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	Where the term Salsa came from is indeed unclear and up for debate. What is not up for debate though (and can be stated with certainty) is that it was the New York record labels which popularised and marketed the term Salsa. That's why I say the term Salsa is a New York one - it's New York which took it to a worldwide audience.
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Yes I agree New York City probably was responsible for taking it to a wider audience but you could argue that Miami was also responsible for taking it to a wider audience with Fania Records.
 

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	I disagree that Salsa is a fusion of styles - it's more like an umbrella term for a variety of different styles. There isn't one Salsa style which fuses together a load of other roots, there are a variety of different dances (like Cumbia) which are collectively referred to as Salsa.
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I think you are referring to dances where i was referring to music and Salsa music is indeed fused with many styles and culture. As far as the dance is concerned i also believe that there is very much fusion between other styles, for example a lot of moves are borrowed (we'll use the word borrowed here i think) from other dance styles so this is very much fusion.

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	As for Reggaeton, it is not a shame that people in Cuba prefer to listen and dance to it. Times and music change, and that's where we've got up to with Latin music now.
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Of course we must move with the times and i really don't want to open a debate about reggaeton, not today anyway .. it was disappointing because i believe this style of music doesn't paint the right picture of Cuba for me, most of the songs are very aggressive and gangster style. But then again this is my opinion and of course we are all entitled to that but on a lighter note, i do really like a few of the reggaeton tunes a lot but not the too heavy gangster style ones with pump action shot gun sound effects.

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	Whatever the minor points are that you are arguing over, my basic premise remains. The original poster claimed that NY style Salsa is only calling itself Salsa to jump on the Salsa bandwagon. The fact is that NY style was the first to popularise the term Salsa for this style of music and dancing and the other forms (like Cuban, Colombian, etc.) are the ones which have actually jumped on the Salsa bandwagon. Now, you can debate minor side issues about who was the first person to actually say the word Salsa in connection with this music, but the core of what I'm saying is accurate and the original poster did have things the wrong way round. dG
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Firstly I'm not arguing over anything and basically New York Salsa better known as Mambo is simply benefiting from the rise of Salsa. If what you say is true why isn't the majority dancing NY Salsa or Mambo or On2 or other name is goes by? ........ I don't think History is a minor side issue, without History we wouldn't know who we are ....... Now I think you are confusing yourself a little, just because Salsa was popularised in NY doesn't mean Mambo is Salsa or vice versa, furthermore it was the music that was popularised as Salsa which again has/had a fusion of many styles so i can't think why you would think that Mambo dancing is Salsa dancing or vice versa, Just accept that its Mambo and promote it for what it is.

It's common knowledge that On2, NY dancers and promoters are a little touchy about this topic and can be a little anal and easily wound up, why is that I wonder. Let me just add that i'm not suggesting that you are one of these.