Cuban Salsa: Contra Vacilala from Coca-Cola and Exhíbela
The “Contra Vacilala” has been around for a long time but we only have a few tutorials, and they are often badly named and too often the Follow steps private, homegrown, random junk. I know of four different “Contra Vacilala” figures (there are probably more). They all start from a two handed wrapped position making it possible to unwrap the Follow into Vacilala on either “1-2-3” or on “3-5-6” or on “6-7-1”. The four figures are listed below.
From Coca-Cola and Exhíbela
It start with a two handed Dile Que No con Coca-Cola. Since the Lead’s left arm is going to lead the Coca-Cola turn, it is not logical to start from a right arm Gancho. The Follow might be used to the very common Coca-Cola turn lead by the “swinging” Gancho arm, one of my own favorite ways to start Coca-Cola. But in “Contra Vacilala”, the Gancho, if used, is only decorative.
Never the less, I show both start positions in my video tutorial: Starting with or without the Gancho. In both versions the Follow is led into Coca-Cola with the Lead’s left hand.
When wrapped at the end of the Coca-Cola turn, the Follow is led forward into Exhíbela on 1-2-3. As the Follow is led back to finish the last half of the Exhíbela pattern, the Follow is unwrapped with the Vacilala on 3-5-6 (inside the Exhíbela pattern), and continues forward from East to West on the Partner Circle. There are many options for how to continue after the Vacilala. I only show two of them in the video tutorial.
Contra Vacilala is difficult
The “Contra Vacilala” for the last part of the Exhíbela walk is difficult because the Follow’s right foot on “3” might point forward but should ideally point a little to the right as part of the beginning Exhíbela “return” on “3-4-5”. The same foot must for that reason pivot more around at the start of Vacilala than normal, as much as an extra 180 degrees!
It is hard to find videos with a quality “Contra Vacilala” turn. We mostly see junk. In my own video I am only satisfied with the first example, and even that Vacilala is far from perfect. The second one is even less perfect but within the margins of Textbook quality.
Four Contra Vacilala figures
There are many variations for how to get into the start positions and for how to continue after the “Contra Vacilala”. At the moment I know of four start positions, giving us four different “Contra Vacilala” figures:
- Contra Vacilala on “1-2-3” directly from a two Handed DQN con Coca-Cola. The Follow is unwraped into Vacilala on 1-2-3, followed with a one handed free Coca-Cola (I recommend that the Follow steps a Coca-Cola double). I will promote this figure in another tutorial.
- Contra Vacilala on “3-5-6” from a Two Handed DQN con Coca-Cola and Exhíbela. This is this tutorial.
- Contrta Vacilala on “6-7-1” from the Two Handed Candado Wrap, from a position that could be described as a hammerlock in front. I will promote this figure in another tutorial.
- Contra Vacilala on “1-2-3” from a Two Handed DQN con Coca-Cola into a half open wrap, like the start position of open position. I will promote this figure in another tutorial.
“Contra Vacilala” could be described as “unwrapping or spiraling out” into Vacilala.
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