Shines On2

GTO Bruin

GTO Bruin

Member
I've been teaching myself to dance On2, really more for my own amusement and curiosity since most salsa dancing I do socially is On1, including rueda. Like others, my epiphany came when I realized Cha Cha On2 was basically the same thing. I'm to the point where I can lead most of my patterns On2, but I can't figure out what to do with my shines.

For example, something as simple as a Suzy Q seems to lose it's timing when I try to break on 2 and 6. Instead of the "Su-Z-Q....Su-Z-Q" feel that seems so right On1, when I convert it to On2, it comes out more like "Q-Su-Z....Q-Su-Z" (I'm sorry for the depicting it like this, but it I hope it's easier than assigning steps to beats). I think if I can get the Suzy Q step On2, other things may fall into place.

Any tips?
 
If you're happy with the feet and the balance, you can simply shine on 1. The choice of foot on a particular beat is the same as on2, it just may feel a little odd to interrupt the flow of which direction you're going in.

The way you're doing it can be fun, moving the 1 to the 6 and adopting the different cadence that on2 will give you interesting slant on the old shines.

Finally, if it feels too bad to interrupt the backward flow at 1 to shine on 1, try moving it to 5 and doing it on the other foot, reversing left and right movements.

I'd like to year how it's done in NYC
 
I have a shines DVD (Jami josephson). It does the same sequences on both On1 & On2.
It switches things over.
I upload a clip tomorrow.
 
GTO Bruin said:
For example, something as simple as a Suzy Q seems to lose it's timing when I try to break on 2 and 6.
Click to expand...
Huh? Where is there a break in a Suzy Q? AFAIK a basic Suzy Q is done without a directional change (well, only on the 4 and 8 ). Of course there are lots of embellishments, people throw in extra back-and-forth steps or whatever. But perhaps I've been doing something else all this time??
 
noobster said:
Huh? Where is there a break in a Suzy Q? AFAIK a basic Suzy Q is done without a directional change (well, only on the 4 and 8 ). Of course there are lots of embellishments, people throw in extra back-and-forth steps or whatever. But perhaps I've been doing something else all this time??
Click to expand...

Yeah, I kinda mispoke there. Not a break on 2 or 6. But rather doing the Suzy Q while still maintaining the timing where you normally break on 2 or 6 when On2.

As we all know, On1 the Suzy Q is a set of three steps where the first is a cross over on 1 or 5 followed by two subsequent steps so the entire sequence is cross-step-cross...cross step-cross.

On2 is seems that the sequence would be step-cross-step....step-cross-step. You'd lose that signature feel of the Suzy Q.

........I just got up as I was writing this and I discovered that for ET2, if I just stay crossed, after the first set of three steps, I end up on the On1 timing: step-cross-step...cross-step-cross...cross-step-cross etc. (describing dance steps with words ain't easy!!!) Is this how Et2 dancers get into this step?
 
GTO Bruin said:
I just got up as I was writing this and I discovered that for ET2, if I just stay crossed, after the first set of three steps, I end up on the On1 timing: step-cross-step...cross-step-cross...cross-step-cross etc. (describing dance steps with words ain't easy!!!) Is this how Et2 dancers get into this step?
Click to expand...
Seriously, I think it might just be the same for on-1 and on-2. I don't have much formal training on-1 (I've dropped in on one or two group classes), but from what I recall the Suzy Q was pretty much the same thing as the on-2 Suzy Q. Cross-step-cross. That's it.

Anyone else may feel free to correct me. I make up my shines as I go along, so I'm probably not the best authority on the subject.
 
GTO Bruin said:
........I just got up as I was writing this and I discovered that for ET2, if I just stay crossed, after the first set of three steps, I end up on the On1 timing: step-cross-step...cross-step-cross...cross-step-cross etc. (describing dance steps with words ain't easy!!!) Is this how Et2 dancers get into this step?
Click to expand...

Are you sure you understand the ET2 timing right? You still step and do weight changes on 1,2,3,5,6, and 7. So for a suzy Q, as the leader, it's the first half of a basic (back/side on 1 with L, back on 2 with R, replace weight to L on 3), then cross R over L on 5 (Suz), replace weight to L on 6 (-ie), replace weight to R on 7 (Q). Then repeat for L over R on 123, and come out on 567 (forward R on 5, forward L on 6, replace weight to R on 7).
 
