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Many Leads across many sub-styles of Cuban Salsa use Paseo Walks in a box-shaped pattern starting from Open Position and sometimes called Caminala. The Lead can change handholds for each half count or use the basic left-2-right handhold all the way, and one can walk the figure one or more times.

After one or more Paseo Básico walks, many Leads add the Reína (Queen) figure making the Follow walk under the arm, for one or more counts of eight, making the box-shaped pattern more rounded, and some Leads even add the Corónala (Crown her), a Vacilala (Three Step Right Turn) on “3-5-6″. 

There are many ways to do Paseo Walks depending on the music, the abilities of Lead and Follow, e.g. like adding Coca-Cola, Panqué and even Vacilala already on “1-2-3”. 

Paseo Steps of Lead/Follow

In order to do a basic Paseo walk, Paseo Clásico, the Lead walks forward on “1”, turn 180 degrees left on “2” and steps back on “3”. The Follow steps forward on “1-2”, change direction 90 degrees to the right, and continues forward on “3-5-6”, as the Lead hook behind with the so-called Entrada step, or, as I prefer in this case, step back without a hook, and the Follow again change direction 90 degree to the right on step “7” and continues forward. 

The Paseo-Reína-Corónala Trio

For many years I just did Paseo Básico and Paseo con Reína, repeating the figures a couple of times, but at the moment I have fallen in love with the Paseo-Reina-Corónala Trio sequence. That is, I mostly do one set of three counts or rounds of Eight: Paseo Básico, Paseo con Reína and Paseo con Corónala.

This walk of three counts of eight is easy to integrate into your traditional way of dancing, and can be used several times during a dance. With a weak Follow, I might do Paseo Básico several times or even alone in order to “teach” her the pattern.

Musicality

The Vacilala on “3-5-6” is the most dramatic of the figures, and for that reason it is good to use exactly where we have a break or where a new phrase section starts. Simply, add another Paseo or Reína until Corónala can be executed at the right moment.

Forward or back-rocking

Paseo Walks with Reína and Corónala is peace of cake in forward walking dance mode. If the Follow has a tendency to do stop-ups, to lock herself up into “wait and see” positions, as is almost the norm in back-rocking sub-styles, Paseo Walks easily fall apart unless the Lead leads with a heavy hand.

The most important and difficult part of the Paseo Walk is to keep the momentum going without the Lead having to lead, pull and push the Follow forward all the way. The Follow should have pattern awareness and walk freely in order for the Lead to focus on adding the turns, adjusting the box pattern and on the continuation into the next figure.