The rise of salsa in Shenzhen

Sky Gidge

Everyone is smiling. The bartender bobs her head to the beat and the DJ is almost hidden in the dim light. Its Wednesday night in Club Viva in Coco Park, but instead of dance music the room is filled with a Latin rhythm. It’s salsa.

Salsa is a Latin dance and music style that came into its modern form in New York City during the 1970s. It’s described as sexy, with couples dancing to the rhythm and the men leading the women through spins and steps.

“I try to feel what he wants me to do,” said a woman over the music. “And then I do something extra.”

Five nights a week, the small strip of bars near Coco Park have salsa events, and almost every night there are salsa events in Shenzhen.

It’s a big difference from five years ago, according to Stephanie Wang, the owner of the Alma La China dance studio.

There were three popular salsa studios five years ago and now there are five, said Wang.

“Five years ago when I started dancing, we used to go to Hong Kong, because the dancers there were so much better,” said Wang. “Now we don’t.”

Gary Lam, from Hong Kong, started dancing salsa about five years ago in his home city.

“Since two years ago, a lot of Hong Kong salsa instructors have come over here to host salsa parties. Like every day — Monday to Sunday,” said Lam.

“Most of the places (in Hong Kong) — the rents are getting higher,” said Lam, explaining it has pushed salsa clubs in Hong Kong out of bars and into commercial dance spaces. “In Shenzhen, most of the parties are in a bar. It’s just more fun.”

To meet the growing demand for salsa lessons, the new SDZ Studio recently opened near Chegongmiao.

Ruben Lee, 26, originally from Mexico, is the co-owner of SDZ Studio and the head instructor.

The studio’s gleaming floors and long mirrored walls contrast with the factory down the hall.

“Shenzhen is a city with really fast development,” said Lee. “That’s why I was attracted to it.”

Lee has been teaching salsa for six years and moved to Columbia, Los Angeles and New York City to develop his dancing. “Now my time is in Shenzhen,” said Lee.

But why is salsa popular in Shenzhen?

Wang has a theory.

“Chinese people are too closed — they need some way to express themselves. Dance is a very good way,” she said. “Especially in Shenzhen, people are so focused on working, they don’t really have a way to enjoy life.”

Wang said three couples met each other in her dance studio. “They got married, had a baby, have a beautiful family and now they are back dancing salsa.”