Salsa On1 vs On2 vs Cuban Style: What's the Difference? Which Should Beginners Learn?

This page is a reference translation of the Japanese original (日本語の原文). It has not been checked by a native speaker. Please confirm details with each organizer.

Salsa has three names you often hear: On2, On1 and Cuban style (casino). Roughly speaking, On2 and On1 differ in the beat on which you start stepping, and Cuban style is a way of dancing that moves in circles. However, sources explain these a little differently. This article sums up the three as far as could be confirmed, and also shows what to ask when choosing a class.

About this article

I live in Sapporo and am around 50 years old. In 2019 I discovered salsa and bachata in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where I was living for work, and I still dance today. I am not good at dancing, and I am not a teacher. The explanations here are limited to what I could confirm in published information.

The short answer: how to sort out the three

This table shows only the “common explanation.” Even the same word can mean slightly different things depending on the school or teacher.

What is On2?

On2 is a way of dancing in which you start stepping on beat 2. If you count 8 beats, you step on 2-3-4 and 6-7-8, and you do not step on beats 1 and 5, it is said.

• It is said to be a style born in New York, and it is often called “New York style”
• The movement is linear. You move forward and back along a fixed line (the slot)
• Solo “shines” (dancing on your own) are said to be valued
• A person named Eddie Torres is introduced as having organized and spread the timing of stepping on beat 2

One explanation says that stepping on beat 2 also matches the way the original Cuban music (son) was danced. However, the writer of that explanation also says this point “needs to be checked,” so it cannot be called settled.

What is On1?

On1 is a way of dancing in which you start stepping on beat 1. You step on 1-2-3 and 5-6-7, and you do not step on beats 4 and 8, it is said.

• It is said to be a style that grew up in Los Angeles, and it is often called “LA style”
• Like On2, the movement is linear. You dance on the slot, swapping places
• It is also introduced as known for flashy movement and acrobatic tricks
• One explanation says it is the timing most used around the world today

Some explanations also say that many people find On1 easier to count. This too is a general view, and how it feels differs from person to person.

What is Cuban style (casino)?

Cuban style is a style of salsa that grew up in Cuba. It is also called “casino.” The name is explained as coming from the dance halls where social dancing took place in postwar Cuba, the “Casinos Deportivos” (sports casinos).

• On1 and On2 move along a “straight line,” while Cuban style is known for moving in circles
• It leads to rueda de casino, danced in a circle. Details are in What Is Rueda de Casino? How Circle Salsa Works
• The beats you step on are explained differently by source. Some sources write that you step on beat 1 (On1), and others introduce a different way of counting

I could not find one clear answer for the beats of Cuban style. When you learn in a class, it is enough to follow the way of counting that the class uses.

Why do the names get mixed up?

“On1” and “On2” originally name the beat on which you step. “LA style” and “New York style,” on the other hand, name the feel of the dance or the region where it grew up. The two do not always match one to one.

• Some explanations say New York style is “less a style than the name of a timing”
• In the same explanation, there is also a part that says “any style can be danced to any timing”
• The timing most often used also seems to differ by region

So it cannot be said flatly that “LA style = always On1” or “New York style = always On2.” If a class notice says “On1,” read it as being about the beat. If it says “LA style,” read it as being about the feel. That should keep you from getting confused.

Which should a beginner learn first?

In the sources I checked, I found no fixed answer like “beginners should start with this one.”

• One explanation says that outside New York, local classes teach mostly On1. This article has not confirmed how it is in Sapporo
• I think that a place you can get to, and a way of teaching that suits you, are more likely to help you keep going than the beat you start on
• Some people learn another timing later. What you choose first does not fix it for good

When you sign up for a school or a trial lesson, try asking the following.

• “Which timing do you teach (On1 / On2 / Cuban style, etc.)?”
• “Do you teach how to count the beats in the beginner class?”
• “Can I switch to a different timing later?”

How to look for classes is covered in How to Find Salsa, Bachata & Latin Dance Classes in Sapporo.

FAQ

Which is for advanced dancers, On1 or On2?

Neither is fixed as the advanced one. They differ only in the beat you step on, and how hard each feels differs from person to person.

Can I switch from On1 to On2 later?

Some people do. The way you place the beat changes, so it may take time to get used to. Schools also have their own policies, so please talk to your teacher.

Are there schools in Sapporo where I can learn Cuban style?

This article does not list individual schools or dates in Sapporo. You can also look up event dates on the Sapporo Latin Dance Calendar (札幌ラテンダンスカレンダー) (external site).

Does every school teach in a completely different way?

Names and detailed explanations can differ by school and teacher. The shortest way is to check the atmosphere at a trial lesson.

Related articles

• What Is Salsa? Music, Rhythm and On1 / On2 / Cuban Styles
• What Is Rueda de Casino? How Circle Salsa Works
• What Are Lead and Follow? A Beginner’s Guide to the Roles in Latin Partner Dancing
• Latin Dance Instruments and Rhythm Basics: Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba and Tango
• History of Salsa: From Cuban Music to New York and the World
• Your First Latin Dance Lesson: What Happens from Check-in to Changing Partners

Sources I checked

I checked the following pages, among others, in October 2026.

• Wikipedia: Salsa (dance)
• The Dance Dojo: Salsa Timing: On1, On2, On3 & Everything You Want to Know

Where sources differ in wording or classification, I give ranges. If you find a mistake, please let me know through Contact (Japanese).