In addition to the humidity, the evening in Little Haiti was visually appealing. Palm trees moved gently, the sunset transformed the sky into pastel hues, and hundreds of people in their 20s had assembled, dressed in flowy tropical skirts and light button-down shirts.

Their dance teacher, a woman of similar age, stepped onto the platform and seized the microphone.

I desire your body to be at ease. I want your shoulders to be open,” said Elisa Baena, the 26-year-old creator of Salsa Z, an event held every month where young individuals come together to learn and dance salsa. “When you’re dancing with someone, I don’t want you to feel closed off and uncomfortable. It’s similar to conversing with a handsome guy.

Baena demonstrated the eight-count dance steps, “ONE, two, three… five, six, seeeeven… ONE, two three… five, six, seeeeven,” encouraging a group of approximately 300 attendees to join in at ZeyZey, a well-known music spot and bar in Little Haiti. As the evening progressed, beginner dancers rapidly enhanced their skills, chuckling at their mistakes and beaming when they finally mastered the turn.

“you all better be moving your hips!” baena shouted to the audience.

Baena’s Salsa ZEvents that began in February have become the heart of the local salsa culture for members of Generation Z, the group born between 1997 and the early 2010s, following the Millennial generation. Other salsa gatherings, events, and music spots throughout South Florida have witnessed an increase in the genre’s appeal among young South Floridians who are interested in meeting new individuals, mastering the dance steps, and connecting with the music their parents (and grandparents) love.

Salsa, which originated in the 1960s and gained popularity in nightclubs across New York City and Miami, has never faded away. While merengue, bachata, and reggaeton became dominant on Spanish-language radio, salsa continued to serve as the musical backdrop for many Latinos’ daily lives. Mothers still play Rubén Blades while cleaning their homes on Sundays. DJs at family gatherings bring out timeless hits from El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. And Marc Anthony remains a constant favorite.

However, for a generation that grew up in the United States surrounded by English-language pop, rap, electronic dance music, and reggaeton, discovering salsa is an exciting new experience. Although many young Latinos have always known about salsa, it wasn’t typically something they would look for on Spotify. That has now changed.

It definitely has a fresh energy,” said Safe Stadick, a Miami salsa DJ. “The Gen Z salsa movement is just expanding. Every time someone attends a party and enjoys themselves, they tend to return with three, four, or five friends the next time.

Salsa is experiencing a worldwide revival as well. Record companies have been re-releasing salsa classics at the same time that mainstream reggaeton artists have incorporated the genre into their latest songs. Towards the end of last year, Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Rauw Alejandro released Cosa Nuestra,a salsa-inspired albumwhich includes a cover of “Tú Con Él” by salsa icon Frankie Ruiz. In January, Bad Bunny released “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” an album that highlights various Puerto Rican music styles such as salsa.

Bad Bunny’s “Baile Inolvidable” served as thefirst salsa track to achieve the number one position on Apple Music’s global charts, Rolling Stone reported. In the song’smusic video, Bad Bunny attends a salsa class to acquire dancing skills. Initially, he appears silly as he sincerely attempts to match his classmates, but by the conclusion of the video, he’s spinning his dance partner like an expert.

The trend emerges as many young adults from Generation Z—digital natives who grew up during the pandemic—have grown weary of contemporary social interactions. They are fed up with clubs where people aretoo cool to dance, they’re bored with dating apps,and many are immobilized by the fear of “cringe” culture.However, salsa provides an answer: a social form of dance that promotes dressing formally, dancing with a new person, gaining knowledge through errors, and disconnecting from your phone.

The decision has been made. It’s trendy to dance salsa.

I’m really grateful,” said Sofía Hoyos, 21, who arrived at Salsa Z with a friend. “Now I can express my passion for salsa that I’ve always had with my friends. It’s not awkward anymore.

The Bad Bunny effect

Born and raised in Miami within a Cuban family that admires Celia Cruz, Baena began attending a dance studio close to her home during the pandemic to formally study salsa.

She became instantly addicted, but convincing her friends to embrace salsa was difficult. Additionally, Baena was the youngest in her salsa class by several decades.

It was extremely difficult to get [friends] to attend a salsa class, and it was entirely impossible to get them to go to a salsa social or a salsa bar,” Baena said. “After repeatedly pleading with people to come dance with me and everyone responding with, ‘No, that’s strange,’ or, ‘No, I’m not a good dancer. I’m so awkward. Blah, blah, blah,’ I eventually stopped trying.

But everything changed on January 5, the day Bad Bunny released “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” Baena was surprised to hear “Baile Inolvidable” and “La Mudanza,” two new salsa songs created by Latin music’s top star. Even more surprising? People her age wanted to dance to them.

“When he created those salsa songs and they became such a huge success, I thought, ‘Okay, I need to grab this moment. This is my time,’” Baena said. “If my friends are suddenly interested in learning salsa, I have to act now because I don’t know when this chance will come again.”

By the next month, Baena hosted the first Salsa Z at ZeyZey: a beginner salsa class followed by an open dance area. (ZeyZey usually features a live band later in the evening.) Approximately 120 individuals attended the initial Salsa Z, which was “more successful than any of us expected,” Baena noted.

The attendance has doubled since then, with approximately 300 people coming to the latest event in July. This month, in addition to the monthly Salsa Z on August 21, Baena also organized“Salsa Without Borders,”a salsa night event at Sweat Records on August 15.

