What is Son Cubano?
Son Cubano, often referred to simply as “Son” (or “Cuban Son”), is a style of music and dance originating in Cuba in the late 19th century. Known for its rhythmic complexity and elegant movements, Son Cubano laid the foundation for many popular Latin dance styles, including salsa.
What Does Son Cubano Mean?
The term “Son” translates as “sound” or “rhythm” in Spanish, and the word Cubano simply means “Cuban” in Spanish. Thus, “Son Cubano” translates directly to “Cuban Son,” emphasizing the origin of the musical and dance style.
The History of Son Cubano
Son Cubano emerged in the rural areas of eastern Cuba, notably Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo, during the late 1800s. It combined Afro-Cuban percussion with Spanish guitar traditions. By the early 20th century, Son had spread to urban Havana, gaining immense popularity.
By the 1920s and 1930s, Son Cubano became widely popular throughout Cuba and internationally, influencing subsequent genres such as mambo, cha cha cha, and salsa. Groups like Sexteto Habanero and Septeto Nacional popularized Son, creating musical patterns that remain influential today.
Son Cubano Music
Son Cubano typically includes instruments like the tres (a Cuban guitar), bongos, maracas, claves, trumpet, bass, and later the piano. The tumbao rhythm– a repetitive rhythmic pattern played primarily on the bass—is central to Son music, guiding both dancers and musicians.
Notable musicians include Ignacio Piñeiro, Compay Segundo, Arsenio Rodríguez, and Buena Vista Social Club, whose global fame revived international interest in Son Cubano.
Son Cubano Dance
Son Cubano dance is known for its elegant movements and graceful style closely aligned with the tumbao rhythm. It emphasizes subtlety and smoothness, differing from more energetic dances like salsa or mambo, although many salsa dancers now incorporate son movements and styling into their dancing.
Son is typically danced contratiempo (against the beat), similar to salsa on2, but is danced in a circular motion rather than in a slot, similar to Cuban-style salsa.
Son Cubano vs Salsa
The lines between salsa music and Son are blurry, as the term “salsa” was originally created as an umbrella term to encapsulate a variety of Latin music styles, including Son (see our history of salsa article for more background).
Son music typically uses traditional instruments such as the tres, guitar, bongos, congas, claves, maracas, and timbales. Salsa music can incorporate many of those instruments as well, but as a fusion of various Latin music styles, salsa music has a much wider range of diversity.
In terms of dancing, Son Cubano is most similar to Cuban-style salsa as it is danced in a circular motion. However, it is danced contratiempo rather than on the beat, with the emphasis on the 2, 4, 6, and 8 counts of the music.
Son dancing is also characterized as being more smooth and elegant, while Cuban salsa is more aggressive and energetic. Son also traditionally doesn’t incorporate rumba or other Afro Cuban elements as is common in Cuban salsa.
Son Cubano has grown in popularity in recent years among the salsa community, with many dancers including movements and styling from Son into their dancing. The On2 timing and elegant styling makes it a natural fit especially for dancers of New York-style salsa.
Son Cubano Today
Son Cubano continues to influence music and dance globally. It remains celebrated and practiced in its traditional form in Cuba and abroad, and many Son movements and influences have found their way into salsa, especially as salsa on2 has grown in popularity worldwide.