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Salsa
is normally danced with a partner. Coming from the Spanish word for sauce this dance has it's roots
in the Americas and the Caribbean - Cuba in particular. The core rhythm
lasts for two measures of four beats each. These are considered as one
and so the count goes from 1 to 8 over two musical bars. In most Salsa styles the break step is at the heart of the dance. It allows the dance partners to establish the timing and a connection between themselves, whilst allowing certain steps to be led. On which beat the break step occurs is what separates the different Salsa styles. If the break step is on the count of 2 and 6 it is known as 'On 2' - this is the popular style we teach. It's also known as the 'New York Cross Body Style' or the 'Mambo'. On 2 is considered to emphasise an efficiency of movement along with an elegance with it's punchy and rhythmic moves. It encourages the dancer to listen to the percussive parts of the music as the dance timing emphasises the conga drum patterns. |