The salsa dance competition category for couples performing a choreographed routine with lifts is Salsa Cabaret.
Cabaret is the performance-oriented side of competitive salsa. Unlike conventional partnerwork divisions, it is built around a rehearsed routine and can include tricks, drops, acrobatics, and lifts. In major salsa competitions, Cabaret has commonly appeared alongside On1, On2, and group categories.
Salsa Cabaret is not the same as Salsa Rueda, which is a circular group dance in which partners rotate between couples. On2 identifies musical timing, while shines are primarily solo footwork performed without a partner connection. Those terms describe formats or techniques, not the lift-focused showcase category.
Rules vary by organizer: some competitions require a minimum percentage of recognizable salsa, while others set limits on routine length, music, or acrobatics. The defining idea remains a choreographed salsa showcase in which lifts and theatrical movement are permitted.