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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.

I don’t change the name to Panqué if I don’t use them. Figure like Siete Loco and Siete Moderno. 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.