What's up with the New York "Two"? 
By Edie, The Salsa FREAK

Why do New York dancers look more relaxed out there?  How is it that they can pause so much more between moves... why is their style so elastic looking?  Is it inherent in the count???

NOW I KNOW WHY...

I could never figure out why the "NY Two" appeared slower and more relaxed looking than the "One". 

"Edie, I get more tired dancing to fast songs on the "One", then I do on the 'Two'." Luis Vazquez of the Salsa Brava dance company told me just last week. 

"That's not possible Luis.  It's all within the eight count."  I told him.  "THEN WHY DO I SWEAT SO MUCH WHEN I DANCE ON THE ONE???"  He responded.  

I just gave him a blank look like a deer in headlights. 

He was right.  WHY IS THAT?  What makes the New York Mambo Typico, Eddie Torres style "Two" (steps on 5,6,7) so much more Pause or Elastic looking than dancing on the "One"? 

Thanks to Jeff and Colleen Shirey, who are visiting me from Pittsburgh, we have discovered WHY the New York Dancers have more time to do double spins on inside turns when turning the girl. 

THEY HAVE AN EXTRA COUNT OF TIME!!! 

Jeff and Colleen are in "sponge" mode right now, taking classes, and learning from some of the best instructors in the country.  Jeff wanted to analyze the differences between the "One" and the "Two" from an analyitical perspective.  We broke it down very carefully, did a simple turn on both ways of dancing, and made this discovery. 

If you're dancing the Eddie Torres, NY Mambo Typico "2", THE GIRLS GET AN GET AN EXTRA STEP.  The girls can actually pause for a split second more in the middle of their turns on the "four" count of the music.  This gives them one more count to complete the turn! 

THINK ABOUT IT.  

The New York Two allows the lady to hold the four, in the middle of her spin, and step with her left foot on the "Five" count!  This is the reason for the  "elasticity" appearance of the New York Style dancers. 

I always wondered why there was such a beautiful pause in their turns.

Hey New Yorkers, now you know why girls from LA can spin so fast... THEY HAVE NO CHOICE!!! 

When you're on the "One", you don't get the pause, and you're FORCED to turn much faster.  In a double-turn on the "one", you have to spin almost one and one half times faster than if you were dancing on the "Two".

Jeff and Colleen are teaching me a few things as they are themselves learning!  Wow!  This is great!  Now they're anxious to go back to New York, to figure out this "Two" thing... 5,6,7 or 2,3,4...