I can't think of any other dance performance with a larger audience than the Super Bowl halftime show. This year, especially due to the strong political undertones of Bad Bunny's production, it's particularly widely watched, with over 100 million views at the time of writing. As part of the salsa community, I'm happy that salsa had some screen time, sharing our beautiful art with the world. But the wonder of it all can distract from fascinating details about the historical and socio-political implications.
Here's a breakdown of the dancing sections of the "Benito Bowl" and what they represent, with information taken from a "Dance Deep Dive" YouTube video by @MelanyMovez. Here's her fantastic video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1lcv8oF4VA
Perreo
After setting the tone for Puerto Rican and Caribbean culture, the dancing starts with perreo-inspired choreography incorporating elements of heels and hip hop. This style of dance in reggaeton is called "perreo" — leaning into the doggy-style (perro = dog in Spanish) position of the dance. It pulls straight from the African diaspora — hip undulation, pelvic isolation, grinding, whining, booty-popping. It has been labeled "vulgar, sexual, Black, ghetto," racialized and demonized. It was banned or criminalized in places all over Puerto Rico and Cuba — just like jazz, bachata, and dancehall have been. Perreo does exist within a misogynist industry, but it also gives women autonomy, allowing them to dance freely.
The context of this dance is set at a "marquesina party" — a typical house party or garage party in Puerto Rico. In the early 2000s, this culture got translated to basement parties in Brooklyn or apartment parties in the Bronx. Everybody dancing together, having fun, it's wild and free and sensual (but not always sexual).
Salsa Show
After the wedding (they actually did get married during the show for real!) with Lady Gaga, what we're watching is salsa on2. But the style of salsa is performance salsa — upright, polished, with lifts and lines. Many of these lines and spin techniques come from European ballroom and ballet culture. This reflects what I personally love most about salsa — that it's music and dance born from so many different cultures combined. The style of dance we see here is familiar to those who take NY or LA style salsa classes, who watch salsa performances, who perform in teams, and who attend salsa congresses (if this is you, we should be friends). It's beautiful, powerful, aesthetic, and fun. And we love the moves and flavor (or should I say, salsa) Lady Gaga brought to the stage.
Sala Salsa (Living Room Salsa)
"Sala salsa" is the name Melany gives to the next section, referring to the salsa all Latinos and Latinas learn in the living room. They're still dancing on the roof with Lady Gaga's band, but the dancers are now among dancing children and elderly folks. It's a party — this wedding party resembling many family fiestas. It's a more grounded salsa, danced in circles around each other, with fewer straight lines.
This really warmed my heart, showcasing a beautiful celebration of family with music and dance. This is what is being stripped away from so many families detained by ICE in America.
Mambo
Then Bad Bunny falls off the roof and we land in New York — "Nuevo York." The fashion changes from all white to street clothes. We transition from partnerwork to "shines" — solo dance moves rooted in call-and-response community dance contexts. They are dancing less to classical salsa and more to reggaeton music with a heavy beat — but it's still mambo, New York-style salsa on2.
El Apagón
This next section isn't dance at all. It's stunt choreography — aerial, acrobatic movement on electrical poles. If it seems out of place, that's because it isn't about style, culture, or musicality. It's about tension, frustration, and resistance. They are fighting the electric poles they're strapped to. This moment comes after dances representing joy and community celebration, and right after Ricky Martin sings "lo que le pasó a Hawaii" (what happened to Hawaii) — which drops us directly into conversation about colonization, land theft, and exploitation. Taxation without representation.
This section happens during "El Apagón" — a song literally about power outages, infrastructure failure, and neglect on the island. About people living without electricity and dying because systems failed them. A direct result of colonization and U.S. outsourcing to companies that negatively impact local communities and welfare.
The Finale
After beautifully telling the story of hardship, colonization, and protest, everyone comes together and all North and South American countries are acknowledged. This was an awesome dance performance — but it was also history, memory, protest, a reminder that dance is political.
Author: Cece Magyar
