Salsa music is played in
4/4 time and has 4 beats to the measure or bar.
We dance within 2 measures, so we count 8 beats;
and loosely say that we "dance to an 8 beat measure or
bar"
although technically it is two 4 beat measures.
Many
dances, not just salsa, are done within 2 measures, and
therefore some people use the terms "musician's measure" and
"dancer's measure".
The
"musician's measure" has 4 beats, while the "dancer's measure"
has 8 beats and consists of 2 "musician's measures".
(Ref. 1)
The Steps - when we initially learn
any part of this dance, whether it is the basic step or shines,
or more advanced turn patterns, we do not even play the music at
all. Instead, we count out loud "1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7" while
learning to place our feet or hands in the proper positions.
Counting out the 1, 2, 3, and 5, 6, 7 is only
used for learning and communicating to others when we "break
down" the dance into it's components. We use it when we learn
as beginners, and then later as intermediate or advanced dancers
when we learn new turn patterns or open shines. And we use the
counting to explain to others as we "break down" our moves. The
count is the schematic diagram of the dance, in the same way
musical notation is the schematic diagram of a piece of music.
But when we are just dancing for fun, or when performing, we do
not count. We just dance to the music. (Ref. 2)
Copyright 2007-2008 SevenCitiesSalsa.com. All rights reserved.
Seven Cities Salsa, Inc., its editors
and members are not affiliated with any DJs, dance studios, night clubs or any other
organizations.
