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The Exhíbela Trio is simply three Exhíbela variations that work well together. First the basic Exhíbela, one or more times, next Vacilala inside Exhíbela, one or more times, and at the end Exhíbela but instead of going back into Caída position, the Follow is walked into the start position of Open Position or into a “7-8-1” pivot as shown in the video below.

Vacilala inside Exhíbela

The first time I saw Vacilala inside Exhíbela, and recognized it as that, it blow my mind. This is the power of Exhíbela when done as a walk. Of cause we can add Vacilala to a walk. Doing it on “1-2-3” is the most obvious inside Exhíbela but good dancers could also do it e.g. on “3-5-6”, and one could also add a Coca-Cola on “5-6-7”, etc.

The secret is to recognize that the added turns take place inside the Exhíbela walk pattern. For that reason it is important to establish this pattern in the mind of the Follow by doing a normal Exhíbela first. When the pattern is established, so to speak, it is easy to add Vacilala and Coca-Cola inside the pattern.

Turn technique

For Vacilala or Coca-Cola to work seamlessly inside a walk, the turn must be a traveling three step turn, and each step of the turn must land in the footprints the Follow would have been making if she had just walk without the turn.

Changing direction

It sounds easy to change direction and to walk the Follow toward the start position of Open Position instead of just back into Caída position but it requires precise leading. The Follow is likely to fail it the first time because she is not used to it and especially if the Leader is also not used to time the leading properly.

Trio

I like the concept of Trio, three variations or figures that work well together. Another good example, I use a lot, is to start a basic Paseo Walk, to add Reína to the Paseo Walk, and to continue into Corónala that is a Vacilala on “3-5-6” inside the Paseo Walk.

Back-rocking and Sácala

Some very common sub-styles of Cuban Salsa regard Exhíbela like a turn, almost like a classic “Salsa on 1” sideways Vuelta, starting with back-rocking. These dancers are never going to enjoy turns inside the turn! Or directional changes from the halfway position.

Casino should be based on walks. We can add turns to walks all over the place.

Other common sub-styles of Cuban Salsa like to start Exhibela with back-rocking or to add an extra step forward on “5”, that is to do Sácala instead of Exhíbela. These people are also not likely to add turns or directional changes to the Exhíbela walk because all the focus is on the Follow’s styling as she steps her extra step forward on “5”.

The extra forward step undercuts the basic concept of “Two Times Three”, an important default in many situations, reducing uncertainty and unnecessary complexity. The Follow should almost always walk three steps forward and next another three steps forward in same or in another direction. We should use the pause for directional changes, “3-pause-5” or “7-pause-1”.

When the Follow takes an extra step forward in Exhíbela, that is, when she uses Sácala from Rueda de Casino, the Lead and the Follow are also likely to end up too far apart, reducing the Lead’s ability to lead the Follow, resulting in fewer computational options.

Years back I often used Sácala in social dancing. Not anymore. I have cleansed it from my dance. It is too destructive. Just one of many bad habits from Rueda de Casino that puts a strait jacket on social dancing.