Dear Jami

Greetings from a place where you might not expect to find salsa!

My name is Ivan, also known as El Ivanko, and I am a salsa instructor.

I used to do ballroom before, competing in international class, but
similarly to yourself, switched to salsa a couple of years ago. I was
fortunate enough, whilst living in London, UK, to have worked with some of
the best instructors in the world.

And now that I moved back to the Czech Republic, I have opened up my own
school.

I have a very specific, and intricate question for you (at least it is for
me!) - it is about the cha cha cha rhythm.

As you surely know, in ballroom one starts on "1" (one-two-three cha cha),
whilst most of the Latinos I watched dance on "2" (two-three-cha cha cha).
Now, most of the  music I listen to is telling me that the Latinos are
right, but sometimes, even in Latino environment, I see people dancing on
"1" (i.e. Eddie Torres's school).

Who is right, who is wrong? OR is there a "wrong"? Similar to salsa, one can
express it on so many rhythms.

Looking forward to your reply, sincerely yours

El Ivanko

************************************************************************** 

Hi El Ivanko...
Thanx for writing... I had a hard time with understanding your question of

"most of the Latinos I watched dance on "2" (two-three-cha cha cha)."

 

I believe what you mean is the rock on the 1st beat of the music instead of the 2nd beat like we do in ballroom. Do note that Eddie Torres Style is the same as ballroom in that he starts side on 1 back rock for 2 and 3 (beats that is)....
Talking musically here, most music of Cha goes as such....1,2,3,4,&  1,2,3,4,&
thus rocking on the 2,3 and Cha-Cha-Cha on 4,&,1,.......most Latinos who dance salsa on "1" who don't understand the cha music will dance or rock on the 1,2 and Cha on the 3,&,4,....not wrong but not correct either.....do note however that there is some Cha music that will have a 1,2, -  3,&,4, rhythm but it's very rare.....but it sounds to me your dancing the right thing....don't let the street style think your wrong as you are not...
Last but not least Cha is finally recognized here in the states as a dance that should break on the 2 due to the music and it's rhythms.
Hope that helps.....
Jami