How long did you dance On1, before learning to dance On2?

I have no immediate plans to switch from On1, but I would like to learn to dance On2 eventually.

Salseras/os, how long did you dance On1 and what level of dancer were you, before learning to dance On2. What version of On2 did you learn? Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently? What advice would you give to an On1 dancer who is planning to learn On2?

About 9/10 months of on1 before I started to learn on2. I was only maybe a low intermediate dancer. A schedule change sort of prompted it in that I started having band rehearsals really close to a spot that was a known on2 hangout. It was far from my house, but since I would be down that way anyways for rehearsal, and the place was free, I started stopping by after practice. A year and a half later, I'm not yet a "convert", but it seems everyone who does the on2 sampling eventually becomes such a convert. Perhaps if I had continued to frequent that place I would have converted by now. :shrugs:

I learned them approximately simultaneously (on2 by taking lessons, on1 by going out a lot with a friend who danced on1). I'm now more comfortable on2 as it's so much more prevalent around here, and I do prefer it (although I can't swear that's due to the intrinsic appeal of the style rather than the fact that it's what I'm used to).

I wouldn't recommend the two-at-a-time approach at all, though. My guess is it would be best to have done one style exclusively for at least a year before trying to switch (especially for a leader, as it seems to be much more difficult for you guys since you have to reorganize all your patterns).

Otherwise it could just get messy (it sure did for me). Actually I think I quite frustrated my teacher by taking lessons on2 but then doing most of my social dancing on1, which definitely hindered my progression in both. Eventually I became confident enough to hit the social scene on my own without my on1 friend, at which point my on2 started taking off. (Actually I think it's quite funny now that I wouldn't go out without my friend. I actually prefer going out on my own now as I'm more likely to get asked for dances if I'm alone. If I come with a male friend we end up dancing with each other most of the night as others assume we're together and won't ask, and with a female friend we end up talking and neither of us gets asked.)

I officially learned on2 in November, after I had been dancing for about 14 months. That's when Molina came to town and did a bootcamp.

It's interesting tryingn to switch back and forth. I would suggest learning one until you don't have to think about it anymore, and then learning the next, so you can forget about the former for awhile while you exclusively commit yourself to learning the new timing. After you don't have to think about on2 anymore, you can re-embrace on1 and are more free to switch it up on command.

i started on2 mambo 2-3 months after starting on1, and i kept parallel tracks for a couple months. i mostly dance on1, but luv when i find a lead who does on2. hitting the nyc clubs would definitely sharpen those on2 skills, which are currently quite rusty...

IMHO, i think it's probly more beneficial for salseras to dance both, so she can follow whatever each man dances... maybe for men it's better to pick one & master it before trying something else? eh... whatever... it's all good...

Well, since you're a Lead, you probably want to get completely competent in either first, before learning the other. Otherwise, both might suffer.

I actually learnt on1 and on3 together...but switched to on1 solely as that was my preference. Am considering on2...haven't done much with it yet...

I had been dancing on1 for 5 years when I decided to try on2. No teacher here... only a friend who knew it (and had teaching experience).

It took me 3 months to be able to stay on2 w/o constantly going back on1. And I am talking about the beat, not about fancy patterns.

What helped me learn on2 was my leading it rather than following it.

Now I am proud to say I know it. I no longer think about the beat.

And it's only been about a year...

salsamale said:

I have no immediate plans to switch from On1, but I would like to learn to dance On2 eventually.

Salseras/os, how long did you dance On1 and what level of dancer were you, before learning to dance On2. What version of On2 did you learn? Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently? What advice would you give to an On1 dancer who is planning to learn On2?

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Hi SM, I danced probably two years and was what we then called an "advanced" dancer, though I had never seen real salsa back then! I found the transition easy, which I put down to my experience with rhythms - having played drums all my life. I would say take up on2 when you can say the following:

1) I almost never lose where the 1 is when dancing
2) I sometimes have a whole dance where I didn't really think about the moves at all
3) There's some salsa music that I like and some that I dislike

The important thing to me is that you need to be able to compartmentalize the two styles in your mind - so if your mind is still very active learning the basics on 1 then adding on2 will confuse matters. However if on 1 has become habituated, then on2 will be -- mentally speaking -- something new and different, and can be learned separately.

I had been dancing 2 years, when trying the on2. In a period I could not with either of the styles.

samina said:

IMHO, i think it's probly more beneficial for salseras to dance both, so she can follow whatever each man dances... maybe for men it's better to pick one & master it before trying something else? eh... whatever... it's all good...

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That’s the reason why I wanted to learn Cuban, O2 and on3 for that matter.
Having fun dancing with a visiting on2 salsera from NY, made it worth it

But frankly, I don’t like the on2 style. My body kind of rejects it, telling me it’s stressing and too much stepping all the time. I still have to see some dancers enjoying a simple on2 dance, making it look good, and not make it look like how I feel inside. :?

Danish Guy said:

I still have to see some dancers enjoying a simple on2 dance, making it look good, and not make it look like how I feel inside. :?

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If you get a chance to watch a class or performance by Tito & Tamara of Puerto Rico, you will see it there!

I have been taught on2, and that is what I feel. But lately I have been dancing on1 and it is a wee bit easier. I am not sure why. Maybe I am just dancing in a club where the most people are on1?

Thanks for everyone's insight .

squirrel said:

... It took me 3 months to be able to stay on2 w/o constantly going back on1. And I am talking about the beat, not about fancy patterns. ...

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I was wondering about this. I experimented with dancing just the basic to on2, and kept slipping back to on1, and a while ago at a club, I took an on2 lesson that showed some basic patterns and it felt like I didn't know my left foot from my right. It is interesting that I am patient with myself in learning to stay on beat for on1, but I felt very impatient with myself when experimenting with on2.

On the flip-side, I was dancing with one follow, who, I later learned, normally dances on2, and I constantly felt her trying to pull me off the 1, and onto the 2. Even though the dance was awkward, I had never been so aware of the 2. So maybe, when I'm ready, I should find myself an on2 dance partner who is a strong backleader?

sweavo said:

3) There's some salsa music that I like and some that I dislike

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There's some salsa music that I can't interpret, where even the basic doesn't feel right. Yet, when I watch advanced dancers (some on1, some on2) dance to this music, it looks right. So yes, part of this is due to my skill level, but when even the basic doesn't feel right, I suspect that part of it may be the way the music is structured, and from reading other threads of on2 vs. on1, I've gathered some people like to switch from on1 to on2 to on3, depending on the music. Points 1) and 2) are also well taken .

Danish Guy said:

Having fun dancing with a visiting on2 salsera from NY, made it worth it

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This, of course, is the pay-off for learning on2 .

Sagitta said:

I actually learnt on1 and on3 together...but switched to on1 solely as that was my preference. Am considering on2...haven't done much with it yet...

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on3......??? i've got my hands full with the first two... when did they breed a new one!? LOL

Shouldn't it be up to the music to decide? I mean, don't different songs accent different beats. Ultimately I just follow what is lead, but, can't the leader just accent the music without makeing a "political" statement?