Thanks for your input, Terrence.
When you can find the time would you kindly write about the clave, in a new message, and how the dancer should respond to this in their dancing.

The true " clave " sequence, is danced over the 5 " clicks "

As you are aware, most dance is based upon a 4 beat bar, and the steps are designed accordingly .

To dance all clave clicks, requires that we change to a 5 weight change system .
In musical terms, this means we will not return to the commencing basic sequence, until 4 sets of clave have passed ( 20 clicks, gives us 5 bars )
This is acheived, by commencing side left
back right
fwd left
( Sqq ) 3 clicks
then-- side right
fwd left
( QQ ) 2 clicks
The return to right foot back ( s )commences the return to the 5 clave clicks .
This is the method some latinos dance salsa/mambo.

In practical terms-- it is commenced the same way, dancing SQQ- and then repeating that rhythm , in a fwd direction.
as you can see, we have temporarily abandond the clave sequence. It of course will return to its original place, providing we do not change the musical sequence.

Heres the catch-- some latin reverses the clave on " pick up bars "-- which means the rumba clave has changed to 2/3 .
My suggestion-- dont get to hung up on clave. The man decides the accent, and can change it to suit musical interludes (when no clave maybe present )
Many people talk about being on clave-- what they really mean-- they are " breaking " backwards on the second beat of the first bar !

Terence Why make something sound more difficult than it is. If Clave means to move through something forcefully, and in action they are breaking backwards on the second beat of a bar. Wouldn't it be better to simply say that in the International Style of Rumba on a front or Back Basic we take our first step on beat two with the music. In the beginning of a Basic we may do a preperation movement on the count of 4 1.which is then followed by the step forward or backward on beat 2.Hence the count of 2. 3. 4 1. Which is three steps to four beats, which gives us a movement of the hips only on beat 1.

Of course it would-- but the questioner ASKED me to break down the significance of the musical structure.

Like all others, if I am teaching Intern,style rumba, I conform to the current standards ( I dont have to agree with it ! ) -- after all, is this not all about education ? .

After nearly 60 yrs of teaching, I am STILL learning about " Latin " .