Transitioning to on2

[Vin]

I have started learning to dance on2. The way I have been taught is what I think is the "normal" way--
1-L middle,
2-R back
3-L in place
4-pause
5-R middle
6-L forward
7-R in place
8-pause.
The question I have is this, I have been using my old timing to fake my way through this and it has mostly worked so far for me except the occasional slip onto the 1. I tend to focus on the cowbells so I dance to a very pronounced tak,clap,tak like so.
1-tak,2-clap,3-tak, 4-pause, 5-tak,6-clap,7-tak, 8 pause.
I often hear people saying it is better to dance some songs on2 and others on1 but I don't really see a difference in the timing aspect of it. The pauses land on the same count and I am moving to the same beats it is simply question of where I put my feet for the pauses(in the middle for on1, one forward and one back for on2).
I guess my question is what am I missing here? I feel like I am missing something fundamental about dancing on2(or maybe on1).
Has anyone succesfully transitioned between on1 and on2 without changing what they listen for in the music?

[tj]

Has anyone succesfully transitioned between on1 and on2 without changing what they listen for in the music?

Of course, I haven't successfully transitioned between On1 & On2 yet, but like you're saying, I do notice that I listen to the 2-3, 6-7 bass a lot more when I'm watching the local On2 crowd.

[alvaro]

i'm very curious what are going to say about your question the hardcore on2ers here!.
i'm trying to change to on2 myself -same steps timings as yours- (from a weird mix of colombian-cuban-slot on1 salsa) so i'll share my (beginner) experience:

-> i learned to dance focusing on the cowbells, i usually got lost when they stopped :oops:. On the other hand i can't dance on2 that way, i need to 'feel' the congas and/or anyything that plays some sort of 'tumbao' .

-> if i'm dancing on1 i dont really care if i start rightfoot-back or leftfoot-front, they feel absolutely the same to me. I try to start with my left foot since everybody does it that way, but i don't care. But i care on2, it feels different, and if i'm not sure where '1' is i'll have trouble starting to dance.

-> i'm (only) really comfortable dancing on2 when i 'hear' the direction of the clave (not yet very often :( ) :
the '1' is 'always' strong so i emphasize it when i'm dancing on1.
When on2 i will try to emphasize the stronger 'ones' and the stronger beats on the 'two-side' of the clave ('2' or '6')

-> if the clave is tooo strong 'my body wants' to step on the last beat of the three side of the clave ('4' or '8') and pause over the 1 (or '5')

-> if the congas are too strong and there are (for example) few cowbells i have to restrain myself from stepping on '4' and '8' [that would be stepping on 2-3-4 -pause- 6-7-8]

-> if the '1' and '5' are too strong (lots of colombian salsa - is it cumbia influenced?) then i'm not comfortable dancing on2.

-> 'old' salsa 'dura' i can't (yet) dance (that's my goal!). I feel better trying it on2 than on1, but still can't dance through the 'descargas'.

....

sorry for the long post!. I'm very interested in the 'advanced dancers' opinions: i'm trying very hard to learn to dance 'on2' and every insight seems important!

[mambochino]

Vin

it will take u a while to complete the transition from on1 to on2.

I have a couple recommendations for u.

1. Try to listen to as many songs as possible (NY Sounds like Fania All Stars, also Joe Cuba, and Cal Tjader), repeat them as necessary. Listen to all the instrument, reconginze each patterns. Pay attention to the piano, congas, clave and vocal

2. if u dance on1, you already know that is a Quick Quick Slow steps. Now try to do this on2 since u already know the steps.

instead of QQS, use the following:
Quick Slow Quick Pause, Quick Slow Quick Pause

By doing the pause, it will creat a choppy motion that is popular with today On2 dancers. It is also a major different between On1 smooth dancing and On2 choppy attitude motion.

The Slow represents the 2nd & the 6th beat of the Two 4 bars (1 bar = 4 beat).

Here are a couple songs that will help you: Acid by Ray Barretto, Take Five, Tanga and Hong Kong Mambo by Tito Puente, Lucero by Cal Tjader.

When I have time, I try to recommend some more songs to you.

Good luck to you. :D

[mambochino]

I noticed some of you are in Virginia. If DC is not too far from you, contact Shaka G Brown. He is an excellent instructor in DC.

www.clavekasi.com

[tj]

I noticed some of you are in Virginia. If DC is not too far from you, contact Shaka G Brown. He is an excellent instructor in DC.

www.clavekasi.com

Oh yeah! I'm a fan!

[squirrel]

I can do the Eddie Torres on2... but Power2 - NO WAY! :)

[Sabor]

thats a very good post Vin.. thanks for bringing it up..

and i totally agree with mambochi.. i think :lol:

[Vin]

Thanks for the tips everyone,
Mambochino, I was just a little confused for a bit by your post but that is because I accentuate the pause already when dancing on1. That should make it easier for a transition to on2.
I went out last night, on1 dancing, I noticed that even with fast music it felt really slow. It definitely felt different.
As well I was accidently slipping into the 2 at times, confusing my poor partners. Overall my dancing does feel improved.

