The Complete Guide to:
Salsa from the Start
Volume II
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For a briefer description with just the sections and topics,
click here.
INTRODUCTION
GUIDE: HOW TO USE THIS DVD
SECTION I: CROSS BODY LEAD WITH WOMAN LEFT TURN (XB:WLT)
1. Basic Demo
2. Woman's footwork
First eight count:
1,2,3 – same as basic step
5 – same as cross body lead – just step somewhat forward
6 – forward and about ¼ turn to L
7 – pivot on ball of R foot and ¾ turn to L landing with in front of R foot
Next measure:
1 – ½ turn to L to turn around and face your partner
2 – in place (same as basic)
3 – same as basic
Always take even steps
Always advance in one direction with each step (for steps 5,6,7 and 1)
Don’t step back on2 – most people do this at first
Amount you turn on each step isn’t precise
Move is really just traveling (walking) and turning at the same time
3. Man's lead
5. push her forward
6-7. turn her left
Finish turning her on 1 of next measure
4. Variations from open position
Variation #1: L-R
Variation #2: R-R
Variation #3: L-L
Variation #4: R-L released
Variation #5: L-R, R-L
Variation #6: L-L, R-R
5. Learning Exercises
Exercise # 1
open to open L-R:XB:WLT
R-L:WRT
Exercise # 2
Open position XB:WLT all hands over head
WRT unwinding hands over head
Exercise # 3
WRT winding all hands over head
XB:WLT unwinding hands over head
Exercise # 4
R-R, L-L:WRT (optional start this way)
L-L, R-R:XB:WLT
Repeat
SECTION II: CROSS BODY LEAD WITH WOMAN LEFT TURN INTO CLOSED POSITION
(XB:WLT INTO CLOSED POSITION)
1. Basic Demo
2. Technique of getting into closed position
very important
just raise woman’s L elbow above man’s R elbow
or shoot L arm up in air
guys must put R hand on her back as soon as possible (by 7)
Exercise # 5
closed to closed L-R:XB:WLT
closed to closed XB
3. Rule for getting into closed or open position
Exercise # 6
XB:WLT closed to open
XB:WLT open to closed
Repeat (but don’t be predictable – can at anytime go into closed or open
position)
Exercise # 7
R-R:XB:WLT
3/4MRT under R-R
repeat
Exercise # 8
L-L,R-R:XB:WLT
3/4MRT
Repeat
Combo # 1
Closed to open L-R:XB:WLT
pick up R-L & WRT all hands over head
XB:WLT all hands over head
R-L:WRT
Combo # 2
Closed to open L-R:XB:WLT
Switch to R-R (on3), WRT
R-R Whead comb, switch to L-L, MRhand on Wback, XB:WLT
L-L Mhead comb and into closed position (so don’t bother with MRhand on
woman back on7 of measure before) & XB
Combo # 3
1. Open to L-R:XB:WLT
2. L-R:MRT, WRT
3. Smooth switch (or arm toss) to R-R on3 & WRT
4. R-R Whead comb & L-L:XB:WLT
5. 3/4MRT switching L-L to R-L over head & XB:WLT picking up L-R (and
letting go R-L)
6. MRT & WRT
SECTION III: SWEETHEART
1. Basic Demo
2. Woman’s footwork
Like XB:WLT until and including to 7
1 – step forward and to left
2 – in place
3 – ¼ back to R
5,6,7 – step forward towards man on 5, and execute regular right turn
3. Man’s footwork and leading move
5 – pull her forward
6 – turn her to L
7 – stop her
1 – allow/help woman forward and wind to L
2 – start bringing her to R
3 – more to R
5 – make woman step forward and face you
6,7 – normal lead of WRT
For style, can add knee bend/hip roll on1 for man and woman
Men watch distance between you and your partner
4. Variations
Variation#1: R-R, stop by placing MLhand on WLback/shoulder
Variation#2: L-L, stop by placing MRhand on front of WRshoulder
Variation#3: L-L,R-R
Letting go of one of hands to finish up move
Variation#4: L-R, R-L into wrap
Combo # 4
XB switching to R-R on7
XB:WLT into …
Sweetheart & unwind
Whead comb, pick up L-L & XB:WLT into …
Sweetheart & unwind
Mhead comb & XB
Combo # 5 – “Tres Cariños”
1. XB switching to R-R on7
2. pick up L-L below on3 & WRT
3. XB:WLT into …
4. Sweetheart & unwind just with R-R and switch to L-R
on7
5. Pick up R-L on1 and XB:WLT wrap into …
6. Sweetheart & unwind with
all hands over head
7. XB:WLT to unwind hands
8. 3/4WRT with both hands going Mhead (R first then L) XB:WLT modified wrap
into …
9. Sweetheart & unwind with
R-L only
SECTION IV: CROSS BODY LEAD WITH WOMAN TURNING TO RIGHT (XB:REV)
1. Basic Demo
2. Overview of Move
3. Woman’s footwork
4. Leading and Following Move
Let woman walk through pretty much. Man doesn’t need to provide much lead
to get her to turn.
