To understand the popularity of salsa music and dance you need to experience it. But even if you are not a salsa dancer you will easily recognize salsas influence worldwide.

Take for example the growing number of movies that have salsa themes like.

Dirty Dancing This 1987 film starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swaze was a huge success and would be considered a classic movie. This is a must have for any movie collector whether you love dance or not. Its a movie that takes place in the summer of 1963 where a young woman named Baby is stuck at the Catskills with her parents. She tries to make the best of the situation by attending the organized classes on meringue dancing and wig demonstration. But her life at the Catskills takes a sharp turn when she meets Johnny Castle, the resort's dance instructor. With Johnny, Baby learns the steps to a new dance--a dirty dance--that allows her to discover new strengths, a new passion for dance and a new love.

Dance With Me This is a 1998 film starring Vanessa L. Williams. The story begins with a young Cuban man Rafael who comes to the U.S. to find his real father. Upon arrival, he begins working as a handyman at a local dance studio. He soon falls for one of the dance teachers (played by Vanessa L. Williams) who happen to be rehearsing for the annual Latin dance contest in Las Vegas. This film is a romance filled fantasy thats a little too predictable and unrealistic. Rafael happens to get the opportunity to compete in the contest with Williams where romance soon blooms. If you set aside the story line and acting abilities but love Latin dance, this movie is a good choice.

Dancing with the Stars Is the new dance craze hitting television stations country wide? This is a weekly show featuring famous actors who compete with one another in a dance competition. They are trained by experienced dance instructors who rigorously help them perfect the craft of dance and they compete to win for a good cause. This show took off on its first preview and continues to receive wide vie warship. An entertaining show thats great to watch for both those who love dance and those who would just rather watch it. Think of this show as American Idol but instead of singing, they dance.

And now there is a new movie featuring Antonio Benderas called Take The Lead. You can find out more by visiting http://www.taketheleadmovie.com/ Its a movie based on a true story. The website reads:

The idea came from a true story of a dance instructor in New York City who teaches ballroom to high school students. In this movie, an internationally acclaimed ballroom dancer volunteers to teach in a NYC high school. When his dance style clashes with their hip-hop, he creates a new style of dance.

The website has some nice features including a mixer that allows you to mix salsa with another style of music, ie Jazz, Hip-Hop, etc. and you can create your own choreography using virtual dancer.

If you love salsa dance, check out these movies that will quite simply inspire you to dance!