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From the start position of Open Position almost all basic figures start a “right turning circular motion”, the Follow walks around the Lead. The Follow can just walk for the full count of Eight, or she can turn right or left on the first or on the second half of the walk or on both. By using different handholds, normal, right-2-right, two handed, crossed handed, we have very many basic figures like, Vacilala, Enchufla, the Setenta Hammerlock, Sombrero, Dedo, etc.

Starting from the start position of Open Position, we only have a few figures not following the above pattern. The most common are Guapea, Panqué and Prima. Some Leads also use a very bad option, in my opinion, they go into X-Body Salsa Mode: Forward-and-Back with or without turns, undermining the unique look and feel of Cuban Salsa.

Prima, common in Rueda de Casino, is special in the sense that the Lead puts his right arm around the waist of the Follow, and goes under his own left arm on “5”, on a straight line on “5-6-7”, in order to go to the next Follow or the Lead can turn around on “6-7”, in order to face the Follow and start Enchufla (“Prima con la Hermana”), etc.

The Prima figure is surprisingly little used in social dancing except that some Leads use it to start the Adiós Carousel or they just mimic the way it is used in Rueda.

Prima con Vuelta

For Prima con Vuelta, the Lead uses his right arm around the Follow’s waist as in Prima but he walks under his own left arm already on “1” in order to turn the Follow by her hips on “3-5-6” into Caída position. That is, Prima con Vuelta flips the Partner circle: The start position of the Open Positions is now the start position of Caída with the Follow at the Lead’s right side!

For the hip-led right turn itself, the Follow can use several turn techniques. I recommend to use a Three Step “Pivot and step around” turn (video) or even better, the Three Step “Pivot-Spiral” turn technique. The Follow should only use Spin/Pirouette technique, turning around one leg, as Plan B. The proper turn techniques are so difficult that the Follow should never miss a chance to train them, if she is ever going to turn good enough to do double turns.

Since the hip-led turn is a free turn (no handhold, the Lead’s hands are used on the Follow’s hips), the Lead can use it to start a “dancing apart but together” section (not shown in the video).