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That’s what I call the figure to make it easier to remember what it is all about. It is a typical Rueda de Casino fun move but not that common. In the Rueda video below it is called Panqué y Castigala (castigala = punish her).

I don’t like the Castígala name because the figure depicts an intercourse position. And I don’t like the idea of sex as punishment. Not even for fun. There is too much “rape enactment” in Rumba inspired Cuban Salsa. I don’t like the idea of normalizing rape for entertainment.

The figure might be “harmless” in Rueda de Casino, but I wouldn’t do it in couple dancing. No Follow wants anybody but her favorite guy to force her to do sex simulation on the dance floor. And no Follow wants Leads to mess with their hair.

Video #1 is from a famous workshop with Ernesto Misti, 2018. This Cuban guy is a true master when it comes to naughty dancing. Notice his hand gesture at the end of the figure. Cuban Leads often do what the rest of the world considers juvenile junk or bad taste.

Video #2 is from “Cubanoboom Club” in Ukraine, first showing Panqué twice then Panqué y Castigala:

Note that the Leads don’t touch the head and hair of the Follows but press them between the shoulder blades..

Video #3 is a variation with no Pancake featuring Michael & Neily, 2019. The Follow takes the initiative and bows down by herself as a stunt similar to when a Lead kneels down and touch the floor. A classic Cuban show element.

I like Neily’s active Follower version for the sake of Musicality!

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