Hear the Moment Everything Changes: Finding the Montuno in Danzón

There’s a precise moment in danzón where the music stops being linear and starts becoming cyclical, conversational, and dance-driven.

That moment is the montuno.

In this video, I break down how to hear the montuno section inside danzón, using a visual + listening approach so you can clearly recognize:

When the montuno enters
How the energy, repetition, and dialogue shift
Why this moment is a major bridge toward son, mambo, and salsa

This isn’t theory for musicians—it’s ear training for dancers.

🎧 The example comes from one of the earliest danzones to feature a montuno section, composed by José Urfé, marking a turning point in Afro-Cuban musical structure.

👇 After watching, jump into the discussion:

Choose one prompt and comment below:

What do you feel change in the music when the montuno begins?
Does this section make you want to move more repetitively, more playfully, or more grounded?
Where do you recognize this same feeling later in salsa or mambo?

💬 Even one sentence is enough—shared listening sharpens everyone’s musical awareness.

When you can hear the montuno clearly, your dancing naturally shifts from reactive to responsive.This is how musicality becomes embodied.

4 comments

Social Dance Mastery

skool.com/social-dance-mastery-6670

A guided community for dancers to build confidence, musicality, and authentic connection through embodied practice and Afro-Latin movement principles.

Bring people together around your passion and get paid.