Afro dances are those of African origin arrived in Cuba during the transatlantic slave trade. These dances have religious origins (and thus meanings), but over time they became part of Cuban culture and have been passed down to us in the form of folkloric dances.
The Afro dances most well-known outside Cuba are the Yoruba dances, for which the term Afro is often used synonymously. Yoruba dances are associated with Santería, the system of semi-deities in the Regla de Ocha religion, known as Orishas. Each Orisha is worshipped through rituals involving songs and dances that represent life paths (metaphors). These are accompanied by the sacred Batá drums, named Iyà, Itòtele, and Okònkolo.
The Orishas most familiar to us in Europe are Eleggua, Chango, Oya, Yemaya, Oggun, Obatalà, Ochun, Babalu Aye, and Ochosi. Each Orisha has its own personality, character, and significance for followers of the religion which must be respected during rituals.
A phenomenon of great historical importance tied to Santería is the syncretization of the Orishas with Catholic saints. As enslaved people were forced to convert to Catholicism, they continued worshiping their Orishas through the associated rituals, disguising their names and substituting them with the names of Catholic saints. In this way, the worship of the Orishas was passed down until the end of the slave trade and continues to this day.
Other African-origin dances that also developed in Cuba include Palo, Arará, and Abakuá. While less widespread, they are no less important for Salsa dancers.
For Salsa dancers, it is highly important – if not essential – to study Afro dances in order to learn various rhythmic, postural, and technical aspects directly from the roots