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Salsa Styles: on1, on2, LA, NY Explained
Very often, you will see a website or a teacher who talks about dancing 'LA Style on1', or NY Style on2'. The following provides an explanation of all the different ways to dance salsa, and the unique things that each style brings.
The first most important thing is to understand the timing that you dance to. While each style of salsa usually has a preferred timing (on1 for LA, on2 for NY), these are not required as long as you are aware of how you are dancing and the timing that you are using. For example, I personally dance with a New York style, even though i dance on1 and on2. Most people will usually decide on one style that they prefer and stick to that, even if they learn to dance with multiple types of timing.
Different timing schemes for salsa
Start: This is the count of your first step, with 2 steps always following
Break: The break step is the step with the most movement, when your body moves from its center point. The start step is sometimes misnamed as a break step.
Note: Sometimes you will hear someone described as dancing on5 or on6. This is simply dancing on1 or on2, but shifting your steps so that the 1 and the 5 are reversed. This is most commonly due to a lack of musical training that causes confusion between the 1 and 5.
| Name |
Start |
Break |
Description |
on1 |
1 |
1 |
One of the most common ways to dance throughout the world, especially for people without musical training or experience, as this is most similar to other dance music, hip hop, etc. On1 is considered melody oriented. |
on2 |
1 |
2 |
Also know as ETon2 for Eddie Torres, the father of New York Style Salsa. The dancer still starts on count 1, but takes a step in place and then breaks on count 2. On2 is considered rhythm oriented. |
Power X |
2,3,or 4 |
2,3, or 4 |
Dancing on1 to any other count is know as power x, for example, power 3 would be dancing on counts 3,4,1 |
Dance Styles
To see a set of videos that showcases each of the different styles, visit Addicted2Salsa.
| Style |
Timing |
Shape |
Description |
LA |
on1 |
Line |
High Energy, Flamboyant, Large movements,lots of tricks and shines |
NY |
on2 |
Line |
Smooth, Sensual, Compact, lots of checks and catches |
Cuban |
Varies |
Circle |
Playful, also dance in groups (Rueda), lots of complicated arm patterns, usually danced on1 or power 2, depending on the genre of cuban salsa |
Puerto Rican |
on1 or on2 |
Line |
Crazy and Free, lots of movement in the basic steps |
Colombian |
Power 3 |
Side to Side |
Emphasizes a steady upper body with lots of leg and feet action, very little turning |
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