Cuban Salsa: Rodeo Walk into Vacilala
Rodeo can be used in at least two different ways: 1) Cowboy-style with a “swinging” arm, a lot of movement and momentum and 2) Relaxed promenade-style with the Follow just walking around the Lead. The “Rodeo Walk into Vacilala” in this tutorial is of the promenade type and it can be generalize like this:
- Rodeo one or more times
- Handshift with style on 1-2-3
- Hip-led Vacilala on 3-5-6
- And pivoting another 180 degrees into the start position of DQN
- Or continue forward around the Lead
- Arms-Up is one of many options
I this case I like to shift hands in “dramatic” fashion because it not only looks elegant but it is at the same time a signal to the Follower to watch out because some turn is about to happen.
The difficult part of “Rodeo into Vacilala” is to prevent the Follow from grabbing the Lead’s hand as he is about to place it on her hip. The first time, if deemed necessary, the Lead is “allowed” to whisper: “by the hip”!
Vacilala por Detrás
“Rodeo into Vacilala” is very similar in technique, look and feel to a combo of figures I call Vacilala or Enchufla por Detrás. I love these softcore combinations where I always try to improvise at the end.
Forward Walking
“Rodeo Walk into Vacilala” works best in Casino based on natural walking where the Follow always steps forward by default. If the Follow is a back-rocker or has a tendency to take back-step whenever she has a chance, it can be a little difficult to lead her into walking sequences in some situations and she will sooner or later break the flow or momentum by the stop-up contra-motion of a back-step.
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