Los Angeles Salsa, also known as LA Style or On-1 Salsa, is a linear partner dance form performed to salsa music, distinguished by its slot-based patterns where partners maintain a straight-line slot, breaking forward on the first beat of the measure, and featuring intricate footwork, rapid spins, dips, and acrobatic elements that emphasize theatrical flair and showmanship.[1][2][3] Originating in Los Angeles during the 1980s, it evolved from earlier mambo influences and local Latin dance scenes, with pioneers like the Vazquez brothers developing its core techniques through teams such as Salsa Brava, adapting circular Cuban roots into a more structured, performance-oriented linear format suited to club floors and competitions.[4][5]Unlike the circular, body-isolation-focused Cuban casino style or the smoother, on-2 timing of New York salsa, LA Style prioritizes cross-body leads for dynamic partner exchanges within a fixed slot, enabling elaborate shines (solo flourishes) and lifts that highlight athleticism and synchronization, which contributed to its rapid global spread via Hollywood's cultural export and salsa congresses.[6][7] This style's defining characteristics—sharp phrasing to musical accents, emphasis on follower styling, and integration of contemporary fusion moves—have made it a staple in international competitions and instruction, though purists note its departure from traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms in favor of visual spectacle.[2][8]
History
Founding and APSL Entry
The Los Angeles Salsa Professional Soccer Club was established in 1992 by William De La Pena, a Montebello-based ophthalmologist, as an expansion franchise in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL).[9][10] De La Pena anticipated initial financial losses in the six figures for the inaugural season, viewing the venture as a means to build a sustainable fan base in Southern California amid limited local interest in professional soccer at the time.[10]In July 1992, the Salsa secured a three-year agreement with California State University, Fullerton, to play home games at the 10,000-seat Titan Stadium, selected for its regulation-sized field and accessibility from Los Angeles and Orange counties.[9] The team appointed Rick Davis, a former captain of the U.S. national team, as general manager and Rildo Menezes, a Brazilian international with experience alongside Pelé, as head coach to oversee operations.[9][10]The Salsa entered the APSL for its 1993 season, joining a seven-team circuit that included franchises in Tampa Bay, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Denver, and San Francisco.[10][9] The APSL, formed in 1990 from remnants of the North American Soccer League, operated as the premier professional outdoor soccer league in the United States, scheduling games from May to September.[10] To support player development, the club established the East Los Angeles Cobras as a reserve team in the United States Interregional Soccer League (USISL).[10]
Performance in APSL Seasons
In their debut 1993 APSL season as an expansion team, the Los Angeles Salsa compiled a regular-season record of 12 wins, 12 losses, and a 3–3 mark in shootouts, finishing fourth in the seven-team league.[11][12] The team started strongly but faltered late, dropping eight of its final nine matches.[13] In the playoffs, the Salsa advanced from the first round with a 2–2 draw against the Vancouver 86ers, prevailing 3–1 in the shootout on September 18.[14] They reached the league championship final but lost 3–1 in extra time to the Colorado Foxes on October 2 at their home venue.[14][15]The Salsa showed improvement in 1994, posting a 12–8 regular-season record with a 1–2 shootout tally to secure second place overall.[13] Forward Paulinho led the team with 11 goals, while Paul Wright added 12, combining to top the league scoring charts.[16] In the semifinals, they faced the Montreal Impact in a best-of-three series, splitting the first two games—a 1–2 road loss on September 30 and a 3–0 home win on October 2—before falling 1–0 in the decisive third match via shootout.[17][18]Montreal advanced to claim the APSL title with a 1–0 victory over Colorado in the final.[17]
Season
Regular Season Record (W-L-T/SO)
Position
Playoff Result
1993
12–12 (3–3)
4th
Runners-up
1994
12–8 (1–2)
2nd
Semifinals
The table summarizes the Salsa's APSL performance, reflecting competitive finishes despite the league's transition challenges ahead of Major League Soccer's 1996 launch.[13][18]
Transition to Mexican League and USISL
In mid-1994, following a third-place finish in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL), the Los Angeles Salsa sought to expand its operations by joining Mexico's newly reorganized professional leagues. On June 26, 1994, the United States Soccer Federation approved the team's request to compete in Mexico's Division 1-A, a second-tier league set to begin play in September, allowing for year-round scheduling and access to a larger player pool in Southern California.[19] The invitation stemmed from Mexico's league restructuring, with the Salsa planning to field two squads to manage overlapping fixtures, using Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium as a potential home venue.[19]However, by August 1994, regulatory hurdles emerged as U.S. and international soccer governing bodies reconsidered the arrangement, potentially blocking the Salsa's participation due to concerns over cross-border competition and scheduling conflicts.[20] The deal ultimately collapsed in September 1994, preventing the team from entering the Mexican league amid financial strains on owner Bill De La Peña, who had already invested approximately $2.5 million in losses over two APSL seasons.