Learning On2 (ET Style) for On1 dancers Corner

DeeplyDippy said:
I started my first regular On2 (et2) lessons last night :D

I've done several classes over the years but there's never been a local club that caters for it. Finally, I've found one that's a little under an hour away.

And ... it went very well :) I've got to work on making the timing automatic over the weeks but I was pleased.
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Cool! :cheers:
 
I want to share an opinion on transitioning to ET2.

During the summer the instructor of our studio spent several weeks in the USA and besides others activities has attended many classes of Eddie Torres and other on2 instructors. So now when he has decided that we have to learn on2 too, besides cuban and LA.

I found that if there's en clave (or howevere itis spelled) in the music it is completely logical and easy to keep the on2 timing, but when it is missing, once I lose the timimg I hardly can find it again. I've had only two classes until now, so I think timing will not be quite a problem. ET2 is quite easier than power2 (I've tried once and forgot completely about it) - because the dead beat is again 4, if I'm not wrong.

On2 gives a great vision on footwork and body movement, but it lack the elegance of the on1 plain movements - basic, cbl, etc., or it just seems like that now. Anyway, I'm quite enthusistic, in few months Ill tell you what the result is.
 
seut said:
.....On2 gives a great vision on footwork and body movement, but it lack the elegance of the on1 plain movements - basic, cbl, etc., or it just seems like that now. Anyway, I'm quite enthusistic, in few months Ill tell you what the result is.
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Hi Seut. :D Lacks the elegance? Hmm, have you seen dance troops like the ET Dancers perform? To me, their performances scream elegance. However, maybe you don't see it as much in a social setting and that partly may depend on the dancer's interpretation, no? :) Looks like we have quite a few On2 enthusiasts. How cool! 8)
 
salcero2005 said:
I took a class with Eddie Saturday, after the Congress workshops. It was supposed to be 2 hours ... it wound up being for 4 hours ... the man lives, eats, breaths this stuff. I learned a lot from just talking to him and taking several hours of classes over the weekend from him and Maria. I don't think I will be going back to On1 :(
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He is great isn't he!!! I'm in NJ so whenever we get the chance to go to NYC for an ET class WE ARE THERE!!

He teaches a 3-4 hour class on Sundays. I don't know how he does it. All this energy..

Did he have his Starbucks coffee with him? lol. Once he drinks his Starbucks coffee, it's OVER. This man has more energy than before he had his coffee.. lol
 
peachexploration said:
seut said:
.....On2 gives a great vision on footwork and body movement, but it lack the elegance of the on1 plain movements - basic, cbl, etc., or it just seems like that now. Anyway, I'm quite enthusistic, in few months Ill tell you what the result is.
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Hi Seut. :D Lacks the elegance? Hmm, have you seen dance troops like the ET Dancers perform? To me, their performances scream elegance. However, maybe you don't see it as much in a social setting and that partly may depend on the dancer's interpretation, no? :) Looks like we have quite a few On2 enthusiasts. How cool! 8)
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Both on1 and on2 dancers look elegant if they're well experienced.
 
kdogg said:
Both on1 and on2 dancers look elegant if they're well experienced.
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I'd agree with that.

However, I've heard the argument that On2 teaches the beginner smoother footwork from the start.

Myself, I think it's probably the way On1 is taught - left, right, left, pause :) It's the standard of the teacher that causes the jerky On1 beginner hell.
 
Right Kdogg, that's exactly what I was getting at when I wrote "However, maybe you don't see it as much in a social setting and that partly may depend on the dancer's interpretation, no?"

To me, Salsa (in any style) is an elegant dance. But if a dancer's interpretation says something else then....

Also, keep in mind when you learn a new style, it will feel a little awkward at first, especially if it's on a different beat than you're used to. Elegance and smoothness within the dance comes with time and practice. :)
 
Huh, hi again.

The first thing I saw is that my post from the morning (morning for me, at least) is full of typos - I appologise for this. I was at a party last night and at work today... :)

I meant what I wrote: Stepping forward on 1 definitely has more specific style (only IMO, of course) than stepping on place, and I mean it considering videos of famous on1 and on2 dancers. Maybe 'elegant' was not the right word. All good dancers, not only salseros, are elegant, sure.

