Introducing New York Style Salsa ON 2

The ON 2 Basic Step

In basic step, the man's left foot goes back and the woman's right foot goes forward on the 1st beat of this so-called 8 beat measure or bar.
We step with our feet on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th, 6th, and 7th beats of the measure .We do not step on the 4th and 8th beats.
We actually "break" our movement, in other words we change body direction, on the 2nd and 6th beats of the measure.We call it "breaking on 2", or "dancing on 2", or "bailando en dos".
This is mambo, danced forward and back, in a line or slot, not side to side or in a circle or square.

The basic step is as follows:

1st beat of the measure - The man steps back with his left foot.
The woman steps forward with her right foot.

2nd beat of the measure - The man steps farther back with his right foot, then changes direction, starting to lean forward with his body = "breaks forward on 2". The woman steps farther forward with her left foot, then changes direction, starting to lean back with her body = "breaking back on 2".

3rd beat of the measure - The man steps in place with his left foot, while his body is moving forward.
The woman steps in place with her right foot, while her body is moving backward.

4th beat of the measure - No steps.

5th beat of the measure - The man steps forward with his right foot, in front of his left foot.
The woman steps backward with her left foot, behind her right foot.

6th beat of the measure - The man steps farther forward with his left foot, then changes direction, starting to lean backward with his body = "breaks back on 6". The woman steps farther back with her right foot, then changes direction, starting to lean forward = "breaks forward on 6".

7th beat of the measure - The man steps in place with his right foot, while his body is moving backward.
The woman steps in place with her left foot, while her body is moving forward.
8th beat of the measure - No steps.

Technically, it is proper to start the dance in the following way:
You walk onto the dance floor with your partner, set up the standard partner position frame, and then begin on the 6th beat of the measure, with the man stepping forward with his left foot and the woman stepping back with her right.
On the 7th beat, the couple changes direction, with the man rocking back onto his right foot and the woman rocking forward onto her left foot.
They then go right into the basic step pattern which is maintained through the rest of the song: the man's left foot goes back and the woman's right foot goes forward on the 1st beat of the measure, and the pattern continues as described above in detail.
Although this is technically the proper way to start, most New York dancers simply begin on the 1st beat of the measure as described above, sometimes not even setting up the partner position first.

For more infomation, visit
http://www.salsanewyork.com/ourdancemusic.htm#DEFINITION