On2 - silly question

[squirrel]

Well, lately I've been trying on2...

I am an on1 dancer and nobody in Romania dances or teaches on2. I've attended 2 workshops of on2 basics, but that's it.

I've also tried to dance a couple of dances with some who could (foreigners).

Now, I've decided to take it slowly. Oh I forgot to mention: I am trying ET on2.

So, I've been practicing on my own for 2-3 weeks, and I started to sorta feel more comfy (I wouldn't lose the step all the time and I could even change the steps I used, variate a bit).

Last Monday, this guy (who knows how to dance on2 well) came to the club. I had danced twice with him on2, struggling. Of course, after practicing, I decided to show him what I can do. And, to my surprise, he said I am not dancing on2! I argued that the steps are correct, and he said I am right, technically I am on2, but I look as if I am dancing on1. And that I should sorta drag my step.

I thought on2 means quick quick slow but you start with your right foot more or less in place (I am a woman). And I've tried to do it this way. But this guy tells me I don't look right... I can't argue with him, as he did the same ET on2 by my side and he looked very different.

I don't know where my mistake is, for I am sure my steps are fine on the beat. :(

Help!

[alemana]

step forward on one with your right foot to do the basic.

but i wouldn't put too much credence in one random guy's analysis, fwiw.

[squirrel]

I do that... but I still look stiff...

Can it be because I feel teh music on1? I mean, I think about where the 1 is...

[alemana]

i think about "1" to. it's the beginning of the measure!

[CocoMmlle]

Are you stepping on 4 & 8? Because that's a common mistake made when transferring fron On1 to On2... I know from experience :(

And how sure are you this guy is dancing correctly??

[jenibelle]

If it makes you feel any better, I switched from on 1 to on 2 and for about 2 months, my on 2 buddies would tell me "You're still kind of dancing on 1" even though I was *stepping* correctly for on 2. I only recently realize that there are more subtle differences between the two than just the footwork, there are differences in the emphasis and the feeling. Oh and are you breaking on the 2 and the 6? I don't mean just with the footwork, I mean *really* breaking, like giving the proper tension to create the elasticity and spring that you need, because often on 1 dancers who switch over will forget that?

I think it will click inside you and it will make sense. It clicked for me one day, and I immediately asked my on2 buddies if I still felt "on 1" to them and they said "no."

Hope that made sense.
Jeni

[squirrel]

:) Thanks for your replies. Yes I am sure I am stepping on the right beats and yes, I am holding the 4 and the 8.

I suppose Jenibelle is right. I still feel as if I were dancing on1, even if I break on2... I hope it will just come to me... one day... :)

Any other suggestions?

[SalseraLaura]

when i first started learning on2 i did a workshop and they told us to step lightly on your right foot on 1 and then really put your weight down on 2 on your left foot bringing your hip out, then step 3 then step 5 lightly and 6 heavy and then step 7 and so on, its over emphasising the 2 but sometimes its good for an exercise to make sure that youre on 2 because even though the counts are still 123-567 the emphasis is displaced.

When your dancing on2 socially make sure not to overemphasise the 2 because it feels blocky and when i dance with a guy and i can really feel 123-567 it can feel like the 2 is being forced and on2 should feel really smooth.

I think one tendancy that people who dance LA style have is to really jump on that 1 really put your weight down like on cross body leads and open breaks and it can be quite hard to stop that, one day though it will just "click"

Another thing that helps alot is to get some good music that is really on2 like tito puente, frankie dante, joe cuba or eddie palmieri listen to it alot and you will start to feel on2 inside and then its much easier to make it come outside. If youre trying to dance on2 to really on1 music its going to make it hard not to feel bouncy or blocky.

woah what a rambling answer hope you can get something out of that

[yola]

:) Thanks for your replies. Yes I am sure I am stepping on the right beats and yes, I am holding the 4 and the 8.

I suppose Jenibelle is right. I still feel as if I were dancing on1, even if I break on2... I hope it will just come to me... one day... :)

Any other suggestions?

just give it some time, practice with a lot of on2 partners where and whenever you find them (i know, it can be hard to find them, just go the the congresses and watch the way the ladies move and dance your heart out with the on2 guys..) and it'll come.
and yes, it's more than just the steps. it's about bodymovement, interpreting the music in a different way, different styling...
that's why some people that dance on2, still look like they're dancing LA style, and some people that dance on1, still look like they're dancing NY style..NY on2 is more jazzy.

the same goes for PR on2. totally different style of dancing than NYon2. its more flowing, elegant and gracious.. not so many spins etc. totally different feel!
:banana:there is still so much to discover about salsa, yay!!

[itorres]

the same goes for PR on2. totally different style of dancing than NYon2. its more flowing, elegant and gracious.. not so many spins etc. totally different feel!
:applause:
:banana:

:D

[yola]

'why, thank you, mr torres'
*makes graceful curtsy*

[africana]

Well, lately I've been trying on2...

I am an on1 dancer and nobody in Romania dances or teaches on2. I've attended 2 workshops of on2 basics, but that's it.

I've also tried to dance a couple of dances with some who could (foreigners).

Now, I've decided to take it slowly. Oh I forgot to mention: I am trying ET on2.

So, I've been practicing on my own for 2-3 weeks, and I started to sorta feel more comfy (I wouldn't lose the step all the time and I could even change the steps I used, variate a bit).

Last Monday, this guy (who knows how to dance on2 well) came to the club. I had danced twice with him on2, struggling. Of course, after practicing, I decided to show him what I can do. And, to my surprise, he said I am not dancing on2! I argued that the steps are correct, and he said I am right, technically I am on2, but I look as if I am dancing on1. And that I should sorta drag my step.

I thought on2 means quick quick slow but you start with your right foot more or less in place (I am a woman). And I've tried to do it this way. But this guy tells me I don't look right... I can't argue with him, as he did the same ET on2 by my side and he looked very different.

I don't know where my mistake is, for I am sure my steps are fine on the beat. :(

Help!
2 things...
- you don't want to be practicing on your own without a good example, you'll just be reinforcing bad habits
- you need visual examples (not written) to get the subtleties of the style including the upper body movement/weight shift

So I really recommend getting some instructional dvds AND watching on2 dance clips online. That will also help mentally prepare to teach other people later on ;)

By the way, here's genus thread on the timing, I had posted clips of me doing the basic

http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?t=10587&page=2