Salsa Merengue Bachata Cha Cha Cha Dance Lessons in Chicago and Dallas

Beginners Guide to Salsa Dancing

Before you begin your journey into this hip-shaking, shoulder-shimmying, sensuous and seductive art-form known as Salsa dancing, it is important for you to understand that there are now a few different ways to communicate on the dance floor. Here at the Dance Academy of Salsa, we teach the two most popular styles danced worldwide, known as dancing On 1 and On 2. One is not necessarily better than than the other, simply different. Read below to find out the differences between the two.

Basic Salsa (aka on 1 or LA Style)

Breaking (stepping forward/back into your partner's space) on the 1st and 5th beats of the 8 count

Dancing Salsa On 1 emphasizes the melody of the music by having the leader break forward (and follower back) on the very first beat, where the music begins. This makes for a very straightforward basic step which is easier to follow and maintain than dancing On 2, especially because your feet are in its neutral position (the center of your dancing) after three consecutive steps (1,2,3 - 5,6,7). When a cowbell is present in the music, your dancing becomes in sync with this sound as it is typically played on the beats 1-3-5-7.

Salsa On 2 (aka New York Style or Mambo)

Breaking (stepping forward/back into your partner's space) on the 2nd and 6th beats of the 8 count

The preffered method of most advanced level Salsa dancers, dancing On 2 has a more dynamic connection to the music as it is synchronized with the tumbao and clave rhythms, which emphasize the breaks of 2 and 6. The structure of On 2 dancing allows the follower to be led into major movements (cross body lead, turns, etc.) in the first measure of the music, creating a more natural connection. The On 2 basic step also feels smoother as your feet are NOT in its neutral position after three consective steps (1,2,3 - 5,6,7) but rather in your partners space.

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