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I don’t want to use a silly name like Siete (7) for a family of moves when we have an excellent descriptive name, Panqué, that makes it much easier to remember how the moves start. For the same reason, I prefer to say “Hammerlock” instead of Setenta.

When it comes to Panqué I even prefer to use the English translation, “Pancake”, making it even easier to remember and use for the majority of non-Spanish speaking dancers throughout the World. We should internationalize Cuban Salsa as much as possible so we can own it on equal terms. That is one of the reasons I prefer to call Casino for Cuban Salsa.

If I use a Siete figure I rename it Panqué. If the full name includes English words I prefer to also change Panqué to Pancake. Like “Pancake with sneak attack”, “Two Handed Pancake Police”. I like descriptive name making social dancing easier. If the name includes Spanish words like “Panqué Tres Tiempos”, I tend to say Panqué instead of “Pancake”.

But as a matter of fact, it would be better to call it “Pancake with three steps”. Then many more dancers would remember what the move is all about. Even the Cubans.

Siete figures I don’t use a Siete figure, because I considered it not true social, not leadable, or not interesting enough to be part of my repertoire, like Siete Loco and Siete Moderno, I don’t change the name to Panqué. We are not living in a perfect world and I don’t want consistency for its own sake.

That is: I use both Panqué and Pancake as well as Siete depending on the situation. Often I use Panqué/Siete so even more dancers understand what I am talking about.