Though Oldham started as a sleepy hamlet snuggled in the foothills of the Pennines, it has become a veritable melting pot of cultures and arts representing national identities from all over the world. Language, art and dance have combined to form a unique and diverse local identity with a whole new flavour of fusion that brings these different cultural groups together.
It is no surprise then that Oldham also has a real taste for the dances and culture of Latin-America, and there is a growing demand for top quality Rumba, Mambo and Salsa dance classes. Oldham is the perfect place to find these beautiful dance classes, and it is no wonder they are so popular here. Just as Oldham is known for its unique blend of national identities, the classic Latin American dance movement developed out of a similar convergence of cultures in 18th century Cuba.
Cuba was shaped by the sudden introduction of European business to the Americas, and the port of Havana became the trade hub and taxation station of the Spanish colonial presence. Spanish colonialism brought slaves from across the continent of Africa, particularly Benin and Togo, Cameroon, The Congo, Angola, and Nigeria. These displaced people brought their music, their art and their culture from their homelands and began a complicated period of fusion with European culture. When Cuba began to seek independence from mainland Spain, this blend of Afro-European arts and dance became a powerful tool in defining the national identity of the island and formed the ‘son’; a style of expressive, energetic dance that proceeded the Mambo, the Rumba and eventually the Salsa. Across the 1950s, 60s and 70s Latin-American dance exploded onto the dance floors of New York and drove a sudden demand for salsa dance classes.
Oldham might not have featured so highly on the international dance scene, but the international flair and dance styles found their way to Oldham with the people of various cultures who settled there. Of all the dance groups, community projects and Salsa dance classes Oldham has, some of the best can be found at the Jaymar Dance Centre in the heart of town. They have been helping to write the dance history of Oldham for over 35 years and have passed on the deep cultural history of Cuba through Rumba and Salsa dance classes in their specially designed Latin Lounge.
Dancing and music have always been a key part of how peoples and groups identify themselves, express themselves and socialise. From the spiritual dances that the displaced African peoples in the Caribbean used to share their heritage of beliefs and national stories to the great quality Salsa dance classes Oldham has to share in, these dances carry the culture and history of people and places that gave us our heritage, and it is important to keep these alive. Whether in competition, or simply for fun and fitness, salsa dance classes are a beautiful way of connecting to the vibrant beating heart of Havana.
