DEFINITION OF "DANCING SALSA ON 2"

Definition of Dancing New York Style Salsa   "Breaking On 2" -

This blog site is written for and about mambo dancers who dance standard New York club style salsa "breaking on 2", sometimes called "Eddie Torres Style".  While a few other dancers may step ifferently, while still calling it "dancing on 2", the definition used by this blog site follows what is taught exclusively by the majority of the New York City area independent salsa dance studios and instructors, such as  Jimmy Anton ,Antonio Barreno, Joyce Blint,  Joe Burgos, Amarillis Cintron, Iris Cruz,  Claudine Curry,   Addie Diaz,  Mario Diaz, Oscar Diaz, Kimberly Flores,  Nelson Flores, Alma Gonzalez, Mario "B" Gonzalez,  Glenda Heffer, Liz Hernandez, Noriko Imai,Sammy Irizarry,  Jai & Candy Dance Studio,  Karisma Dance Studio,  Carlos Konig,  La Salsa De Hoy Studios,  Winsome Lee, Rodney Lopez, Laura  Lorenzo,  Mambo Unico Studios,  the Mambo Mamas, Bernard Martinez,  Frankie Martinez, Juan Matos, Brett McNichols, Jocelyn Mendez,  David Negley, Jesus Nieves,  Nydia Ocasio,  Angel Ortiz, Nancy Ortiz,  Ismael Otero,  Viticco Pacheco, Yesenia Peralta, Osmar Perrones, Brenda amos,  Evelyn Ramos, Priscilla  Renta,  Jorday Rivera,  Salsa Groove Dance Studio, Lillian Santiago,   Santo Rico Dance Studio, Steve Seda, Sofia Seebauer,  Side Street Kids Academy, South Bronx Kids,  Starlite Dance Studios,  Steve Seda,  Cesar Taveras,  Greg Taylor,  Delille Thomas, Louis Tirado,  Eddie Torres, Maria Torres, Duplessey Monic Walker,  CC Williams,  Luiz Zegarra, and others.

This way of dancing salsa is often referred to as "New York', "club", "street", "Latino" or "Eddie Torres" style.   This method is different from "ballroom" , "international" and Cuban son montuno styles, and also different than some of what is taught at other New York area studios such as  DanceSport,  Stepping Out,  Razz M' Tazz,  Cultural Explosion and others.

It is different from those whose which step on 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and those which break on 1, 3 or 4, and those who do not dance in a line or "slot".  It is different from others which also may "break on 2", such as  Razz M' Tazz, Cuban son montuno, and those who step on 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8.

The Salsa Music -  Salsa music is played in 4/4 time, and has 4 beats to the measure or bar, and we dance within 2 measures, so we count 8 beats; and loosely say that we "dance to an 8 beat measure or bar", although technically it is two 4 beat measures.  
Many dances, not just salsa, are done within 2 measures, and therefore some people use the terms "musician's measure" and "dancer's measure".  The "musician's measure" has 4 beats, while the "dancer's measure" has 8 beats and consists of 2 "musician's measures".  For more on our music and how it should be played for mambo dancers, see our section

The ON 2 Basic Step -  In our basic step, the man's left foot goes back and the woman's right foot goes forward on the 1st beat of this so-called 8 beat measure or bar.  We step with our feet on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th, 6th, and 7th beats of the measure .  We do not step on the 4th and 8th beats.  We actually "break" our movement, in other words we change body direction, on the 2nd and 6th beats of the measure.  We call it "breaking on 2",  or "dancing on 2", or "bailando en dos".  This is mambo, danced forward and back, in a line or slot, not side to side or in a circle or square. 

Our basic step is as follows:



1st beat of the measure -  The man steps back with his left foot. The woman steps forward with her right foot.

2nd beat of the measure -  The man steps farther back with his right foot, then changes direction, starting to lean forward with his body = "breaks forward on 2".   The woman steps farther forward with her left foot, then changes direction, starting to lean back with her body =
"breaking back on 2".

3rd beat of the measure -  The man steps in place with his left foot, while his body is moving forward.  The woman steps in place with her right foot, while her body is moving backward.

4th beat of the measure -  No steps.

5th beat of the measure -  The man   steps forward with his right foot, in front of his left foot.  The woman steps backward with her left foot, behind her right foot.

6th beat of the measure -  The man steps farther forward with his left foot, then changes direction, starting to lean backward with his body = "breaks back on 6".   The woman steps farther back with her right foot, then changes direction, starting to lean forward = "breaks
forward on 6". 

7th beat of the measure -  The man steps in place with his right foot, while his body is moving backward.  The woman steps in place with her left foot, while her body is moving forward. 

8th beat of the measure -  No steps.