on1 vs. on2 (how to count, timing, & main differences)?

J

Jmil

New Member
I started Salsa dancing about three and a half years ago just by going to local places and pretty much jumping in headfirst. When I finally started to pick it up is when it got fun haha

For the last several months I have been looking for a partner who is just interested in dancing and who I can work with to improve my abilities. Because of this I have been looking online for suggestions on how to find partners etc. and I came across a post that said to make sure you get a partner that dances your same style (on1 or on2) so I have been looking for information on the differences between the two. Can someone help me out? thank you!:-D
 
break on the 1 for on1, break on the 2 for on2...and these fit differently into different kinds of salsa music. but you can apply these timings to the same style of salsa dancing.

in NJ/NY they are both generally employed in "club style" or "slot style" salsa where the lady is moved back & forth along a "track". in ballroom environments, mambo commonly employs on2 and a non-slot-style salsa is frequently taught on1.

people often associate "LA style" salsa with on1 and "NY style" with on2, but i learned that's incorrect -- either one can be danced on1 or on2. the style isn't about the timing but about other characteristics.

just get out and dance a lot and you're sure to increase the odds of finding a regular dance partner. :)
 
Jmil said:
and and I came across a post that said to make sure you get a partner that dances your same style (on1 or on2) so I have been looking for information on the differences between the two. Can someone help me out? thank you!:-D
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You need to go back to the time of Mambo when ALL were taught to dance on "2" .

With the advent of salsa, the " clave in many songs became more " implied ", and the "1" became dominant; but, heres one of the main causes why "1" became the most dominant teaching choice ( altho , theres an undercurrent of "2" as of now ) .. it was easier to teach..most of the " teachers ?" in salsa had/have no formal dance background, and really have little knowledge of the reasons WHY we dance on a specific beat .

Dancing on " 2", is expressing the Clave which is dominant on the 2nd beat of the 2nd bar ( A "Son " , the base of all cuban rhythms, is also on "2" , and ,sometimes on "3") .

Are there songs that fit "1" more suitably ?.. there are arguments to be made for that ( PRs often break on "3" ) .

So.. does it matter ?.. it really depends upon you. Breaking on "1" is more universal, however, there are certain areas ,which are mostly on "2".
On "2" follows, can usually adapt to "1" but the opposite, not quite as easy for many .

Lastly.. the commencing direction may be Fwd or Back.. depends again ,on the Style and the Source .
 
Hi Jmil, welcome to DF

Jmil said:
on1 vs. on2 ...how to count..
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counting is the same because not measure and rhythm of the music is different only your step pattern is offset.


Jmil said:
I started Salsa dancing about three and a half years ago just by going to ...
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Then it is at a time to improve your flexibility and to start with a different style.

Jmil said:
..came across a post that said to make sure you get a partner that dances your same style (on1 or on2)
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Simply rubbish. It is far more important to find someone skilled, motivated and suitable.

Jmil said:
...looking for information on the differences between the two...
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The differences really are negligible (watch out in some seconds I´ll get beaten..) and you have to master every style anyway sometime:

Casino style (cuban Salsa) rather on1, rather on the spot, circling around each other, great bandwidth from caribbean folklore up to artistic levels, flirty moves, a so-called guy´s style.

NY style (Torres, clubstyle, modern mambo) strictly on2, in a slot, girl´s acting like a windshield wiper from left to right, fast with artistic claim, rather unflirty, a so-called girl´s style.

LA style (Vazquez) strictly on1, in a slot, artistic claim but somewhat more playful than NY.

PR style (puertoriqueña, salsa moderna) rather on2, in a slot, artistic claim, so-called LA-on2.

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on1 = accent, rebote on the 1st, and hold on 4th beat,
on2 (NY) = accent, rebote on the 2nd, hold on the 4th beat,
on2 (PR) means accent, rebote on the 2nd, but hold on the 1th beat,
 
opendoor said:
PR style (puertoriqueña, salsa moderna) rather on2, in a slot,
quote]


actually, not so ( slot ).. it combines circular movements, slot, and some cuban style/ elements and, often danced on 3..in matter of fact, most of my PR amigo/as do just that .Ive been dancing this style ,for many yrs .

This has been discussed at length on salsa forums ( BY PRs ) .
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samina said:
people often associate "LA style" salsa with on1 and "NY style" with on2, but i learned that's incorrect -- either one can be danced on1 or on2. the style isn't about the timing but about other characteristics.
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This is interesting. Since when has LA-style been danced on 2? I never knew this.
 
Jmil said:
I started Salsa dancing about three and a half years ago just by going to local places and pretty much jumping in headfirst. When I finally started to pick it up is when it got fun haha

For the last several months I have been looking for a partner who is just interested in dancing and who I can work with to improve my abilities. Because of this I have been looking online for suggestions on how to find partners etc. and I came across a post that said to make sure you get a partner that dances your same style (on1 or on2) so I have been looking for information on the differences between the two. Can someone help me out? thank you!:-D
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Since you've been going to local clubs for several years and you don't know if you've been dancing On1 or 2, I don't quite get what you are expecting to find in a dance partner. Are you looking for somebody to teach you? I think On1 or On2 is the least of your concerns.
 
Simi-Lanjiao said:
samina said:
..either one can be danced on1 or on2. the style isn't about the timing but about other characteristics.
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..Since when has LA-style been danced on 2? I never knew this.
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Since you have freed yourself from narrow-minded restrictions. Since music is so complex you may accentuate first on1, later on2, then on3, and finally on on1 again. A follower will not notice that, at all.
 
Simi-Lanjiao said:
This is interesting. Since when has LA-style been danced on 2? I never knew this.
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As I don't dance LA-style, or in a community that does, I have no idea who may do this. But if you dance that style, you surely could change the timing...
 
samina said:
As I don't dance LA-style, or in a community that does, I have no idea who may do this. But if you dance that style, you surely could change the timing...
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Umm... wait a minute, earlier didn't you say:

"People often associate "LA style" salsa with on1 and "NY style" with on2, but i learned that's incorrect -- either one can be danced on1 or on2".

I'm very curious about this, coz all this while I've been taught that in LA-style salsa I'd always have to go "On 1"... anything else, I'd get nagged for dancing on the wrong beat.

I wonder if all my instructors were dead wrong...
 
Simi-Lanjiao said:
Umm... wait a minute, earlier didn't you say:

"People often associate "LA style" salsa with on1 and "NY style" with on2, but i learned that's incorrect -- either one can be danced on1 or on2".
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You asked who is dancing LA style on2 and I said I don't know, that's all. You very well could. It's style vs. timing, two different things.
I'm very curious about this, coz all this while I've been taught that in LA-style salsa I'd always have to go "On 1"... anything else, I'd get nagged for dancing on the wrong beat.

I wonder if all my instructors were dead wrong...
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If your instructor is teaching you the style on1, then dance it on1. On2 would be "off beat". You've gotta pick a timing and learn it first before exploring other timings.

As for the rest, it may be cultural, it may be that the music that is preferred for LA style is influencing the timing, or the kinds of tricks that are employed, as I know the style is trick-heavy and less smooth than NY style. It could be that instructors just pass on what they've been told. Or all these things, I don't know - LA style s not my world. Still doesn't change the fact that style and timing are two different things. :)

For all I know, you could start a trend dong LA style on2 and that could become the next big thing that instructors teach.
 
opendoor said:
Simi, that´s not a question of right or wrong. Don´t know where you live, but here in europe on1 vs. on2 is not a question of musicality, it´s simply a question of

branding, franchising, surviving , customer retention, unique features, acquisition, ...
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Well said. Lots of variants affect a cultural trend.
 
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