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Genuine Cuban Salsa, based on the Circle and Walks, makes it possible for both the Lead and the Follow to step forward simultaneously, on all six steps of a count of Eight. This is unique for Cuban Salsa. It is simply not possible in “forward-and-back” type of dancing in the rectangular slut of X-Body Salsa.

The purpose of the Lead’s steps is mainly to make the Follow’s steps possible. Strictly speaking, the Lead can step however he wants as long as he manages to make the Follow step her steps with perfection. But it serves most Leads best not to deviate to far from the well-formed Textbook model for the Lead.

No back-steps

Consecutive forward motion with no back-steps and back-rocking makes dynamic movement and good flows easier. When the Follow steps forward on all steps of the Eight Count, she can fully unfolds the figures, making them easier to recognise, to lead and to follow.

Forward walking on all six steps makes for great variation, because the Follow can use very short steps and still move a lot, and the Follow can easily cover several meters with long steps. Forward by default opens up for the full potential of Cuban Salsa, making more advanced and complex patterns possible. Forward by default gives more time and room for improvisation and musicality.

Forward by default

Forward by default simply means that it is the main mode of the Follow. The Follow should always step forward unless she feels a strong lead not to do so. She might need a back-step in certain situations because of an error or a misunderstanding or in order not to fall, and we do have some figures where the Lead and the Follow walk backwards for several steps like in Cuban forward-and-back having three steps forward and three steps back.

The more we walk forward in the main mode of the dance, the bigger the contrast and the fun when we suddenly, as an exception to the rule, stops up and go stationary for a short while, or when we go into rectangular Son mode or free-styling.

Uniquely Cuban

Forward by default is uniquely Cuban, the raison d’etre (“reason for being”) of Cuban Salsa, and only possible in Cuban Salsa. As far as I know, Cuban Salsa is not only unique in this respect among Salsa styles, but it is the only style of social partner dancing where it is possible for both the Lead and the Follow to continue forward for most of a dance.

Sorry to say that many Cuban Salsa dancers, including very many Cubans, have not understood what really makes Cuban Salsa stand out. Instead they mix Cuban Salsa with back-steps and back-rocking as well as with other features from X-Body and Latin Ball Room. Such fusion styles can still be more or less “Cuban”, or even common in Cuba, only sad that what I find the most interesting about Cuban Salsa is no longer there.

Clean the clutter

Since my own dance background is utterly confused Cuban Fusion, mostly in the Miami Rueda Tradition, I have used almost 10 years to clean up the clutter, to unlearn and relearn the dance based on what I believe should be the core features of Cuban Salsa as it applies to me, to my talent, my fitness and technical level. What works for me could be relevant for many other social dancers, either to learn from or as inspiration.

Casino is more than fifty years old and ever changing and we all contribute to its future whether we like it or not by the way we dance it.