Salsa on 2, New York Style

For those who wish to get the most out of their Salsa dancing, be sure to consider learning to dance Salsa on 2 (Mambo); taught during the weekly

with Terry & Abdul Al-Ali

as well as the early Friday evening, Saturday morning, Sunday
afternoon and Monday evening


including Salsa on both 1 & 2 classes

Events are located at the Chevy Chase Ballroom and DanceSport Center, Friendship Heights red line Metro the YMCA, National
Capital, 17th & R. I Ave., NW.

please take an evening to do so. I can without a doubt promise that there is not a better opportunity to receive some of the absolute best training available in Metropolitan Washington in this incredible dance (unless, of course, you attend classes given by Abdul's other two members of Washington's "Salsa Rat Pack", Dee Scott and Shaka Brown...classes which I attend, myself, whenever I get the slightest opportunity). In addition, the chance to get plenty of practice in the new figures after the classes are over every Sunday in a social, smoke-free, non loud-and-dreary "Bar and Night Club" environment is another major benefit.

If you are intent on becoming a superior Salsa dancer and haven't yet attended one of the Sunday Salsa & Latin Socials at the Chevy Chase Ballroom, please take the time to do so. I can without a doubt promise that there is not a better opportunity to receive some of the absolute best training available in Metropolitan Washington in this incredible dance (unless, of course, you attend classes given by Abdul's other two members of Washington's "Salsa Rat Pack", Dee Scott and Shaka Brown...classes which I attend, myself, whenever I get the slightest opportunity). In addition, the chance to get plenty of practice in the new figures after the classes are over every Sunday in a social, smoke-free, non loud-and-dreary "Bar and Night Club" environment is another major benefit.

After hosting the Sunday Salsa Social with Abdul since April 6th of 2002, I confidently feel that breaking on 2 (which gives the followers much more time to complete their turns) unquestionably allows both partners the opportunity to accomplish so much more in the dance. Since the pause comes "During" the turns and cross-body leads, and not "before and afterwards" where they are less useful as when breaking on the 1. This creates more time for those who go on to learning more advanced figures and multiple turns to get the maximum possible results from their dancing. It also gives those who are not so advanced, but still doing basics more time and ease at accomplishing those figures.

As a 28-year veteran of dancing and teaching some form or another of all of the Ballroom, Latin, Country/Western, Hustle and Swing dances (I know...most of you weren't even born 28 years ago when I started teaching...so...you should listen to your elders...), I personally was not introduced to dancing Salsa on 2, New York Style until Abdul and I decided to conduct this weekly event together. After almost a year and a half, Abdul continues to come up with new and more "ingenious" shines and partnering figures each week. Many of which would be next to impossible to dance on 1, because of the extra time allowed while dancing on 2.

So if you really wish to become a superior dancer in Salsa, at least give yourself the opportunity to explore this incredible Salsa style. That is not to say that you "shouldn't" dance on 1, but rather you should be able to do both. You should definitely give yourself the opportunity of trying it and then you can decide for yourself without my or anyone else's opinion whether you wish to persue it.

And when other dancers or teachers attempt to discourage you from dancing on 2 (which I'm informed that they very often do to students), ask them first if they are doing so out of experience or lack of it. Too often people discourage others from doing things that they know little or nothing about, which has definitely been my experience with almost all of those discouraging Salsa on 2. Why would anyone encourage people to dance what they don't know or can't teach? The truth is they wouldn't. There truly is no comparison as to the results that one can ultimately get out of the dance with the extra time available when breaking on the 2nd beat of music.

Every week Abdul, myself and our talented assistants offer both brand new beginner, as well as intermediate /advanced classes going at the same time from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. In the future we hope to occasionally offer some additional highly qualified and talented guest instructors to the line-up as guest teachers.

JOIN ME AND THE INCREDIBLY TALENTED aBDUL aL-aLI FOR The weekly

(Click here for Salsa Social information)

PLUS THE FRIDAY EVENING, SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND MONDAY EVENING
SALSA ON BOTH 1 & 2 CLASSES SO THAT YOU MAY DANCE WITH ANYONE WHO ASKS YOU, REGARDLESS OF THEIR STYLE.