Cuban Salsa: Pancake Sit Down (Sientala)

The “Pancake Sit Down” figure is not common.The most common “Sit Down” figure is often called that: Sientala. It is two handed starting from Open Position. The Follow is lead into a half Coca-Cola left turn on “1-2-3”. The Follow steps forward on “1” and “2”, next a half pirouette turn around step “2” and she sits down as she lands on step “3”.

This figure is often part of Rueda Fun and it works in Rueda de Casino because both the Lead and the Follow hear the “Sientala” call. No leading is necessary. The figure has a low chance of working in social dancing unless the Follow experiences it often.

“Sit Down” in Pancake

The Pancake with Sit Down has a lot of logic to it. It will work in Rueda de Casinco for the same reasons the Sientala figure works but it is not likely to work that well in social dancing based on leading. A Lead could lead it by pressing the Follow down after the hand movement at the end of the Half Pirouette. But there are so many other Pancake options for the Follow to keep track of and even the basic Pancake often fails in social dancing. But Pancake Sit Down works with a training partners or if the Follow is used to it.

Video #1 shows Pancake with Sit Down:

I don’t use Sientala

I don’t like these types of figures and never use them.

I don’t like them because I want to promote the Follow as the main hero of the dance. The Lead decides most things in a dance and it comes with a prize. He must put himself second and make the Follow stand out. I want to promote a powerful, elegant and free Follow, as free as it is possible within the framework of leading and following. To make her sit on the Lead’s knee or in his lap almost degrades the Follow to a child or a dance prop.

Sientala could be ok for fun in Rueda but it is not my type of fun and it is against the core values of what I want to promote with my social dancing.