Woman gets left hand out of way when walking across
Woman shouldn’t turn on5, turn doesn’t really happen until 7
5. Variations
Variation#1: from L-R from closed to open position
From Open Position:
Variation #2: L-R,R-L ending up just L-R
Variation #3: L-R
Variation #4: L-R, R-L
Variation #5: R-R, L-L
6. Lead is pulling with L-R mostly
Exercise # 9
R-R,L-L:XB:rev
Hand drop and repeat
Exercise # 10
R-R,L-L:XB:rev
XB:WLT
repeat
Combo # 6
1. closed position XB:rev into L-R open position
2. L-R XB:rev
3. 1/2MRT switching to R-R behind back (weird hand position now) and XB:WLT
into ...
4. sweetheart and unwind
5. pick up L-L below and XB:rev
6. XB:WLT into ...
7. sweetheart and unwind with just R-R
8. R-R Whead comb on1, L-L Mhead comb on3 & XB
SECTION V: CROSS BODY LEAD TECHNIQUES
1. Man should avoid stepping at all forward on2
2. Woman can step back to put pressure on man’s palm
Variation #1: woman steps back on 3
Variation #2: woman steps back on 2
SECTION VI: COPA
1. Basic Demo with and without turns
2. Overview of Move
Practice back-breaking for men
Second half of move is same as cross body lead footwork
3. Woman’s footwork (without turn)
1 – normal back break
2 – step slightly forward
3 – pivot ½ to L
5 – step in place
6,7 – same as XB footwork
4. Man must fully understand Woman’s footwork to be a great leader
5. Leading and Following Move
Variation #1: L-R,R-L into wrap
pulling woman towards man mostly with R-L hands
wrap (1/2 L turn) is with L-R hands
Variation #2: L-R with MRhand stop
stop woman with man’s right hand on3 or just before
SECTION VII: COPA TURN
1. Overview of Move
Simply is same 1,2,3 as Copa without turn
Rest of move matches footwork of Cross Body Lead with Woman’s left turn
2. Woman’s footwork (with turn)
3. Variations
Variation #1: L-L,R-R
Variation #2: L-R, R-L wrap
Exercise # 11
L-R,R-L:Copa wrap:WLT
L-R:WRT and pick up R-L on7(or on1 really)
repeat
Exercise # 12
L-L,R-R:Copa:WLT
Pick up R-R above on3(or on5 really) & R-R,L-L:WRT
repeat
Exercise # 13
L-R,R-L:Copa wrap:WLT
Into closed position & XB & back into open position
repeat
Combo # 7
1. closed position XB to open position (L-R, R-L)
2. copa wrap (L-R open head, R-L wrap around W) back to L-R, R-L
3. basic & WRT
4. copa wrap & XB:WLT
5. back into closed position & XB into R-R open position
6. pick L-L below on3 & XB:rev
7. L-L,R-R:Copa:WLT into ..
8. sweetheart & unwind with L-L only
9. pick up R-R below on1 and L-L,R-R:Copa putting MRhand on Wback on7
10. L-L Mhead comb 3 & XB back into closed position
Combo # 8 – “Copa & Sweetheart Deluxe”
1. open (or closed) position to open position XB
2. copa wrap:WLT
3. MRT & WRT
4. switch to R-R on3 & WRT
5. pick L-L above on2 & Copa with WLT
6. pick up R-R letting go of L-L and XB:WLT into ...
7. sweetheart and unwind
8. pick up L-L above on2 & Copa with WLT into ...
9. sweetheart & unwind
10. L-L Mhead comb on1 and XB into closed position
FINAL COMBO
Combo # 9
1. closed position XB to open L-R position
2. switch to R-R on3 & WRT
3. R-R Whead comb, and L-L:XB:WLT
4. 3/4MRT switching hands over head to R-L & XB:WLT switching to L-R
5. MRT & WRT
6. basic
7. copa wrap
8. pick up R-L and XB:rev (all hands going over Whead)
9. XB:WLT into ...
10. sweetheart and unwind with R-L only
11. pick up L-R and XB into L-R open position
12. RE:WRT (with optional simul MLT)
13. pickup R-R (about on2) & R-R head comb on5
14. L-L male head comb on1 and XB (or optional dip(twist really) on7)
CLOSING
DEMOS
Demo # 1
Demo # 2
Demo # 3
Demo # 4