What's the difference between On1 and On2, and which should I learn first?

There was a time that two very different styles of dance could be defined by the break step. On1 was "LA Style" and On2 was "NY Style."  L.A. style could be summarized as explosive and involving tricks. NY style was smooth and focused on musical interpretation. However this was nearly 10 years ago, and today theere is so much blending of styles that On1 vs. On2 is hardly a significant distinction.

The basic step involves moving backward and forward in time to the song. Some people prefer to change direction on the first and fifth beat of the song, while others choose to make the seconf and sixth beat the step to break on. That's it. It seems silly to be such a contentious issue, doesn't it? Someone who is just startign to dance salsa may be bombarded by folks insisting that they learn On1, while others swear by On2. So which should you learn first?

 When you learn to drive, shoudl you learn to drive on the left side or right side of the road? When you meet someone should you shake hands, bow, or kiss them on the cheek? Do you see where I'm going? It depends on where you will be driving or greeting someone. In terms of learning to dance Salsa, observe the people that you want to dance with, or who you admire. Once you find your "ideal" dancer, ask them where they learned and what style they are dancing. Their response should give you some direction in which to start.

In the "Simple Dance Method" DVDs, we teach the partner work primarily On2, with additional demonstration and breakdown On1 as well, so that students will have as many options as possible.

The previous question was first published in "The Scene" Magazine, where Shaka Brown is a contributing columnist. Visit www.TheSceneMagDC.com for additional articles, interviews and tips.