One of the major problems with DJs who are hired for comps is :
many/most , do NOT have clue about the complex music in the authentic latin genre ( ya know, the stuff upon which we base our social dances ).
"Pop" music is/was often used for the simplistic reasoning that, the average public might get confused !! ( and that includes many teachers ) .Its been perpetuated, thru the show style dances, that became popular back when ( My era ).
The ONLY latin styled band back in the 40s and 50s, was Edmundo Ros, and he played primarily Samba and Rumba, as Chas didn't exist until the early/ middle 50s in the UK .
Latin rhythms are based on the " Son ". It is a dance, and also is broken down into various musical styles, for ex...
Guajira,Guaguanco, Guaracha Son Montuno, Son Bolero, and to complicate matters even more ," Clave" the sticks the beat out the direction of the specific style being played. There are 2 clave " strikes " one is a Rumba and the other is a Son ( Son 2/3 and Rumba 3/2.)
Those are the "stikes " that occur over the 2 bars , The argument is often , does clave happen over 1 or 2 bars, I say, it depends upon the arrange !!
Pretty much all Rumba, the authentic kind( and Salsa ) is written in a 2/3 , the oddball ,is Guaracha which is also written in 3/2.
To make matters worse, some song switch clave to 3/2 and back again.
Theres so much more to say/write, but.. for your purposes, as Jonathon said, locate the "2" , and dance away !!.
I realise this may complicate matters again, as far as the Conga is concerned, but, this was to hi-lite the importance of other instruments that, are an integral part of the music structure. Without the others the drum would be a "solo" event, as is danced in "authentic " Rumba creating the "call an response" , to which we ALL dance .
NB.. it must be mentioned that, the " Clave " is the Alma Y Corazon ( heart and soul ) of ALL latin music .
