SalsaSelfie.com 🇨🇺

The name Vacilala Continuado seams so obvious and straight forward as a name of a figure that it must exist. But it doesn’t until now. At least not as a generalised figure, easy to replicate. Except that we do have a short “Continuado” called Vacilala Double. 

But even double turns are surprisingly rare iCuban Salsa. They are difficult on a curved line because each turn must be more than 360 degree. All Follows can do a forgiving single turn but only a few can turn with such perfection that the exit is a good point of departure for an additional turn.

For a long time I thought that the prospect of a Vacilala Continuado, 4-6-8 turns, was slim but then one day I noticed that some Leads do Vacilala turns also in left turning circular motion. This makes the turns much easier because each turn is less than 360 degree. I thought that this might also be the way to do a full Vacilala Continuado.

Vacilala Continuado

I and my dance partner first tested to do the Three Step Vacilala Turns on “1-2-3”, “4-5-6”, “7-8-1”, “2-3-4”, also stepping on the pauses similar to the figure Enchufla Continuado. It is feasible but we didn’t like it.

Then we tested the steps used in the standard way to do a Vacilala Double, “1-2-3”, “3-5-6”, “6-7-1”, “1-2-3”, that is, the last step of each turn is also the first step of the next turn. It is feasible but we didn’t like it.

We ended up with the most simple and logical way of doing three-step turns, “1-2-3”, “5-6-7”, “1-2-3”, “5-6-7”, etc. It works for us and it is the easiest method for keeping track of the number of turns, and of the timing in order to exit into something else consistently.

Start it from a Reina

I recommend always to do an even number of turns in order to end up in Caída position ready to continue forward on “1”. Without consistency no feedback. I also recommend to test out some good options for the continuation after the exit and not just go into Dile Que No.

I like to do a Coca-Cola left turn just before Vacilala Continuado to make it easier for the Follow to stomach the many Vacilala right turns, and I like to continue Coca-Cola into Dile Que No and a Reina outside turn to get into the start position of Vacilala Continuado.

With a new Follow start doing just two turns, a Vacilala Double in left turning circular motion. As the Follow gets used to it, the Lead can increase the number to 4-6-8. I prefer to do four turns, since I am not in the stunt business, but six and eight turns also work very well depending on the music and the ability of the Follow.

I have not yet found a reliable way to signal 4, 6 or 8 turns. I do 4 turns by default, and if everything turns out perfect I might whisper “two more”, and if the Continuado is still perfect I might whisper “the last two”.

Make the Follow shine

Double turns and Continuados are important in Follow-Centric dancing, that is dancing where the purpose is for the Lead to show how good he is at making the Follow dance with him with her at the centre of the dance. For each time the Lead excels the Follow must be made to excel twice if she is to stand out and be the main hero of the dance. 

This is in stark contrast to how many Cuban Macho Leads traditionally dance. It is too often all about themselves. They don’t give a damn about what the Follows are doing as long as they don’t ruin their show.