New York Style Salsa On 2

What is it?
Who pioneered NY style salsa?
Is it salsa or mambo?
Are NY salsa and salsa on 2 the same?
How does NY Style differ from LA Style Salsa?
What type of music is used?
What is the basic step and timing?
What are some common moves?
Is it suitable for beginners?
Where can I learn it?
Are there congresses?
Who are some famous dancers?
History of NY style salsa / salsa on 2

What is it?

New York style salsa on 2, also known as New York mambo, or simply mambo, is a linear style of salsa dancing that emphasizes musicality and elegance. It is danced on the second beat of the bar of music, “on 2,” which gives it a distinctive smooth and flowing feel.

The structure of the dance is linear, meaning the dancers move back and forth along a line of dance or “slot,” using the cross-body lead as the primary movement to switch places.

Dancing “on 2” timing means the dancer’s break steps—the steps used to change directions—are on the second beat of the bar of music: on counts 2 and the 6 when counting like a dancer in 8s.

The dance is rooted in the Cuban son and Palladium era mambo, and through the years it’s taken inspiration from cuban rumba, broadway, ballroom, jazz, swing, tap and Latin hustle.

Who Pioneered New York Style Salsa?

Although Eddie Torres is often given credit for the creation of NY style salsa, many others were involved.

Eddie Torres was dubbed the “Mambo King” by Tito Puente and played a crucial role in formalizing the timing and structure of this style, taking his on 2 timing around the world via the salsa congress circuit in the late 90s and early 2000s.

Other important pioneers (not an exhaustive list) include:

First generation Palladium mambo dancers:

• Augie and Margo Rodriguéz (fun fact: Margo was Tito Puente’s cousin)
• Pablo “Cuban Pete” Aguilar (originally a tap dancer) and Millie Donay (originally a lindy hopper)
• Killer Joe Piro
• Mambo Aces: Anibal Vasquez and Samson Batalla
• Cha Cha Taps: Carlos Arroyo and Mike Ramos
• Cha Cha Aces: Carlos and Mike-Aces, Andy and Tina Vasquez
• Katherine Dunham (a teacher who influenced the dances of Palladium era, mixing Afro-Caribbean dances with ballet and modern)

Second and third generation mambo dancers:

• Billy Fajardo (NY hustle/mambo)
• George Vascones (NY hustle/mambo)
• Eddie Torres (NY mambo)
• Papito Jala Jala (Puerto Rico)
• Tito Ortos (Puerto Rico)
• Felipe Polanco (Puerto Rico)
• Angel Martinez (Puerto Rico)
• and many more…

More on the history at the end of this article.

Is it salsa or mambo?

Salsa is the commercial name for the music and dance that evolved from mambo. That said, the word “mambo” can mean five different things, so read up on them and be specific when you speak. The history section of this article will give you a more complete story.

Are NY Style Salsa and Salsa On2 the Same?

Most people use the terms “NY style salsa” and “salsa on 2” interchangeably but I argue style and timing are two distinct ideas.

NY style salsa refers to how the originators danced: their visual aesthetic, mannerisms and way of moving.

Salsa on 2 refers to the structure and timing: dancing linear style salsa on the second beat of the bar of music.

So, although New York style salsa is danced on2, it’s also possible to dance salsa on 2—using the same structure and timing—and not have a NY aesthetic to your dancing.

How does New York Style differ from LA Style Salsa?

The first difference is in the timing:

• NY style salsa is danced On2, with the break step happening on the second beat
• LA style salsa is danced On1, with the break step on the first beat.

More on the timing difference between salsa on 1 and salsa on 2.

The second difference is how they begin the basic step:

• Priding themselves on being gentleman, the “New York way” is for the leads to start the dance by stepping backwards, taking their back break step on 2, in order to invite the lady to step forward to start the dance.
• In LA style or salsa on 1, the lead commonly starts the dance with a forward break step.

Lastly their is an aesthetic difference:

• NY style often focuses more on intricate turn patterns, jazzy footwork and body movement.
• LA style is known for sharp movements, flashy moves and tricks.

What type of music is used for New York Style Salsa?