Although Salsa Z’s sudden popularity was initially unexpected, Baena mentioned that it reflects what younger individuals in Miami desire. Salsa offers an enjoyable and social option compared to the usual atmosphere in some Miami clubs, where people tend to drink and feel uncomfortable in the corner rather than dance.

“Teenagers in Miami are genuinely seeking, at this moment, real and authentic chances to interact with others,” Baena stated.

Salsa Z was precisely what Sofía Hoyos and Valentina Burgos, 19, had been searching for. The two friends spent their childhood listening to salsa and teaching others how to dance, but they mentioned it’s pleasant to witness young people learning in unison at an event.

I hope it’s more than just a passing fad,” Burgos stated. “Fads come and go, but I hope salsa remains for our generation and those that follow.

Salsa’s re-resurgence

The resurgence of Salsa’s popularity among Gen Z arrived at an ideal moment for Hoy Como Ayer, a Latin live music venue located on Calle Ocho. The bar first opened in 1999, shut down in 2019, and thenreopened last summer with new leadership.

People of all ages, ranging from 21 to 80, visit Hoy Como Ayer, according to marketing and event director Estefany Olivo, although the audience has become significantly younger recently. The club’s Friday night Latin Fever party, which includes salsa, merengue, and other Latin music, is particularly popular with Generation Z, she mentioned.

Frequent visitors sometimes bring their parents and grandparents to the bar to experience the music as a family, Olivo noted.

I feel as if visiting a place like this is like returning home,” she said. “When people come here and you speak with them, they say, ‘My grandmother used to come to this place.’ It’s that bond that draws them here.

DJ Safe Stadick, who has been playing salsa and Latin funk records for 25 years, mentioned that he’s also witnessed young adults bringing their parents to his performances. He recently received a positive review from the Colombian mother of a partygoer: “She said you’re the best DJ she’s ever heard. She didn’t stop dancing all night!”

He has observed a younger generation embracing salsa, “which is great because it helps keep this music alive,” he mentioned.

I choose songs that make me happy and want to dance,” he said. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, this will be great for Gen Z salsa, or this will work for old-school salsa.’ I don’t believe there’s a limit based on age. Salsa is for everyone.

Young enthusiasts of salsa music have also been visiting local record shops to add salsa albums to their vinyl collections.

AtSweat Records, a music store located near Little Haiti, founder Lolo Reskin mentioned that younger customers have been appreciating the store’s growing international music collection. Meanwhile, she noted that labels such as Fania, Vampisoul, Tico, and Mr. Bongo have been re-releasing classic salsa vinyls, along witha wealth of Celia Cruz recordingsto mark her 100th anniversary this year.

The store’s salsa collection includes reissues of Héctor Lavoe and Willie Colón from a few years back, as well as a newly added re-release of a 1970 album fromOrquesta del Sol, the first salsa group in Japan.

“In this era of technology, individuals are seeking authenticity,” Reskin stated.

Searching for love… and a great dance companion

The terrace at Sunset Club in Hollywood was alive with salsa music.

On a recent summer night, during the monthlySunset and Salsa rooftop celebration, dancing couples occupied the dance floor several hours before the intense sun eventually disappeared. A few aspiring dancers, wearing high heels and drinking lemon water, remained on the edges, waiting for the perfect opportunity. Or more accurately, the ideal partner.

The greatest aspect of salsa,” noted Kimberly Kantor, who coordinates the event alongside fellow salsa dancer Janet Neuschatz. “We welcome new individuals in their 20s and 30s, 50s, and even 80s. It helps keep you young.

The event was launched two years ago by the two individuals to offer the local salsa community a welcoming outdoor setting following the pandemic. Each month, hundreds of salsa enthusiasts gather on the rooftop for the free gathering to dance by the pool.

Among them was Kyandreia Jones, 28, who brought her group of friends to the rooftop party. Jones attended her first ever salsa class at Salsa Z earlier this summer, “stepped on many toes,” and wanted to put her skills to the test in a real setting. “It’s a great way for all of us to be together and encourage each other,” she said.

However, as the group of friends was gaining confidence by dancing together, Jones was keeping a watchful eye.

I’m just waiting for a handsome guy to approach me,” Jones said. “There are many kind older men. I really appreciate that for them, but I want my guy. I want my chance encounter!

Meanwhile, experienced salsa dancers assisted the girls in mastering new steps. Jeilin Espinal, 27, mentioned that the event provided a secure environment for beginners to acquire skills without experiencing criticism.

Here, some random expert can take you and turn you around,” Espinal said. “That’s how you truly gain knowledge.

Ibanicy Moreno, 24, a Venezuelan individual who enjoys salsa, physically encouraged her friends to dance with various people. Lara Barreira, 22, mentioned that she’s still adjusting to strangers inviting her to dance, but noted that “everyone is very kind.” The friends stated that dancing salsa offers a refreshing alternative to the usual evening activities.

I believe our generation lacks the couple dance or group dancing,” Barreira stated. “I feel that, more than ever, people are longing for that.

In the end, this was Baena’s intention in founding Salsa Z.

I’m witnessing in real time how younger generations are adopting salsa and they’re enjoying it just as much as I do,” she said. “It truly moves me to tears.

If you go: Salsa Z

Date: August 21, 7 to 9 p.m.

Where: ZeyZey Miami, 353 NE 61st St, Miami

Info: $12 tickets can be purchased online atshotgun.live. A salsa dance class followed by DJ performances.