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In shows, workshop videos and social dancing, we sometimes see a Follow being led around the Lead with her arms and hands high for two counts of eight or more, doing a couple of 360 turns along the way. Such figures are mostly nameless and often improvised or choreographed as an unfinished products in need of being generalised and optimised.

Most of us need a well-formed, “tested” and perfected figure to learn first. We need a rock-solid figure in order to practice the necessary techniques. One day we might be good enough to just improvise and wing it!

We have at least four good options:

1. Right around the Lead for two counts of Eight. Starting from the end of Dile Que No con Coca-Cola, continuing with a free Vacilala. The Follow walks forward with the front first all the way or partly backward on “7-1-2”.
2. Left around the Lead for two counts of Eight. Starts with a free Vacilala into Caída then back again with Dile Que No con Coca-Cola and around the Lead. One can also start with Enchufla.
3. Random free-styling Hands-Up walks. If a couple is used to the first two options, they will likely, sooner or later, try something similar out of the blue.
4. Hands-Up figures can also be combined with windmill style arm movements.

In this tutorial we will look at the first option, the easy one, where the Follow walks forward the natural way. In another tutorials we will look at some of the other options.

How to start the walk

Dile Que Que No con Coca-Cola is a good way to start a Manos Arriba walk right around the Lead. The Lead starts by unrolling the Follow either by the hips, or if the Coca-Cola ended with the Lead’s right arm around the Follow’s stomach, the Lead can unwrap the Follow by her “Six Pack”, so to speak. If a Follow doesn’t know the figure, the Lead can help her on the way by whispering: “Manos Arriba”, “Hands-Up!”

The Follow, when sensing she is going to be rolled out from the end of the Coca-Cola, should position her right foot angled to the right in order to get a good set-off for a Three Step Vacilala Right Turn starting on “1”. Some Follows might prefer to use a Two Step Spiral Right Turn starting on “2”.

It is important that the Follow gets all the way around on the Vacilala, and ideally she should do a little more than a full 360 degree turn in order to traverse a curved line.

Instead of starting from the end of Dile Que No con Coca-Cola, where the Lead has good control of the Follow from start to end, the Follow can start a Hands-Up walk whenever she is given a hand-free Vacilala turn. The Follow can so to speak invite or inspire the Lead to continue the Vacilala with Hands-Up all around him, right or left around, instead of just picking her up again as fast as possible.

Leading the walk

During the walk the Lead should lead the Follow with his hands. This is necessary not only in order to give the walk the look and feel of dancing but also because it supports the Follow, helps her getting around the “corners” and helps her turn at the right moment with a good momentum.

The Hands-Up “right around the Lead” normally ends with a Vacilala on “3-5-6” (aka Giro Habanero).