The common preference for most On 2 dancers is salsa dura, the classic Nuyorican sound of the “old school” or “hard” salsa that came out of New York in the 1960s and 1970s when Fania Records was at its peak. It’s characterized by a focus on the instrumental part of the music (piano, bass, horns, percussion, etc.) as opposed to the lead vocalist.

This is in contrast to the romantic salsa born in the 1980s that was smoother, more melodic and focused heavily on the lead vocalist.

These days, people dance salsa on 2 to various types of salsa music, and each dancer has their preferences.

The basic step and timing of NY Salsa / Salsa On 2

Salsa On 2 Timing & The Basic Step

In the 1980s dancers had the desire to systematize salsa to make it a more “legitimate” art form that could be passed on.

The front and back basic step comes from the Cuban son and can be seen in the video and diagram below.

Although everyone agreed on the step sequence, two schools of thought emerged for the timing.

Eddie Torres Timing (A tiempo on 2)

Eddie Torres, with the help of ballroom teacher June LaBerta, put his basic step to the count 123-567, with break steps on 2 and 6. In Spanish, you call this timing “a tiempo on2”. See 7:15 in the video demo below.

Cuban Son, Classic Mambo, or Power 2 Timing (Contratiempo)

Angel and Addie Rodríguez of Razz M’Tazz (RMT), founded in 1987, put their basic step to counts 234-678 with break steps on 2 and 6; the same timing as the Cuban son or mambo of the 1950s. In Spanish, you call this timing “contratiempo”. See 3:22 in the video demo below.

Note: Razz M’Tazz also does shines (solo footwork) to counts 123-567 which Angel calls “jazz counts.”

Source

What are some common moves of New York Style Salsa?

The most important move in NY style salsa or salsa on 2 is the cross-body lead, which allows the dancers to move back and forth in a linear structure often called a “slot.”

Other moves include intricate shines (solo footwork) inspired by jazz and tap, fancy turn patterns, and body isolations.

The most common variations of the basic step are:

• Front to back basic
• Side to side basic
• Back basic

Other fundamental steps of NY style salsa or salsa on2 include:

• Cross body lead
• Right turn
• Left turn
• Change of place (similar to an enchufla in cuban style salsa)
• Inside turn
• Outside turn
• and more…

You can learn them all in our online salsa program.

Is New York Style Salsa suitable for beginners?

Yes, beginners can start with learning NY style salsa, or salsa on 2, no problem at all.

There’s a never-ending online argument about which timing is better or harder, but it’s useless. Salseros all over the world have successfully learned from zero with both on 1 and on 2 timing.

It comes down to where you live. Some areas typically teach on 1 first and other areas of the world are on 2 focused.

So don’t stress. Learn whichever timing is danced more where you live, so you can start enjoying this wonderful dance and join the community.

Where can I learn New York Style Salsa or Salsa On 2?

NY style salsa can be learned at many dance studios around the world, especially in cities with vibrant Latin dance communities. Online courses are also available for those who prefer to learn at home or don’t have on 2 teachers near them.

Are there famous events or congresses for New York Style Salsa?

Most salsa congresses around the world have a strong on 2 focus. Some notable ones include:

• Canada Salsa and Bachata Congress
• New York International Salsa Congress
• Puerto Rico Salsa Congress.
• Berlin Salsa Congress
• Amsterdam International Salsa Congress
• Paris International Salsa Congress
• Milan Salsa Congress
• London Salsa Congress
• Zurich Salsa Congress
• Croatian Summer Salsa Festival
• Benidorm Salsa Congress
• Shanghai Salsa Congress
• Seoul Salsa Congress
• Tokyo Salsa Congress
• Hong Kong Salsa Festival
• Singapore International Salsa Festival
• Bangkok Salsa Fiesta
• Taipei Salsa Carnival
• Kuala Lumpur Salsa Congress
• Manila Salsa Congress
• India International Dance Congress

Who are some famous New York Style Salsa or On 2 Dancers?

This list includes some famous NY style salsa dancers as well as some well-known dancers that dance on 2.

