Campana (cowbell): meaning in salsa and mambo

Taught in

Go to class →

From the module notes

What This Module Trains 🎯

Hearing the campana. Marking its downbeat with your steps.

The Instrument 🥁

Campana. The cowbell is, as the name suggests, the bell that the cows wear.
Downbeat. The strong hit on the campana is on the 1 3 5 7, also known as the downbeat.
Campana rhythm. Pam, pam, 1, pam, pam, 3, pam, pam, 5, 6 7.
6 7. This is the anticipation for the one.
Caballo step. This caballo step, which is this horse step.
Tere Mina Minantere from Eleguá. This comes from the Afro Orishas dances.
In and out Suzy Q. Now we're going to cross twice, 5 6 7.

How the Drill Runs 🔁

Caballo step, 1 3 5, bounce.
Tere Mina Minantere. Open on 1 to the side and cross.
In and out Suzy Q.
Basic between each.

Technique Cues 💡

Struggling to find the 1? Use the campana.
Open the arms on the one, come under, open again.
You can use the head.

💡 Drill it: mark 1 3 5 7 before adding variations.

🎯 Community

Practice without judging yourself. Every dancer started exactly where you are. Be patient. This lands in the body over months, not days. Record yourself. You will see things you cannot feel. Post it in the community tab, or on Instagram tagging the page.

Related moves

Start your On2 path

Learn Campana (cowbell) step by step.

800+ lessons, visual Skill Tree, weekly new drops. Taught by a 2x European Champion. 7-day free trial, cancel in two clicks.

Start 7-day free trial

From the module notes

What This Module Trains 🎯

Hearing the campana. Marking its downbeat with your steps.

The Instrument 🥁

Campana. The cowbell is, as the name suggests, the bell that the cows wear.
Downbeat. The strong hit on the campana is on the 1 3 5 7, also known as the downbeat.
Campana rhythm. Pam, pam, 1, pam, pam, 3, pam, pam, 5, 6 7.
6 7. This is the anticipation for the one.
Caballo step. This caballo step, which is this horse step.
Tere Mina Minantere from Eleguá. This comes from the Afro Orishas dances.
In and out Suzy Q. Now we're going to cross twice, 5 6 7.

How the Drill Runs 🔁

Caballo step, 1 3 5, bounce.
Tere Mina Minantere. Open on 1 to the side and cross.
In and out Suzy Q.
Basic between each.

Technique Cues 💡

Struggling to find the 1? Use the campana.
Open the arms on the one, come under, open again.
You can use the head.

💡 Drill it: mark 1 3 5 7 before adding variations.

🎯 Community

Practice without judging yourself. Every dancer started exactly where you are. Be patient. This lands in the body over months, not days. Record yourself. You will see things you cannot feel. Post it in the community tab, or on Instagram tagging the page.