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The Two Step Spiral Turn is a common turn technique in Latin Ball Room, Latin Hustle, Salsa, Casino, Swing, Jazz, Country Two Step, etc. It is called “Two Step” because it takes two steps to complete a full 360 degree turn. The Two Step Spiral Turn is versatile: Equally good to the right and to the left, for the Follow as well as for the Lead, and it is fast, elegant and surprisingly stable.

Two Step Spiral Turns are especially good as part of walks: Paseo, Saloneo and Camínala. It is good in the corners of moves like Paséala and Exhíbela, it can be used for Vacilala and Coca-Cola, and it is an excellent number two turn as part of double turns starting with a Three Step Turn.

Not that common

Two Step Spiral Turns are as if invented for Casino, Cuban Salsa, a dance based on natural walking. We walk on two legs, and it almost calls for doing fast 360 degree turns with two steps and continue forward as if nothing has happened!

Unfortunately Two Step Spiral Turns are not that common in Old-School Cuban Macho Casino, but they are bound to pop-up whenever we have dancers that want a modern Follow-Centric International Cuban Salsa style.

Until they become more common, Two Step Spiral Turns are mostly relevant when dancing with partners one has trained them with or at socials that include dancers from dance schools that teach them.

We should promote the magic of Two Step Spirals whenever we can by using them as much as possible as a supplement to Three Step Turns.

How to step

For Two Step Spiral Turns, we turn to the side of the stepping foot, always with the back first, that is, we can turn right or left on every second step. That is, the Follow can turn right on “2”, on “5” and “7” and left on “1”, “3”, “6”. The Lead can also use Spiral Turns (rare) as part of walks, right on “1”, on “3” and “6” and left on “2”, on “5” and on “7”.

Exactly how to step is difficult to describe in a way that makes sense. A video tells it all. Video #1 is me doing Spiral Turn exercises at the local lake in freezing temperatures, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2022.

Double Turns

Two Step Spiral Turns are very useful as the last of a double turn. The most common is to use a Three Step Right Turn for “1-2-3” followed by another Three Step Right Turn on “3-5-6” or a Two Step Spiral on “5-6”. And to use a Three Step Left Turn (Coca-Cola) on “5-6-7” followed by one more Three Step Left Turn on “7-1-2” or a Two Step Left Spiral Turn on “1-2”.