As far as my own experience, that consist of several hours dancing at most, I feel some discomfort with cbl on2, but much more time is needed actually, to have certain opinion how it feels for me. Besides, I realized that even on1 I've made quick parts of footworks on2 (before start learning it) just because it feels more logical. It's the same with certain songs.
 
Very pleased with my last On2 lesson. I started using some of my On1 turn patterns and knew I was keeping time and coming out to go forward on the 6 :D
 
I'm done with 1 ... after the NYC Congress I'm strickly On2 now. Went out last night and mostly On1 dancers, but I don't care. I'm going to NYC this weekend to take classes ... mambo mania has gotten to me :shock:
 
I already know bachata. You are right about limiting myself, but On2 is the cool thing to do around here. The way I see it, On2 is like driving a stick shift and On1 is automatic. Once I master On2, I'll start dancing On1 occasionally again, or if there is a REALLY pretty woman that only dances On1. But, I'd like to concentrate on On2 as much as possible for now. :D
 
Hm, I'm still noob on2, but I noticed there are some songs that are impossible (at least for me, unnatural) to dance on2 and are still pretty nice for on1, while others just need to be danced on2. IMO the music matters. Salsa seems to be quite diverse.
 
seut said:
Hm, I'm still noob on2, but I noticed there are some songs that are impossible (at least for me, unnatural) to dance on2 and are still pretty nice for on1, while others just need to be danced on2. IMO the music matters. Salsa seems to be quite diverse.
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I can sit out the romantic songs ... just give me the salsa dura ... the tumbao ... I'm On2 ... Tito I'm with you ... hasta la muerte!!!!
 
lol.. salcero2005 that's exactly what i do now. I totally refuse to dance on1 while im out in the social scene. Like you put it, it's just the cool thing and I'm happy to put in that extra effort and convert to it exclusively, at least until im much much better at it.

In Brisbane's social scene, very few people dance on2 though.. that is, except for the instructors. I'd have to be the only student at my school dancing consistently on2. Which is disappointing, as I don't like dancing with instructors (intimidating) and with most others, some either can't follow it too well, or u can just tell that they aren't really feeling the clave' but just following the lead without much expression.

This has sorta put me off social dancing.. To be honest, since starting to dance on2 I've started to lose interest in social dancing, when it used to be the thing I enjoyed most. But, I'm too stubborn and there's no way im changing back to on1. ;)
 
Anthony said:
To be honest, since starting to dance on2 I've started to lose interest in social dancing, when it used to be the thing I enjoyed most. But, I'm too stubborn and there's no way im changing back to on1. ;)
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What's the point of continuing Anthony ?

There are people here who love to dance for dancing's sake. People who love to socialise, people like me who dance to flirt.

But no-one says they live for the lessons.
 
other than performance routine practise sessions, I've actually altogether stopped taking lessons as well since starting dancing on2. They weren't really giving me what I was looking for (1. the lesson isnt wholly in NY style, 2. there's more concentration on learning new moves than technique and styling).

What I do, do however, is practise a lot at home, in my room. I've got all my salsa music on pc, and so whatever song I like or whatever mood I'm in, I can always put something on that is satisfying.. so I dance for hours each week in my bedroom. I don't really need a partner to do it as I can visualise her and carry on dancing for like an hour or more without stopping.

If you've seen that Frankie's Mambo documentary, one thing that I could really relate to, was what he said at the beginning about dancing in a room by yourself. It becomes a lot more about feeling the music, and trying to express yourself, develop your own style and stuff.. I know in the area of leading, it can't compare to dancing with someone else, but given the circumstances, it keeps me going.

Plus, I guess I've also got it in the back of my mind, that once I get good enough, I wont be so intimidated by dancing on2 with the instructors. So eventually if I keep improving, things will get better.
 
seut said:
Hm, I'm still noob on2, but I noticed there are some songs that are impossible (at least for me, unnatural) to dance on2 and are still pretty nice for on1, while others just need to be danced on2. IMO the music matters. Salsa seems to be quite diverse.
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I agree, seut. That's why I will never be able to be an "on2 only" dancer -- there are too many good songs out there that (in my opinion) feel better on1.
 
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