How are cumbia and salsa dance styles different?

Cumbia and salsa are both Latin American dance styles with similar origins, rhythms, and instruments, but they have some key differences: 

Origin

Cumbia originated in Colombia in the 1800s, while salsa originated in Cuba in the early 1900s. 

Dance style

Cumbia is typically danced in a circular motion, with dancers breaking back on the first and fifth beat of the music. Salsa has many styles, including Cuban, Colombian, New York, LA, Rueda, or Casino. 

Music

Cumbia music is characterized by longer pauses between the first three and last three beats. Salsa music is upbeat and combines many genres, including mambo, bolero, merengue, cumbia, rumba, Brazilian samba, and bossa nova. 

Instruments

Cumbia music often uses maracas, bass guitars, and accordions to create a distinctive sound. Salsa music often uses bongos, timbales, and conga drums. 

Social dancing

Cumbia is primarily danced socially, either at parties or at Latin night club

Cumbia and salsa are both dance styles that originated in Latin America, but they have some differences in their music and dance moves: 

Music

Cumbia is a style of music and dance that originated in Colombia in the 1800s. Cumbia music is characterized by a unique sound created by traditional instruments like maracas, bass guitars, and accordions. Cumbia is also the name of a type of salsa music that's similar to salsa but has a longer pause between the first and last three beats. 

Dance moves

Cumbia is typically danced in a circular motion, with dancers breaking back on the first and fifth beat of the music. Cumbia dance steps include shifting your right foot behind the left at an angle, taking a small step in place with your left foot, and then moving your right foot back to the starting position. 

Salsa styles

There are several different styles of salsa, including Colombian, Cuban, Miami, LA, and New York. Colombian-style salsa is danced to cumbia music and is characterized by circular open-side breaks and tapping on the pauses at 4 and 8.