How do you like your Salsa? Timing can sometimes be at the centre of many debates so Salsa Expert Tina Nicolaidis dishes on which count is better.

 

It can be spicy, it can be smooth, it can be mild, or it can be explosive. Salsa dancing comes in more than one flavour. After all, this street dance got its name and versatility by taking the best ingredients from many different dance styles and music genres and throwing them together onto one dance floor.

From LA to NYC, from Cuba to Columbia, countries and cities from all over the world have formed their own unique style of Salsa over the years. Some styles have obvious differences, such as the staccato-like steps with a signature tap that can define Cuban style, or the furiously fast footwork that defines the Columbian style.

However, it’s the less obvious differences of timing that can sometimes be at the centre of many debates when it comes to Salsa dancing. These timing differences are defined as Salsa on ‘1’ or Salsa on ‘2’. The numbers refer to the ‘break’ step, which is the fundamental motion in a basic step. The definition of Salsa on ‘1’ is that the dancer takes their first step by stepping back on count ‘1’. The definition of Salsa on ‘2’ is that the dancer takes their first step by stepping back on count ‘2’. You may be thinking, “What is the big deal?”

Many Salsa aficionados claim to prefer dancing one style over the other due to the different feel, rhythms, and dynamics of the steps, hence creating an overall different connection with the music. Some dancers also believe that dancing on ‘2’ is a more advanced way to dance Salsa since there is a truer connection with the instruments and musical composition of a Salsa song. Let’s take a closer look at these differences and see if we can demystify some of the myths surrounding these two styles.

Myth #1: The music sounds better when you dance on ‘2’

Salsa music has the same time signature and same rhythms from song to song. The majority of Salsa is played between 150 - 220 beats per min, making it a moderate to fast-paced dance. Every Salsa song is in a 4/4 time signature, but for dancers, this translates into 8 counts per measure or phrase. These 8 counts translate into a quick-quick-slow rhythm with the steps. The foundation of all Salsa songs is the clave instrument. The clave is comprised of two wooden sticks that play a syncopated rhythm. There are two basic rhythms of the clave. One rhythm stresses the downbeat of the measure, usually the count ‘1’, where as the other rhythm stresses the upbeat, also known as count ‘2’.

In addition to the composition of Salsa remaining consistent from song to song, there are some fundamental steps that also remain consistent from dancing on ‘1’ to dancing on ‘2’. In the both styles the Leader generally steps on count ‘1’ with his left foot, and the Follower generally steps with her right foot on count ‘2’. In both styles counts ‘4’ and counts ‘8’ are the pause counts, where no steps are being danced, and both styles maintain the quick-quick-slow rhythm.

Myth busted. Where as the make up of Salsa music is the same, the melodies, vocals and instruments will vary from song to song. The way you ‘feel’ the music depends on whether you choose to stress the downbeat or the upbeat in the music. In many Salsa songs, additional instruments like the congas and the timbales mark the upbeats in the music, where instruments like the cowbell and piano, mark the downbeats in the music. Dancers from NYC, where the on ‘2’ style of dance is most prominent, claim to dance to the percussive instruments like the congas. Cuban style dancers tend to stress the down beat with instruments like the cowbell, which plays on counts ‘1’, ‘3’, ‘5’, ‘7’. Neither is better, just different.

Myth #2: Dancing on ‘2’ is smoother

When dancing a basic step on ‘1’, the break step happens on count ‘1’ and by count ‘3’, the feet are close together, allowing the body to be fairly stationary during the pause count ‘4’. The same motion occurs for the second half of the basic for counts ‘5’ – ‘8’. When dancing on ‘2’, the feet are still passing through the basic step and by the pause count on ‘4’ and ‘8’, the weight is still being shifted from foot to foot. This is where the ‘smoothness’ is most obvious, because the body is not stationary at any point, and it is constantly moving forward and back without a stop.

Myth busted. Smoothness in your dancing is created by the way the weight is controlled while it’s shifting from foot to foot, and how the upper body or torso, is able to suspend through these shifts without making any abrupt motions. A sloppy stepper will not look any more smoother if they are dancing on ‘2’. Smooth is the way you groove, not what count in the music your steps fall on.

Myth #3: You have more time to spin on ‘2’

As mentioned above, by count ‘3’ the feet are together and the first half of the basic has been completed by this count when you are dancing on ‘1’. If you are to dance a basic right turn, this turn must be completed in these 3 counts. Take the same turn and dance on ‘2’, you will have an extra count to complete the turn because the turn will still be in motion during the pause count.

Myth busted. Turns may feel slower when dancing on ‘2’ because the pause count ‘4’ or ‘8’ happens when the turn is still in motion. However, this only refers to one type of turn, and where as a basic right turn feels slower, there will be many other turns that will feel just as fast, if not faster than when performed on ‘1’.

With so many similarities and very small distinctions, it is evident why many dancers find it hard to understand the difference between Salsa on ‘1’ versus Salsa on ‘2’. For some beginner dancers, the idea can be intimidating as they are still trying to understand just the basics of Salsa music.

Overall, one style is not better than the other and it really comes down to a matter of preference and musical interpretation. Dancers studying and practicing Salsa would benefit from learning both styles as being versatile on ‘1’ and on ‘2’ not only makes for a well-rounded dancer, it also opens the door to a whole new world of musicality and freedom of interpretation. Like it’s name, Salsa is made up of so many musical ingredients, and knowing how to incorporate each one into your dancing is challenging and fun.

So what’s your flavour?

Co-founder and artistic director of Toronto's City Dance Corps, Tina has been teaching Latin dance since 1997 and has taught in Bermuda,Greece, Ireland, Italy, across Ontario, and has participated as an instructor and performer in several Salsa conventions including Canada Salsa Congress, Puerto Rico Salsa Congress, Montreal Salsa Convention and Irish Salsa Congress.