[13]Facing instability in the APSL, including the league's contraction and the impending launch of Major League Soccer, the Salsa withdrew from the 1995 APSL season on January 13, 1995, after a failed merger attempt with the Vancouver 86ers.[21] De La Peña announced a one-year hiatus for reorganization on January 18, 1995, citing the need to restructure amid declining attendance and operational challenges.[22] Instead, the franchise shifted to the semi-professional United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues (USISL), relocating operations to Mission Viejo under De La Peña and general manager Rick Davis, and fielding a low-budget under-23 reserve squad known as the Los Angeles Salsa U-23's in the USISL Professional League.[13] This team competed in the league's Western Division, finishing with a 15-5-0 record and advancing in the 1995 U.S. Open Cup before the franchise folded quietly after the season.[23][24]
Decline and Dissolution
Following the 1994 APSL season, where the Salsa finished second in the Western Conference with a 12-8 record but lost in the semifinals to the Montreal Impact on October 2, the team pursued expansion into Mexico's inaugural Primera División A (Division 1-A), gaining provisional U.S. Soccer Federation approval on June 26, 1994, by a 10-8 vote.[20] However, opposition from CONCACAF and FIFA, citing protocol violations and statutory conflicts, derailed the move by September 1994, preventing participation in the league's September 2 start.[20]Owner William De La Peña, having incurred $2.5 million in losses over the two APSL seasons, announced on January 18, 1995, that the team would sit out the APSL year to reorganize, evaluating professional soccer's viability and Division I status amid financial strains, though he downplayed money as the sole driver.[22] The Salsa departed the APSL entirely, exploring a potential merger with the Vancouver 86ers to preserve franchise assets like player contracts, while slashing the budget to approximately $350,000 for a shift to the lower-tier USISL Pro League with a U-23 roster.[22]In the 1995 USISL season, the Salsa U-23s competed in the Western Conference, securing victories such as a 5-0 regular-season finale on August 5, but exited the playoffs after a 5-1 semifinal loss to the San Diego Top Guns on August 12.[25] The franchise folded quietly thereafter, overshadowed by the 1996 debut of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, which drew greater investment and fan interest in the burgeoning U.S. professional soccer landscape.[13] Persistent operating deficits and the failure to secure stable higher-level affiliation contributed to the dissolution, marking the end of the club's three-year existence without a championship.
Infrastructure
Home Venues and Facilities
The Los Angeles Salsa primarily hosted its American Professional Soccer League matches at Titan Stadium, located on the campus of California State University, Fullerton in Fullerton, California. Completed in 1992, the 10,000-seat venue featured a natural grass field suitable for soccer, though it also accommodated American football, and was regarded as one of the premier soccer facilities in the United States at the time due to its dimensions and amenities.[26] The team committed to playing a minimum of 20 games per season there, including regular-season contests, playoffs, and international exhibitions, typically scheduled on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday evenings.[9][27]Titan Stadium served as the Salsa's home for its inaugural 1993 APSL season and the following year, drawing crowds for key matches such as the 1993 league championship final against the Colorado Foxes, which the visitors won 2–0 before an attendance of approximately 3,000.[28] The stadium's location, about 30 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, was selected for its modern infrastructure and accessibility via major highways, despite the team's name suggesting a more central urban base. No dedicated training facilities exclusive to the Salsa are documented; the club likely utilized campus fields at California State University, Fullerton for practices, consistent with arrangements for visiting professional teams at collegiate venues.[9]In 1994, amid the team's transition toward exhibition play against Mexican First Division clubs, the Salsa shifted some non-league games to Weingart Stadium at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, California, a multi-purpose facility with a capacity of 22,355 built in 1951. Most of these exhibitions—part of a series of 19 matches—occurred at Weingart, with only two (against Tampico on November 30 and Morelia on January 28) returning to Titan Stadium.[29] Weingart's larger seating and proximity to East Los Angeles' Hispanic communities aligned with the team's strategy to attract fans through cultural ties to Mexican soccer, though attendance figures for these events remain sparsely recorded. By the club's dissolution in 1995, no further venue usage is noted, reflecting its diminished operations in lower-tier leagues like USISL.[29]
Competitive Record
Season-by-Season Results
The Los Angeles Salsa competed in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL) during its inaugural 1993 season, finishing with a regular-season record of 12 wins, 12 losses, and 3 shootout wins in 3 shootout losses across 24 matches, placing fourth overall in the league standings.[12][13] The team scored 41 goals and conceded 41, qualifying for the playoffs but exiting early.[30]In 1994, the Salsa improved to a 12-8 record with 1 shootout win and 2 shootout losses, securing second place in the APSL standings and hosting the league championship, which they lost to the Colorado Foxes.[13]
