Basic Step On One
On counts 1, 2, and 3, the leader steps forward, replaces, and steps backward. On count 5, 6, and 7, they step backwards, replace, and step forward again. The follower does the same, but with
forward and backward reversed, so that the couple goes back and forth as a unit. This basic step is part of many other patterns. For example, the leader may dance the basic step while leading the follower to do an underarm turn.
The following variants of the Basic step may be used, often called breaks.
- Forward break: Starting from either foot, step Forward, Replace, In-place, counting 1,2,3 or 5,6,7
- Back break: Starting from either foot, step Backward, Replace, In-place, counting 1,2,3 or 5,6,7
- Side break: Starting from either foot, step Sideways, Replace, In-place, counting 1,2,3 or 5,6,7
Basic Step On Two
Many ballroom chain schools’ “mambo basic” has the leader commencing with a side left on 1 and a break backwards on 2, on the first bar.
If the break steps occurs on count 2 and 6, it is called “On Two”. There are two main ways in North America of dancing On Two:
- Power-On2 is danced as the basic step on 1, but beginning on beat 2 with a break step, and holding on 1 and 5.
- Eddie-Torres-On2 breaks on beats 2 and 6, but holds on 4 and 8..
Eddie-Torres-On2
The lead steps slightly back on the left foot on 1, then takes a break step backwards on the right foot on 2. On 3 the left foot steps in-place and over 3 and 4 the weight is transferred to the left foot. On 5 the leader steps slightly forward on the right foot, and breaks forward with the left foot on 6. On 7 the leader steps in place with the right foot and over 7 and 8 the weight is transferred onto the right foot, ready to repeat on 1.
Eddie Torres Style is so called because it was widely formalized and popularized by Eddie Torres whose clear teaching style and production of instructional videos opened up access to Salsa for many New Yorkers. It is not claimed that he invented the style. In those videos, Eddie Torres himself calls this “Night Club Style”[5].
On2 steps analyzed
Also note that most “Torres” On 2 dancers slightly rush the one and the five count. This means that they are stepping a moment before the one and the five are played by the music. It can be clearly seen when they dance and heard when they count [1]. While this might seem strange at first it really makes sense if you analyze the steps. The counted “one” falls between the musical eight and the musical one, while the counted “five” falls between the musical four and the musical five. This means that the distance between the (early) one and the two is the same as the one between the three and the (early) five, and it is a dotted quarter note. Because of this the quick-quick-slow “On 1″ pattern becomes a slow-quick-slow one for “On 2″ dancers, and the reduced difference between the quicks (one quarter note) and the slows (one and half quarter note) gives the “On 2″ dance its typical flowing quality.
If we turn our attention to the steps we see how, in the basic step pattern, every step that requires a foot movement will fall on a “slow” count, while a simple weight transfer will be on a “quick”, making this “On 2″ feeling more natural and comfortable.
Dancing On1 and On2 compared
While in closed frame, two partnered dancers can not be simultaneously dancing On1 and On2 respectively without causing injury to one another since the break steps are taken at different times.
Dancing On2 means that the break step synchronizes with the accented slap of the tumbao, the pattern played on the conga drum(s), while the On1 break step synchronizes with the first beat of the measure. For this reason it is said On2 is more rhythmically oriented, whereas On1 is more melodically oriented.
Note that commonly On2 starts the basic pattern with the lead moving back and the follow moving forward, while On1 the lead starts the basic step forward and follow steps back.
