The “Coca-Cola” is the standard 360 degrees left turn in Cuba Salsa and turning on “5-6-7” is the most common but turning on “1-2-3” is also possible. The Coca-Cola turn is a basic figure of one count of eight: The Follow is lead forward on “1”, she continues forward on “2-3” and turns on “5-6-7”. The Coca-Cola turn is most
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I have been wondering for a long time, why so many classic Rueda moves have number names like Setenta, 71, 72, 75, Ochenta y Quatro (84), Noventa (90), Siete (7), El Uno (1), El Dos (2), etc. We have more than fifty moves with number names, if we include Complicado versions and variations. Most likely Setenta was the first such
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The Cuban Vuelta (Habanero) is the twin sister of Vacilala. The steps are like for Vacilala except that the two half counts of eight are flipped: the Follow steps forward on “1”, she continues forward on “2-3” and turns, still walking forward, most often on a curved line, on “5-6-7”. The Cuban Vuelta is not as prominent as Vacilala (hand-held
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We have three good versions of the basic Setenta (70) move, and it is confusing to use the same name for all of them. In order to make things easier, especially if we want to call the move in Rueda de Casino, where we would like synchronisation of all the couples, it is nice to use three names for the
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The big Setenta family of moves starts with the Hammerlock, the first count of eight. Since Setenta moves are popular, the Hammerlock is likely to take place several times in each and every dance, and for that reason, it is an important basic figure to get right. We have three options for the Hammerlock: Vacilala Steps: Turning on 1-2-3, walking
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Exhibela means “exhibit her”, show her to the world. It is the uniquely Cuban sideways right turn, starting with prepping on 1-2-3 and turning on 5-6-7. Exhibela is most often a closed position turn with normal handhold: It starts from closed position and it ends in closed position. Exhibela can also be done crossed handed in open position, and this
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The move Ochenta y Quatro is a classic Cuban Salsa move, but it is so often used also in Rueda de Casino, that “Rueda.Casino.com”, the former “Norwegian Rueda Standard Organisation”, has included it in its Rueda de Casino Syllabus. On YouTube I have found surprisingly many videos showing Ochenta y Quatro, and many variations. It is a very popular move.
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This basic figure pops up in dance videos here and there, and I have traced its first known occurrence back to the “SALC” DVD #1, where the move is called “Arm Checks”. That is, slow movements of one of the Follow’s arms over not just the head but the body of the Lead, almost like pulling a blanket over your
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The Enchufla con tres Alardes is an excellent right-to-right handed Enchufla used by many Leads. It is a basic figure, because the Lead does not end up in Caida position (Dile Que No start position) as in Enchufla, but needs to turn right as he does the Alardes using a hook turn or the equivalent, in order to be positioned
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The handfree Vacilala is not only the most iconic signature move of Cuban Salsa, it is also one of a very few moves, where the Follow can do what she pleases from the moment she has stepped forward on count one, and the Lead let go of her hand. Vacilala por Detrás (detrás means behind) adds an extra count of
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