Season
League
Regular Season Record (W-L-SW/SL)
Goals For/Against
Finish
Playoffs/Championship
1993
APSL
12-12 (3-3)
41/41
4th
Semifinals
1994
APSL
12-8 (1-2)
Not specified
2nd
Runners-up
The Salsa opted to sit out the 1995 season across major leagues to reorganize financially after accumulating losses, playing only exhibition matches and U.S. Open Cup qualifiers, such as a playoff loss to the Valley Golden Eagles on aggregate.[22][24] The club folded prior to the 1996 season without resuming competitive play.[13]
League Standings and Playoffs
In the 1993 APSL season, the Los Angeles Salsa finished fourth in the league standings with a record of 12 wins and 12 losses (including 8 regulation wins, 1 extra-time win, 3 shootout wins, 9 regulation losses, and 3 shootout losses), scoring 41 goals and conceding 37 for a +4 goal difference and 109 points.[31] They qualified for the playoffs as one of the top four teams. In the semifinals, the Salsa defeated the first-place Vancouver 86ers 2–2 on penalty kicks after extra time.[31] In the championship final, they lost to the Colorado Foxes 3–1 in overtime.[31]The Salsa improved in 1994, securing second place in the standings with a 12–8 record (10 regulation wins, 1 extra-time win, 1 shootout win, 5 regulation losses, 1 extra-time loss, and 2 shootout losses), 36 goals scored, 22 conceded (+14 goal difference), and 106 points across 20 matches.[31] This positioned them behind the Seattle Sounders but ahead of the third-place Montreal Impact. In the semifinals, they faced Montreal in a best-of-three series: Montreal won the first leg 2–1 on September 30, the Salsa responded with a 3–0 victory in the second leg on October 2, and Montreal clinched the series 1–0 via shootout in the decisive third game on October 8.[31][17][32]Following their exit from the APSL after the 1994 season, the Salsa joined the USISL Pro League in 1995, fielding a squad that compiled a 15–5 record over 20 matches, scoring 63 goals and conceding 34 (+29 goal difference) for 47 points.[23] Specific playoff participation details for this abbreviated stint are limited, as the franchise folded later that year without advancing to a league final.[13]
Personnel
Notable Players
Jeff Agoos, a defender and member of the United States men's national soccer team with 135 caps, played five matches for the Salsa in 1994 during the team's stint in the American Professional Soccer League.[33][34]Agoos, who earned four MLS Cups with D.C. United and San Jose Earthquakes, provided defensive stability during his brief tenure before moving to European clubs.[35]Paul Caligiuri, known as the "Captain" of the USMNT for his role in qualifying the team for the 1990 FIFA World Cup with a famous long-range goal, joined the Salsa on May 4, 1995, appearing in 10 matches that season.[36][37] Caligiuri, who amassed 110 caps for the U.S., contributed midfield leadership and experience from his Bundesliga stints as the team navigated lower divisions.[38]Ian Feuer, a 6-foot-6 goalkeeper who earned six caps for the USMNT and later played in the English Premier League with West Ham United, signed with the Salsa in August 1993 and recorded 11 wins with a 0.93 goals-against average in the APSL.[39][12] Feuer, named APSL Rookie Goalkeeper of the Year, anchored the defense before transferring to Europe in 1994.[40]Paulinho Criciúma, a Brazilian forward renowned for his barefoot street soccer roots and flair, led the Salsa with 15 goals in 1993, helping the team finish fourth in the APSL regular season.[41][12] Paulinho, who scored prolifically in Brazil's Série A with Criciúma Esporte Clube, repeated as a top scorer with 16 goals in 1994, adding five assists to the team's attack.[33]Dale Ervine, a Canadian international with two caps who held indoor soccer scoring records including 62 goals in the 1991-92 Major Soccer League season, appeared in 18 matches for the Salsa in 1993, netting two goals including a late equalizer against Fort Lauderdale Strikers.[42][43] Ervine's versatility across forward and midfield roles bolstered the squad during its APSL playoff push.[12]
Coaches and Management
The Los Angeles Salsa was owned by Dr. William De La Pena, an ophthalmologist, from its inception in 1993 through its dissolution in 1995; he reportedly lost an estimated $2.5 million over the team's first two seasons in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL).[13][44] Rick Davis, a former captain of the U.S. national team and New York Cosmos midfielder, served as the team's general manager throughout its existence, overseeing operations and player acquisitions.[13][45]Rildo Menezes, a Brazilian coach and former teammate of Pelé, led the Salsa in its inaugural 1993 APSL season, compiling a 12-12 regular-season record and guiding the team to the league championship game, where they fell 3-1 in overtime to the Colorado Foxes.[34][13] Controversy arose in the final when Menezes substituted APSL MVP Paulinho with four minutes remaining while leading 1-0, a move De La Pena publicly decried as a critical error that contributed to the loss; Menezes resigned six days later amid owner pressure for a coaching change.[44][45]Davis assumed head coaching duties starting in the 1994 APSL season, achieving a 12-8 record and second-place finish before a semifinal exit.[13] He retained the dual role of coach and general manager into 1995, when the franchise transitioned to the USISL Pro League amid declining attendance and financial strain, ultimately folding after that season without notable on-field success.[13][46]