Cuban Salsa: Neck-to-Neck Turns from Caminando Walk
When the the Leader and Follower walk side-by-side, it is called a Caminando Walk, at least in my dance terminology. The Cásate, Arm-in-Arm Walk is an example of a Caminando Walk. The most common Caminando is the “Half-Sombrero Caminando Walk” often started as a full Enchufla Sombrero bringing the Follower to the Leader’s left side and then lifting the right arm over the head into front position and the left arms remain around the Follower’s neck.
The most common way to get into the Caminando is to start like Montaña with normal crossed handhold. Then an Enchufla where the handhold automatically becomes opposite crossed and into Sombrero. But of cause the opposite crossed Enchufla can also be used directly.
End of Walk Turn
The “Half Sombrero Caminando Walk” can be continued into Rodeo or other figures. Another popular option is to end the walk with an “End of Walk” traveling Vacilala turn typically on “3-5-6”. Since we both have a 360 degree Vacilala turn and a 180 degree pivot on “6-7”, we actually have a 1.5 turn. This can also be done like a Vacilala Double or rather a 2.5 Vacilala on “1-2-3-5-6-7”.
Neck-to-Neck Turn
Instead of an End-of-Walk Turn or as a prelude to it, the Neck-to-Neck turn can be used during the walk. The Neck-to-Neck Turn can be a single Vacilala turn on “1-2-3” or “3-5-6” or “6-7-1” or a double Vacilala turn on “1-2-3-5-6”, or “3-5-6-7-1” or “6-7-1-2-3” (rare). 180 degrees between each step.
When doing less common traveling turns, a Leader must carefully consider the level of the Follower. If she steps forward by default, she is probably used to traveling turns anywhere at any time. If she rarely uses proper Three Step Turns with pivot technique, she is not likely to do a successful Neck-to-Neck turn.
Many FolLowers have never learned to turn properly. Instead of Three Step Pivot Turns, many Followers use walkaround turns, Vacilala Lazy (270 degrees), Janus turns, and Pirouette techniques for part of the Three Step Turn or as a Two Step Turn. Anything works for the Setenta Hammerlock. But these Followers are not likely to do traveling Vacilala turn on the go seamlessly integrated into Walks.
Some tips
When a Leader wants to use a Neck-to-Neck turn, it is a good idea to start with a single Neck-to-Neck turn early in the Walk. Late in the walk the Follow has a right to believe that it is an End-of-Walk turn. A Follower that has demonstrated that she can do a single Neck-to-Neck turn can then be given a double Neck-to-Neck turn next time around.
It is often a good idea to continue Neck-to-Neck turns into Rodeo or other figures and only use Nech-to-Neck turns as prelude to End of Walk turns with the better Followers since it can be difficult to tell the two types of turns apart.
Five Neck-to-Neck turns
We have at least five different types of Neck-to-Neck turns:
- Single Vacilala
- Double Vacilala
- Front-to-Neck
From Sombrero to Half-Sombrero:
- Lift arms over and the turn to the neck
- Lift right arm over and turn the Follow down under
Left turning Caminando Walk
End-of-Walk Turns and Neck-to-Neck turns can also be used more or less the same in a Caminando Walk with the Follow at the Lead’s right side. Coca-Cola turns are used instead of Vacilala. Since most Followers are only used to Coca-Cola turns on “5-6-7” the options are limited or take more practice time.
E.G.: For an End of Walk 1.5 Coca-Cola turn, the Follow does the full turn on “5-6-7”. The extra half turn at the end now becomes “7-1”. That is : I’s not just the end of the Count of Eight but also the beginning of the next Count of Eight.
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