Let's talk about the Salsa Gods
By Claudia Hendriks & Sandrine Lang
Ever felt magic surge through your body the moment a drum hits on the dancefloor during a social? Imagine for a second an interesting take on this surge of magic: what if suddenly you’re not just dancing salsa… but channeling something ancient, something powerful?
Sandrine Lang is a well-known and loved teacher at Salsa te Gusta. The past few seasons she has been teaching many students Level 6 – one of the highest levels at our school. We talked with Sandrine about a topic she is extremely passionate about: Orisha’s in salsa. After this interview she has made us wildly enthusiastic as well. Let’s say there is just a lot to tell!
In this article you will deepen your knowledge on Afro-Cuban culture. Every step, every beat has a story to tell. And at the heart of it all? The Orishas. These divine forces are more than just characters in folklore—they’re the essence of the dance.
Orishas: a dance with the Divine
Orishas are deities from the Yoruba religion of West Africa. In Yoruba religion there exist over 500 Orishas, each with their own vibe – colors, rhythms, responsibilities. Orishas can be ‘called’ during Timba music. When they’re called, a salser@ can step in and respond. Their body becomes the storyteller, the channel of that specific Orisha – a channel of divine energy.
Sandrine’s healing ceremony
A few weeks ago, Sandrine attended a healing ceremony on the beach in Noordwijk. Present were her Afro-Cuban dance teacher, a Cuban Babalawo (a Yoruba priest), the waves, and the sacred beats.
The goal? To release.
Yemaya, goddess of the sea, took center stage as drums echoed across the shore and everyone stood in the water, letting go of what weighed them down. Dance became a way to heal.
The Cuban Babalawo explained something all us salsa dancers can be mind blown by:
Each of us has a connection to a specific Orisha, no matter where we’re from. We are all descendants from Orisha’s – every dancer on this planet. It’s a bit like astrology—except instead of your star sign, it’s a powerful spirit guiding your rhythm.
Often Cuban people will have an idea about which Orisha you are, but you can also sense your Orisha yourself… if you really listen closely.
Culture and respect: can we all dance the Orishas?
Here’s where it gets real: Can anyone dance these sacred rhythms? At StG we are always deepening our knowledge on cultural appropriation. As a Dutch dance school, we consider it important to hold high responsibility for ways we teach salsa to others. Thank goodness, Sandrine always asks the hard questions about this – a quality we appreciate and cherish.
The short answer is yes, but there’s a twist. This isn’t just about doing the moves; it’s about understanding the depth behind them. Sandrine had a deep conversation with the Babalawo about cultural appropriation. The takeaway? Respect and knowledge are key. The magic of the Orishas is for everyone—if you approach it with an open heart and a genuine desire to learn.
Why would we want to dance with Orishas?
The dream for any serious Afro-Cuban dancer, especially Sandrine, is not just nailing the steps. It’s having the knowledge and then feeling the music so deeply that her body just knows. That she can interpret a song perfectly and dance it as it is supposed to be danced.
When the drum calls for Oshun, goddess of jewelry, you shake your own jewelry, or when Yemaya’s waves crash through the speakers, you mimic the waves of the ocean. You’re no longer thinking – you’re embodying the rhythm, channeling the Orisha, and letting the music take control.
That’s the ultimate level of dance mastery.
Lyrics become more than words. They become sacred messages. Imagine knowing a song so well that your body responds naturally to each shift in rhythm, invoking the right Orisha at the right moment. It’s not just dance anymore. It’s magic in motion.
The Afro-Cuban Influence: more than salsa
The salsa you think you know? It’s just the tip of the iceberg. Afro-Cuban culture runs deep, from rumba to timba, and it’s finally getting the respect it deserves on the global stage.
The global dance community is waking up to that everything in salsa comes from a place of profound meaning. As dancers, we get to be part of this incredible tradition. We get to hold respect for it in the salsa we teach at our school. How beautiful this role is.
Now’s the time to dive deeper, feel the power of the Orishas, and let the music move you. Because when you do, you’re not just dancing.
You’re channeling the soul of Afro-Cuban culture
