Here is a promotional video where ortoaxis explains phrases. I haven’t bought the set so could not possibly recommend.
I know the difficulty in finding beat 1 and sometimes you end up starting to dance on 5 and the experienced Salsera may give you a glance that says “what exactly are you doing” or the nicer ones may just smile to themselves.
Some of the salsa songs, it is adequately possible to start to dance on the 5th beat (or should I say, the 1st beat of the second bar). Listen to someone like Ortoaxis who knows what they are talking about, rather than me babbling on.
Be patient as it is 9:29 mins long and English is not his native tongue. At around 7:00 he explains the drum language.
Thanks Ortoaxis!
Marchant of Alchemy Dance Company, once spoke about it at one of the monthly Jazz Cafe sessions that I attended and I think Davina allows the beginners to Salsa, experience a variety of music, to get to grips with starting on 1.
Salsa musicality is certainly intriguing and therefore enjoyable, exciting and exhilerating.
[...] is that they have developed an automatic response to music and therefore they can maintain the timing and make the turn look [...]
By: Hook Turn in Salsa. The Basic Problem « Uk Dance, Salsa & Music by Winslie on 20/05/2009
at 12:58 pm
[...] [watch Ortoaxis explain Salsa Beat] [...]
By: Salsa Basics. Steps you can practise in any location. « Uk Dance, Salsa & Music by Winslie on 06/06/2009
at 7:41 am
[...] The salsa class was fun! here is how it went (or something like this, allowing for inadvertent errors). Each Unit Sequence (One – Thirteen) to an 8 beat count of music [jump to link] [...]
By: Salsa Percussion. Monthly at Euston, London. Sat 4th July « Sexy Salsa South UK. Dance the night away! on 07/07/2009
at 2:11 pm