Names for the forward/back basic

[MMaatttt]

When I started my first Cuban class, forward on one, backwards on five was call "basic step". In my current Cuban class it's called the Son step and in the occasional cross body (UK NY on 1) class I do, it's called the Mambo basic.

I was wondering what other names there are for this step.

 

[sagitta]

Odd! I would think in a Cuban class they would teach the basic as forward on the second half of the eight count basic...casino style. What you describe done in a line/slot I would call on1 salsa. If it is done with particular styling elements then I would add that, such as LA style...PR style... If it was done with forward on 2 and back on 6 then I would call it the mambo basic. Then you can step forward on 3 and back on7 which I would call on3.

 

[sweavo]

I would expect this to be called Basic or Mambo or Mambo Basic in most classes. Also have heard it called the forward and back. In cuban salsa I would expect "basic" to refer to the back basic but I am no expert in that area. To add to the confusion, Cuban mambo has a whole other basic step.

 

[terence]

When I started my first Cuban class, forward on one, backwards on five was call "basic step". In my current Cuban class it's called the Son step and in the occasional cross body (UK NY on 1) class I do, it's called the Mambo basic.

I was wondering what other names there are for this step.

It is, and always has been for the past 60 plus yrs, the Fwd and Back basic.. the reason why ? , to distinguish it from the Side basic ( the old Mambo Box ) .

Different names generally appear when newer styles appear, and people who invent them, try to make distinctions thru nomenclature ( not sure thats even necessary ? ) .

The " Back spot " turn is a classic e.g... originaly from Swing/ Lindy and then Bolero , Mambo, Salsa, and Intern. Rumba to name a few.. all include the same movement but with different names .

 

[terence]

If it was done with forward on 2 and back on 6 then I would call it the mambo basic. Then you can step forward on 3 and back on7 which I would call on3.

The original Mambo basic was taught ( and still is ) as follows..Man. side left on "1" break back on"2".. the option then was.. to continue to a fwd break and or got to the Side basic( this was called the Mambo Box ) . They both are taught at beginner level ( first 2 steps on the syl. )

The side basic ( Box ) is identical to the Bolero basic in structure.

 

[MMaatttt]

I would expect this to be called Basic or Mambo or Mambo Basic in most classes. Also have heard it called the forward and back. In cuban salsa I would expect "basic" to refer to the back basic but I am no expert in that area. To add to the confusion, Cuban mambo has a whole other basic step.

Well, the class that calls the forward and back step the Son step is taught Rueda style so uses a Guapea basic normally.

 

[azzey]

When I started my first Cuban class, forward on one, backwards on five was call "basic step". In my current Cuban class it's called the Son step and in the occasional cross body (UK NY on 1) class I do, it's called the Mambo basic.

I was wondering what other names there are for this step.

In Cuban Salsa/Casino or Rueda it's either a "forward-back basic" or just "basic step". There are several variations of the basic step, e.g. Guapea.

The "Son step", as you refer to it, is called Son not because it's forward and back necessarily but because of the body motion which is taken from the Cuban dance called "Son".

e.g. youtube.com/watch?v=iI7TDQxMACQ

Cuban Salsa is a mix of things, including older Cuban dances like Rumba, Son, Danzon, Mambo (Cuban mambo is a different mambo to what most of the other posters on here are refering to, except Terence).

In NY/LA classes, it's either called the Mambo basic or forward-back basic. It's called "Mambo" because there's a dance in America (NY) called Mambo which is now very different but originally influenced by the Cuban Mambo (in the 1950's).

 

[azzey]

Odd! I would think in a Cuban class they would teach the basic as forward on the second half of the eight count basic...casino style.

No that's a misconception, we use both forward-back and Guapea (back-forward) in Cuban Casino and Rueda. However, Guapea is used more often.

Think of it like this, once you become experienced in cross-body salsa, you probably do a lot more cross-body leads or open breaks than Mambo basic's. Same in Cuban.