[mambochino]

Thanks for the tips everyone,
Mambochino, I was just a little confused for a bit by your post but that is because I accentuate the pause already when dancing on1. That should make it easier for a transition to on2.
I went out last night, on1 dancing, I noticed that even with fast music it felt really slow. It definitely felt different.
As well I was accidently slipping into the 2 at times, confusing my poor partners. Overall my dancing does feel improved.

i think you got the idea. Just keep on workin on it. Oh yea, messing up is part of the fun. :D

Sabor agree with me, kinda of?!! Hurray!! :banana: :banana:

[mambochino]

I can do the Eddie Torres on2... but Power2 - NO WAY! :)

Hola Squrriel! How ya doing? :P

[alvaro]

It is also a major different between On1 smooth dancing and On2 choppy attitude motion.
That's my main trouble, that choppy thing!. I don't like my basic at all.

[Sabor]

Sabor agree with me, kinda of?!! Hurray!! :banana: :banana:

bro, the more i agree with u.. the more i feel the need to see a psychiatrist :lol: j/k

people, for the record.. i dont remeber ever disagreeing with mambochi.. i heard ladies love dancing with him.. thats good enough for me! 8)

[mambochino]

Sabor agree with me, kinda of?!! Hurray!! :banana: :banana:

bro, the more i agree with u.. the more i feel the need to see a psychiatrist :lol: j/k


:lol: :lol: :lol:

[tj]

Well, waddya know - I was actually dancing a little Power2 on Saturday when some of the local Follows (who prefer On2) crept back into that rhythm by mistake.

It's rather remarkable how the LA Style moves I know are pretty much the same for Power2, just one beat later. I'm finally starting to "get it", I think.

Also, the music that's played here seems a bit more suited for the 2. They really turn up the bass and percussion, to the point where I can't hear the melody! Makes it harder for us On1 dancers.

[Vin]

I had one dance on saturday where we kept switching between the two, but we were not in synch with each other. Half way through the dance I stopped and said, I am just learning on2 I sometimes accidently slip since I am trying to learn. We should just decide on a timing and go with it. We laughed, settled into on1 and had a good time. It was kind of funny though.
On the other side, I did dance some on2. The technical aspects are starting to make sense. My main problem is I tend to slip back to the one after/during some of the more complicated patterns.

[Vin]

Just wanted to give a progress report. The transition is going as expected. I can keep the 2 for almost an entire song, with someone who is mainly an on2 dancer. Some ambi-beat-strix dancers have been problematic as when we slip back into on1 we end up compenstating for each other, and then compenstating for each other again and so on and so forth. I even have a few moves that I am leading well.

The bad news is that my dancing has really lost something(temporarily I hope). I still don't have a sharply defined border between my on1 and my on2 so they are creeping into each other. As a result I spend an inordinate amount of energy concentrating on where to put my feet, even when I am on1. My earlier thoughts were mostly correct. While before I definitely listened to the 1-2-3 5-6-7 I have been concentrating more on where the 2 and 6 are than I did before.

On another note I think I understand why on2 dancers have(feel they have) more time than on1 dancers.(at least with Eddie Torres on2)
I think it's because the steps before the pause beats are steps in place. In on1 the steps around the pause beats are steps with movement. This gives on2 dancers 2 beats rather than just the one to do things like prep, spin, gain there composure, what have you.

[mambochino]

It sounds like you are doing good. Keep it up Vin. :P

[Vin]

Thanks, Mambochino, I have been listening to some of the music you suggested.

[peachexploration]

Yes! Yes! Yes! :rocker: I'm having problems with ON1. I can't stay on the one, I revert back to ON2. Yeah baby! :banana: 8) :lol:

[tj]

Being an observer of Vin's remarkable progress, I am amazed at how quickly he's picked up On2.

Way to go, Vin. Now you can dance both On1 and On2!
:cheers: :banana: :rocker:

[Vin]

Aw gee shucks, thanks TJ. :oops: .
Honestly the difference between ET2 and on1 seems (to me at this point) to be pretty much artificial. I get by without having to listen to anything new in the music. I think anyone who has a decent grasp of on1 and the desire (and of course the opportunity to live in a great on2 town) should be able to make a transition and learn ET2.
At this point I am thinking about using ET2 to transition to learning power2, it seems a bit harder but I think that it is very possible. Although DC does not have very much power2 going on either so the need to learn power2 is not really there.

[tj]

I think anyone who has a decent grasp of on1 and the desire (and of course the opportunity to live in a great on2 town) should be able to make a transition and learn ET2.


"Desire" being the operative word here... :wink:

[peachexploration]

:cheers: Good for you, Vin. :)