Men:

• Eddie Torres
• Eddie Torres Jr.
• Frankie Martinez
• Franklin Diaz
• Billy Fajardo
• Tito Ortos
• Tomas Guerrero
• Osmar Perrones
• Adolfo Indocochea
• Rodrigo Cortazar
• Fernando Sosa
• Terry Tauliaut
• Panagiotis Aglamisis
• Fadi Fusion
• Oliver Pineda
• Diego Rivera

Women:

• Tamara Livolsi
• Griselle Ponce
• Delia Madera
• Denisse Cambria
• Bersy Cortez
• Cécile Ovide
• Tania Cannarsa
• Tatiana Bonaguro
• Karel Flores
• Alien Ramirez
• Amneris Martinez

A Brief History of NY Style Salsa (Salsa On2)

1930s-1940s: The Roots of Mambo

Mambo music is pioneered in Cuba by the charanga Arcaño y sus Maravillas and further popularized by Pérez Prado. In the 40’s the dance of the Cuban Mambo takes shape and in 1949 Pérez Prado moves to México taking mambo with him.

With an audience largely coming from outside of Cuba, Prado infused elements of North American jazz and swing and took mambo music to the top of the charts in the US.

1950s: The Palladium Era & Mambo Craze in New York City

The Palladium Ballroom opens in 1946 and by 1948 the mambo craze is in full swing with the Big Three musical acts: Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez and Machito.

The Palladium became the place to be for the best dancers in the city of all colors. Their big nights included shows with top dancers like Augie and Margo Rodríguez, The Mambo Aces, The Cha-Cha Aces and perhaps the most famous of all, Pedro “Cuban Pete” Aguilar and Millie Donay.

Mambo’s structure and rhythm heavily influence what will later become NY style salsa.

1950: Eddie Torres is born.
1957: Billy Fajardo is born.

The stage has been set.

1960s-1970s: The Birth And Golden Era of Salsa

The mambo craze ends and the Palladium closes in 1966, but latin nights spring up around New York to keep fueling the communities thirst for the music and dancing.

In 1964, Johnny Pacheco and Jerry Masucci found Fania Records and, soon after, in 1968, their supergroup the Fania All-Stars, a revolving line-up of their top artists. Although it had a new name, the music was the same. Pacheco chose “salsa” as the memorable and marketable name that would take cuban music to the masses.

Now cut off from Cuba since the revolution ended in 1959, the mainly Nuyorican (NY born Puerto Rican) artists took Cuban rhythms like son and guaracha and began experimenting, evolving the music into something distinct from both its past and the rhythms of Songo and Timba that were also developing in Cuba at the same time.

Naturally, this evolution in music came with its own dance – salsa.

Salsa was being danced on 1 and on 3, using the same basic steps we use around the world today, along with some simple turns.

Then, in the early 70s, all the young talented dancers were drawn to a new dance, the Latin hustle. Inspired by swing and started by Puerto Ricans who connected more with English music and didn’t want to dance salsa, it featured fast spins, aerial lifts, and turn patterns that were longer and more complex than in salsa.

George Vascones founded the Latin Symbolics dance company and began combining hustle with salsa and mambo. And that’s how NY salsa/mambo evolved into having the complex turn patterns we see today. But he wasn’t the only one.

Billy Fajardo took the dances and performing to the next level. Born in 1957, he grew up dancing mambo with his mom and then when hustle hit the scene in the early 70s he formed his company the Dance Dimensions. In 1972, at the age of 15, Billy saw a show by Palladium mambo legends Augie and Margo Rodriguez. He introduced himself afterward and they ended up inviting him over to their house. Billy told them he wanted to be a stage performer like them, so they sent him off to get a strong base training ballet, jazz, contemporary and modern, and then they mentored him – taking him from the street to the stage.

Billy’s big break came when Tito Puente discovered the Dance Dimensions in 1978 and told local promoter Ralph Mercado. Soon after they performed at Madison Square Garden, where they continued to perform at headliner salsa concerts during the 70s and 80s. The Disco Dimensions also performed weekly on NBC from 1978-1982 as part of the nationally televised “Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert” and began traveling the world. Billy credits everything he’s achieved to this day to Augie and Margo.

