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SALSA
Salsa is a type of Latin music which, for the most part, has its roots in Cuban culture and is enhanced by jazz textures. The word Salsa means sauce denoting a "hot" flavor and is best distinguished from other Latin music styles by defining it as the New York sound developed by Puerto Rican musicians in New York. The dance structure is largely associated with Mambo-type patterns and a particular feeling that is associated mainly with the Clave and the Montuno.

SAMBA
The Samba, a Brazilian dance first introduced in 1917, was finally adopted by Brazilian society in 1930 as a ballroom dance. It is sometimes referred to as a Carioca, a Baion, or a Batucado. In all three dances the steps are very similar but the tempo varies. The Samba has a bouncing action with Cuban motion and is danced smoothly in 2/4 meter. They say that the Samba was introduced in the United States in 1939 by the late Carmen Miranda.

SARABANDE
One of the most ancient court dances of the 16th century, the Sarabande was a stately affair during which couples paraded forwarded for four steps and then back of four steps in an endless variety of patterns according to the number of couples taking part.

SCHOTTISCHE
The Schottische is a dance similar to the Polka. It is characterized by the clapping of hands after having taken three hopping steps. It is written in 4/4 time.

SEVILLANAS
The Sevillanas is a Spanish folk dance consisting of seven "Coplas." Each Copla is a little dance in itself divided into three parts and consists of twelve measures of music. Each part begins with an "Entrada" and ends with a "Pasada." It is performed by couples and furnished an excellent foundation for all forms of Spanish dance.

SHAG
The Shad should definitely not be confused with the Carolina Shag, which is a slow, laid-back type of Swing. The Shag became popular in the late 1930s along with the Jitterbug and Lindy Hop. The dance was done to up-tempo Swing or Fox Trot music and was instantly recognizable by the flicking of the feet backward with a pronounced hopping action.

SHIMMY
IThe Shimmy started as an African American dance of the late 1880s. It is a shaking of the shoulders and a whole body. First recreated by Gilda Gray.

SHIM SHAM
The Shim Sham is based on a lazy shuffling "soft shoe" step produced by the dancers at the Old Cotton Club in Harlem.

SON
The Son is a Cuban dance similar to the Bolero except that it is wilder in rhythmic accent and more violent in step pattern. The Son actually first served as a basis for the Mambo, which in turn became the triple Mambo, now known as Cha Cha. This slow rhythmic dance was originally in 2/4 time. It became Americanized and is usually played in 4/4 time.

SPANISH WALTZ
A smoothly danced waltz in open position using the arm movements of the classic Spanish dance.

SQUARE DANCE
Square dancing originated during Colonial days and is now a part of the category Barn Dances, which include such names as Reels, Arkansas Traveler, Round Dance, etc.

SUZY-Q
The Suzy-Q is a figure in which the hands are clasped in front of the body at knee level with the body poised forward from the waist and the dancer moving sideways with the arms swinging in opposition. It was popularized by Vaudeville Entertainers and used in many types of routines, eventually achieving most of its fame when it was incorporated into tap routines at the Cotton Club in Harlem in the 1930s.

SWING
The Swing is an ever-popular blend of several African American dances, including the Lindy Hop and Ragtime Jazz and Blues, as well as other dance music that accompanied dances of the past ninety years. Today it generally refers to the ballroom and night club version, which is based on two slow and two quick counts or the slow and two quick counts of rhythm dances.

SWORD DANCE
One of the three chief English dances of Medieval times, the Sword Dance was a ritualistic and ceremonial drama danced by men with swords and elaborate costumes while parading through the streets. It depicted the death of the old year, of Winter, and of scarcity. It heralded in the New Year, with hope of Spring and plenty. To symbolize the death of Winter, someone must always "die" and be brought to life again as a portrayal of death and resurrection.

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