Flipped, Broken, and Paused Clave

Abstract

This article examines some of the complex interactions between salsa music and dance by focusing on physical interpretations of specific types of metric ambiguities and disruptions. It explores both the fairly frequent displacement dissonances that arise when the established clave pattern is flipped, paused, or broken and the grouping dissonances that are somewhat rare occurrences in salsa music, showing how dancers' responses to these metric disruptions depend heavily on the unique features of each musical context. Annotated videos break down salsa's fundamental dance and musical structures, encouraging readers to contemplate the artful interpretations presented by experienced dance practitioners and to engage with these interesting musical passages more intimately by trying out the dance steps for themselves.