GTO Bruin said:
I've been teaching myself to dance On2, really more for my own amusement and curiosity since most salsa dancing I do socially is On1, including rueda. Like others, my epiphany came when I realized Cha Cha On2 was basically the same thing. I'm to the point where I can lead most of my patterns On2, but I can't figure out what to do with my shines.

For example, something as simple as a Suzy Q seems to lose it's timing when I try to break on 2 and 6. Instead of the "Su-Z-Q....Su-Z-Q" feel that seems so right On1, when I convert it to On2, it comes out more like "Q-Su-Z....Q-Su-Z" (I'm sorry for the depicting it like this, but it I hope it's easier than assigning steps to beats). I think if I can get the Suzy Q step On2, other things may fall into place.

Any tips?
Click to expand...

The difference between doing a Suzy On2 vs On1 is in the fact that On2 your shines are taught on the woman's timing, which affects the direction of the shine.

I'll explain this using the woman's timing, as is the convention for On2. On2 you begin the shine to the left on the counts of 1-2-3, 5-6-7. It starts to the left because the first beat is executed with your right foot, which must cross over your left for the Suzy motion. To do it on the men's timing just start with the left and the direction will be the same as On1.

On1 you execute the move to the right because the first beat is executed with your left foot.

Therefore, to answer your question about what you should do ... perhaps you should consider that by doing this particular shine On1 you are doing the shine in the same direction as its done with the men's timing On2. Keep in mind, the body movement and motion should be more funky On2 if you are feeling the tumbao as you execute the shine.
 
Josh said:
Are you sure you understand the ET2 timing right? You still step and do weight changes on 1,2,3,5,6, and 7. So for a suzy Q, as the leader, it's the first half of a basic (back/side on 1 with L, back on 2 with R, replace weight to L on 3), then cross R over L on 5 (Suz), replace weight to L on 6 (-ie), replace weight to R on 7 (Q). Then repeat for L over R on 123, and come out on 567 (forward R on 5, forward L on 6, replace weight to R on 7).
Click to expand...

Yup. That's it. Thanks. :) Don't know why I was so locked into starting with my left as the first cross. Now that I see how you broke it down, I can't believe how easy it is. :doh:
 
Terminology

Hate to be too pedantic-- but-- if you are going to teach, or give information , then please use the correct terms .

FOOTWORK-- the part of the foot that first comes in contact with the floor. As in -- Ball, Heel , Inside edge etc

FOOT POSITION--- The directional relationship of one foot to the other.
As in -- Forward,, side or back , etc. :)
 
GTO Bruin said:
Yup. That's it. Thanks. :) Don't know why I was so locked into starting with my left as the first cross. Now that I see how you broke it down, I can't believe how easy it is. :doh:
Click to expand...

I would only add that, obviously, if you want to do a Suzy on the men's timing you can also begin the shine at the beginning of the bar (1,2,3) by starting out in the same direction as you would On1 instead of starting the shine in the middle of the beat measure.
 
tangotime said:
Hate to be too pedantic-- but-- if you are going to teach, or give information , then please use the correct terms .

FOOTWORK-- the part of the foot that first comes in contact with the floor. As in -- Ball, Heel , Inside edge etc

FOOT POSITION--- The directional relationship of one foot to the other.
As in -- Forward,, side or back , etc. :)
Click to expand...

Did someone say something to the contrary? :confused:
 
Hope this helps....
I've been too lazy to learn any myself. I learned one of DVD 2 "the drunken sailor". We converted it so it was a mirror image type shine. It was interesting to see 2 styles on 1 dvd though and the woman laughs after every demo (most of the time).
[link deleted]

here's the actual file......
Name: suzy.avi
Size: 18MB

The download link is: [deleted]



sweavo said:
If you're happy with the feet and the balance, you can simply shine on 1.
Click to expand...
That's a good idea. Who's gonna know!

Like the vid. A lot easier than trying to explain it.
 
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