What is the podcast, "Roots, Rhythm, & Soul", about?
Roots, Rhythm, & Soul is our heartfelt homage to the Afro-Latin music and dance scene.

Our goal is to drive a deeper understanding and appreciation of the scene through stories captured from interviews with prominent dancers, musicians, and scholars. We unearth the Roots, learning about our speakers’ backgrounds & motivations and charting their journeys from entertainers to scholars. We tap into the Rhythm, documenting the changes in music and the evolution of dance influences and techniques. We peer into the Soul, introspecting on what it means to dance, the clash in cultures, and how dance fits in today’s modern society.

Come with us on this journey as learn from our guests on Roots, Rhythm, & Soul: https://anchor.fm/rootsrhythmandsoul.

Do you have parking available?

There is no dedicated parking space. However, there is plenty of street parking around the studio. To be safe, please leave enough of a buffer time before the start of class to comfortably find a spot and arrive in time for your class.

What is "On2"?

The “On 2” style is NY-style salsa. The music we dance to is counted in 2 four-beat measures (4/4 time). A “break step” is the step that you change the direction of your momentum. When your break step falls on the second and sixth beat of the music, then you are dancing “On 2”. On that second beat of the music, leads step back with their right foot, and follows step forward with their left foot.

The largest concentration of “On 2” dancers is in New York City and New Jersey. However, there are a growing number of students dancing “On 2” in California, Chicago, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Italy, etc.

What is the difference between "On1" and "On2"?

The “On 1” style is LA ballroom-style salsa, while the “On 2” style is NY mambo-style salsa. The music we dance to is counted in 2 four-beat measures (4/4 time). A “break step” is the step that you change the direction of your momentum. When your break step falls on the first and fifth beat of the music, then you are dancing “On 1”. On that first beat of the music, leads step forward with their left foot, and follows step backward with their right foot. When your break step falls on the second and sixth beat of the music, then you are dancing “On 2”. On that second beat of the music, leads step back with their right foot, and follows step forward with their left foot.

What are "shines"?

“Shines” are steps that you can perform after you break out into your own solo moves. They provide an opportunity for you to, well, shine!

What are "turn patterns"?

“Turn patterns” are exactly what they sound like: turn patterns that you perform with a partner. These make up the majority of a salsa dance.

What are "cycled classes"?

We teach our core level classes in 6-week progressive cycles. Each progressive class builds upon prior material, with the last, 6th week class being a “drill” to assess whether you are ready for the next level. Thus, we don’t recommend students join the level classes mid-cycle.

What is the structure of the "cycled classes"?

For the first 5 weeks of the cycle, you will begin each class by warming up with the shines taught in previous classes. Following this, we spend half the class learning a new set of shines, followed by the other half of class learning a new turn pattern and drilling previous turn patterns.

For the 6th week of the cycle, you will demonstrate your mastery over the cycle’s material through a “drill”, during which the instructors will assess whether you will be able to progress to the next level.

What is the difference between a "cycled class" and a "walk-in class"?

We teach new material in all of our classes each week. For the cycled classes, because they are 6-week progressive cycles where each week’s material builds upon the prior week’s, new students are not permitted to join cycled classes mid-cycle. For the walk-in classes, because there are no cycles, any students may join in any of the classes.

How do I begin my salsa journey?

In order to begin taking the cycled classes, you must be comfortable with your fundamentals and understand the timing and musicality of music.

We recommend taking as many pre-beginner classes as you need to feel solid in your fundamentals (usually 4 – 6 classes), and you are required to take the Timing and Musicality workshop. Details for this can be found in our class details section.

Do I need dance shoes?

For the pre-beginner class, dance shoes are optional. For all other classes, dance shoes are required.

Please note that salsa dance shoes have suede bottomsWe do sell dance shoes at the studio, but if you’d like to purchase them separately, we’d recommend looking for shoes with suede bottoms. The initial fit of the shoes should be snug, as they will stretch!

If I have previous dance experience, what level should I be?

We would recommend that you take one of our pre-beginner classes so that the founder and director of our school, Mario, can assess which level you should attend.

Can I videotape the class?

We ask that you do not videotape the class, however we understand that you will want to practice what you’ve learned later, and video is better than memory. As a compromise, we are willing to videotape you doing the step or turn pattern after class, including making sure that you have it right.

Where can I apply what I've learned in class?

The material taught at Salsa Fever on 2 Dance Academy is structured for use in social dancing. There are social dancing opportunities every day of the week, available in various parts of New Jersey and New York. You can either find them by googling, or by asking the instructors of our school for recommendations!

Ready to Dance?

Learn to dance with confidence and enjoy the health and social benefits of dancing.

83 Franklin St Jersey City NJ 07307
sfon2services@gmail.com
201-792-1616