First-year College student Glen Weaver stands before the mirror, head down and arms bent stiffly at his sides. He is motionless, a solitary statue distanced from the chatter and laughter around him. Then, the spicy, sensuous beats of salsa music fill The Forum at O'Hill. To the "one-two-three, five-six-seven!" counts in the background, he shyly steps forward, then back, then forward in monotonous repetition, as his head bobs up and down to the cadences of the music.
Graduate College student Leticia Valadez, president of Mambo On2, walks up from behind. Taking no note of her, Weaver's eyes fix upon his reflection.
"I want to hear you stomp," she said, stomping her right foot alongside his.
For beginners like Weaver, Mambo On2 provides an opportunity for personal instruction of basic dance techniques, but the club also gives more advanced dancers an opportunity to improve their skills.
Fourth-year College student Stephen Duncan, for instance, comes to the workshops because his New Year's resolution was to become a better dancer.
"I like the club because Leticia gives us direction," Duncan said. "Depending on the skill level of the other dancers, we have the capability to learn a lot and improve very quickly or often [to introduce] new dancers to Mambo On2 and [solidify] the basic steps. The leadership is patient and understanding, and I've learned a lot in a short period of time."
The type of dance taught at Mambo On2 differs from that of the Salsa Club, Valadez explained, because the Salsa Club promotes "on1" as opposed to "on2" salsa. The term "on2" refers to "breaking" -- a change in direction -- on the second and sixth beats of an eight-beat measure. In this type of New York-style salsa, dancers move forward and back, in a line, as opposed to in a circle or square.
Exchange student Martin Yeo is one of the more experienced club members because he spent a year as part of the salsa performance team at Singapore Management University. Because the team used on1 as opposed to on2 salsa, however, he said he has had difficulty switching between the two styles.
"A lot of times I will start dancing on2 and then naturally I will switch to on1," Yeo said, "because the music is the same [and] the steps and the hand movements are actually quite similar, [but] the footwork is different, so I tend to mix up the footwork and tend to finish on1 instead of on2."
Still, because of his experience with salsa, he occasionally helps Valadez, one of the principal instructors, teach the class, which is usually held Tuesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. The group ranges from seven to 10 participants, and the small size of the group proves beneficial for the participants.
"We can really walk around and pinpoint errors and correct them," Valadez said. "I think people are learning a lot quicker [when] there aren't so many people. It's not so repetitive, so people aren't just waiting -- they can continue in the current motion."
For the first few weeks following the organization's reestablishment in late January, the classes focused on basic footwork and familiarity with the timing of salsa dancing, which together provide the basis for more complicated turn patterns and style.
"A lot of people say that they know how to dance salsa," Valadez said. "But a lot of them don't stay within the timing of the music, so I really emphasize that in my class."
As classes progress, Valadez said she intends to develop the members' style and body isolation -- using other body parts besides the feet and hands, such as the hips and shoulders -- which she explains will help the dancer look better while performing.
To assist in this refinement of the participants' performance, Mambo On2 hosted a social Feb. 22, which members from other organizations, such as the Salsa Club and Latino Club, also attended.
"We were competing with the Dance Marathon competition [that night], but everyone who was there danced all night," Valadez said of the social. "They asked for one every Friday, but unfortunately I didn't reserve the room in time for that. It's nice because there is no drinking or smoking, like there is [if you dance] at the Outback [Lodge]."
Though previous workshops have been free, when the club invites professional salsa instructors to give lessons, the club must charge a fee. The workshop and social scheduled for April 26, for example, will charge a fee because it will feature professional salsa instructor Christian Evans.
Through its socials and weekly workshops, Mambo On2 aims to create awareness of the on2 style and to get people interested in it.
"I'd say that the three selling points are," Yeo said, "that it's easier than ballroom because it's not so technical; it's a lead-and-follow, so you can have a proper dance with anybody, even if you've never met them; and it's a great way to meet new people"
Read More
Diabetes Link connects condition to community
By Charley Thomas | 22 hours agoAs its presence on Grounds grows, Diabetes Link hopes to connect more people to resources for the condition and provide a network of members passionate about awareness.
Top 10 reasons to stop dreading midterms
By Elizabeth Parsons | 3 days agoI have survived plenty of my own rough exam days during my four years at the University, and it is a relief to report that one exam tells only a small piece of a much larger story
Sophia Crowder empowers women in STEM to pursue out-of-this-world ambitions
By Charley Thomas | 5 days agoGender representation — it’s not rocket science, right?
