.
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