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I first saw this sequence of basic figures deep inside a demo dance of a Polish couple, 2016. I don’t know if it was pure inspiration, or one of the standard moves of the Leader. I don’t know if he has ever used it again or if has a name for it. I link to the video below.

I liked it, analysed it, broke it down into its parts and named it Sombrero de Polonia. It is now one own my favourite “moves”. I sometimes use it to spice up my own basic way of dancing, endless improvised flows of basic figures.

1. Half Sombrero
2. Enchufla por la Derecha with Hook Turn
3. Enchufla con Alarde to Lead/Follow
4. Exhibela
5. Enchufla por la Derecha with Hook Turn
6. Enchufla Sombrero with snake arms

Sombrero de Polonia is a good example of a sequence of basic figures that almost requires a forward walking dance style. That is, the Follow must have forward stepping as default. Just one back-step or stop-up and the move falls apart or turns into something less interesting.

The ongoing momentum, the drive, is the magic, the appeal of the move. 

Enchufla por la Derecha

The most interesting part of Sombrero de Polonia is the Enchufla por la Derecho with Hook Turn (Ronde), done in the first and in the second half of the move. Enchufla por la Derecho could also have been called Enchufla from Caída Position as opposed to the standard way of doing Enchufla from the start position of Open Position. 

Many dance schools don’t teach Enchufla por la Derecha, and it is not common in the Miami Rueda tradition of moves-based Cuban Salsa with back-rocking.

Enchufla por la Derecho is an important basic figure in forward walking, flow-based Cuban Salsa. It is one of a few figures that can restart right turning circular motion from Caída Position.

The original move

I first say the Sombrero de Polonia sequence of basic figures in a Polish demo video from 2016, featuring Kasia Ligas ans Paweł Łojas. They are also forward walking dancers. I haven’t changed anything.

Watch and see if you notice “Sombrero de Polonia”!

Nothing gets much better than learning and get inspired by other dancers. I have uploaded several videos with moves and figures I believe I have “invented” or refined with my partner. Or I might simply have forgotten that I have seen them before. Nobody should care. You are 100% free to make use of anything you see in my videos as if it is your own stuff. No need to credit anything.

The only reason I do credit the Polish couple in this case is because it is a good example of how I often find new good sequences of basic figures deep inside other peoples videos, as well as in my own Practica videos. Most often when I improvise, I instantly know that I did something new and promising but I have already forgotten what it was.

That is one more good reason to record your training sessions as much as possible. Not only to find and correct errors or to refine the figures and moves but also to catch new improvised figures and combinations that deserve to be tested out again and transformed into proper basic figures and moves.