Eddie Torres also credits an Augie and Margo show with Tito Puente as the seed of inspiration for his dream to become a globe trotting mambo dancer. His mom told him he needed to see a psychiatrist, but when he shared that same dream with Tito Puente, Tito told him to find a partner, make a choregraphy and “…who knows….” Eddie started learning music theory from one of his favorite dance partners, a much older Italian ballroom teacher named June Laberta, and got to work.

In 1979, Tito Puente gave Eddie and his partner Maria their chance to perform with him at the New York Coliseum.

As professionals like Augie, Margo and June Laberta passed on their knowledge to the “street” and “club” dancers of the time, like Eddie and Billy, the groundwork was being laid for the future of salsa and mambo.

1980s: The Near Death and Rebirth of Salsa/Mambo

By the 70s, mambo was out and hustle was in. Most Palladium era dancers had retired or weren’t interested in teaching and all the kids were dancing hustle.

In the 80s, salsa music was in decline and hip hop, house and merengue were stealing the limelight. If it weren’t for a few die-hard dancers, salsa may have died out.

Some teachers continued teaching salsa and mambo through the 80’s but if it wasn’t for Eddie Torres, Billy Fajardo, Angel Rodriguez and a handful of others, salsa dancing may not have become the global phenomenon it is today.

Just as Salsa Romantica’s melodies and love-heavy lyrics revived salsa music in the 80’s, Eddie Torres credits the mambo dance’s revival to his historic show with Tito Puente in 1987, a televised tribute to Machito at the Apollo theatre. The show was so successful Torres created his own dance group, and inspired others to follow.

It was time to systematize the dance and spread it.

Eddie Torres worked with ballroom teacher June Laberta to put his salsa step to the timing 123-567, with break steps on 2 and 6.

At the same time, Angel Rodríguez of Razz M’Tazz (RMT) put his salsa step to the 234-678 timing from Cuban son and mambo, also with break steps on 2 and 6.

The Palladium dancers of the 50s laid the foundations of mambo, with simple partner work and jazzy solo footwork.

The second generation of the 70s took partner work to the next level, incorporating moves from hustle and inventing new turns.

Then in the 80s the timing was further codified for the masses.

Salsa was ready to meet the world.

1990s-2000s: The Globalization of Salsa

The dance begins its commercial rise and global takeover. With the timing codified it was now easier to teach.

Salsa and mambo, now interchangeable terms for salsa on 2, spread through New York with each dance company choosing either Torres’ timing or the classic mambo timing RMT used. NY dancers begin traveling and sharing their dance in other cities.

The new codified timings reached Puerto Rico, to legends like Papito Jala Jala, and his students Tito Ortos and Felipe Polanco, among many others.

Then in the early 1990’s LA style salsa, danced on 1, was pioneered by the Vazquez brothers.

The first salsa congress is held in Puerto Rico in 1997, and many more begin to follow, spreading salsa to Europe, in France and Italy, and then to Japan, Korea and the rest of the world.

Some pioneers like Eddie Torres, focused on teaching and performing, whereas others, like Billy Fajardo, not only taught but also formed elite-level performance groups and founded international salsa championships.

Regular dance nights called “socials,” held at studios, halls or clubs, also became popular events for salseros of all levels to come together and dance.

2010s to Present: Salsa’s Modern Era

Like all art forms, salsa continues to grow and evolve.

Teachers and artists continually raise the bar in terms of complexity, artistry and hybridization with other dance styles; congresses and festivals around the world offer incredible shows, competitions and workshops with top artists; and salsa has become easier to learn than ever before.

Salsa schools now exist in most countries, the internet provides easier access to information and online salsa courses can help you learn from great teachers wherever you live.

The average skill level of a dancer is much higher today than in the past, and although most salseros are “social dancers”, enjoying the social and improvisational aspect of dancing together at parties, many dance companies train choregraphies for shows and competitions.

There’s now a movement toward improvisational competitions like Fernando Sosa’s “Salsa Na’Ma,” which focuses on dancers’ abilities to battle and freestyle to a song, showing off their personal style and musicality.

The global salsa community continues to grow and the average skill and musicality of dancers is on the rise.

There’s only one way to find out where it’s going—join in.