LEARN SALSA ON-LINE

MARK'S IMPROVERS CLASS
(CUBAN MOVES)
 

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GENERAL

The moves are described from the leaders (guys) perspective. All moves start from a close hold (LH holding), unless stated otherwise.

As with all our classes you can start any week. Don't forget there is no substitute for coming to a real life class! This moves list is intended as a memory jogger.

Key:
RH right hand
LH left hand
RF right foot
LF left foot
RHS right hand side
LHS left hand side
CW clockwise
ACW anticlockwise

A turn involves stepping round rather than spinning on the ball of the foot. A 'free turn' is where the your partner is turning without you holding them.

Don't forget (generally): Leaders (guys) go back on the LF on the 1's, followers (girl's) go back on the RF. Leaders go back on the RF on the 5's, followers back on LF. The bulk of the move happens on the 2-3 and 6-7. Also important, make sure you pause on the 4's and the 8's. Final note, the 1's are often used to prepare for the girl for a turn on the 2-3, this is called the Cue.

Tips: Don't rush it, listen to the music, keep in time. If you're having trouble remembering the pause, you can replace it with a tap.

Finally, you'll notice the words 'guy' and 'man' and also 'lady' and 'girl' have been used interchangeably. 

 

THE MOVES

 

 
WEEK 1
- NECK LOCK, KISS, NELSON

1-2-3-4: Cue, girl's ACW turn

5-6-7-8: Use a whole Salsa to change to a RH to RH hold

1-2-3-4: Cue, bring girl into your RHS for a Neck Lock (a beginners move), where you are both facing forward with girl side-on and your R arm is across her shoulders. Offer your LH, which the girl takes.

5-6-7-8: Keeping hands at shoulder height, transfer to other side of girl, now with your L arm across her shoulders. Use a basic Salsa step for the footwork but travel with it slightly, you go to R, she goes to L. (The "Kiss")

1-2-3-4: Transfer her again back to your RHS. End lowering your LH to waist height.

5-6-7-8: Wrap her for a Nelson by turning her 180 CW, keeping LH low and RH high. She now faces you with her L arm behind her back.

1-2-3-4: Cue with RH for girl's ACW turn, raising LH as she goes.

5-6-7-8: Recover by placing both your hands over your head and resuming a close hold.

 

WEEK 2 - THE TOWEL, GIRL'S REVERSE TURN

1-2-3-4: Cue, girl's ACW turn.

5-6-7-8: Use a whole Salsa to take up a two hand hold. Don't rush it.

1-2-3-4: Cue girl with LH low, turn girl 180 ACW with RH high, bringing her over to your RHS, you also turn CW 180 but get her turning first. End up facing opposite directions, you should find your RH is on your R shoulder and your L is low.

5-6-7-8: Transfer the girl across your back L to R, raising your LH and lowering your RH. You travel part of the way by stepping to the left, the girl steps to the R. You are still facing opposite directions. Footwork: Guys go back on RF (small step!) and then out to L with LF and then bring RF to meet. Ladies go back on LF and then cross over with RF and then bring LF to meet.

1-2-3-4: Turn CW 180 bringing both hands to mid level to face the girl, i.e. where they were after the girl's turn at the start. The girl turns ACW 180 as you do this. Both stepping as you go round.

5-6-7-8: Cue the girl with your RH to the R (let go with LH) and give her a reverse girl's turn (CW)

 

WEEK 3 - TWO HANDED MAMBO TURN WRAP, GIRL DOWN RHS

1-2-3-4: Two hands hold, signal mambo turn by bring LH down and back up in a inverted 'C' shape.

5-6-7-8: Use LH high to turn girl CW 360, she steps forward with LF on 5 and continues to step round on the 6 and 7. Guy's foot work is just a basic step on the RF. End with hands still holding, but guy's hand on girl R hip too, LH out to L. 

1-2-3-4: Use RH to lead girl down your RHS, will need to raise LH and let it go over your head and also let go with RH after she is underway. Guys turn ACW 90 after a mambo forward on LF.

5-6-7-8: Turn girl again CW 360, she again goes round by going forward with LF.

 

WEEK 4 - THROW AWAY, ELBOW TURN

1-2-3-4: With both hands holding uncrossed, open out to the L but the guy Mambos forward with the LF. Girl does the normal opening out step. (Throw away)

5-6-7-8: Basic Salsa step. Alternatively, open out on the R.

1-2-3-4: Repeat previous 1-2-3-4 for another Lewis Move

5-6-7-8: Use a Salsa to change hands to a RH to RH hold

1-2-3-4: Use RH to pull girl in ACW to your RHS. Let go of hand as she comes in so you can stop her with your RH on her L elbow.

5-6-7-8: Use RH on her elbow to turn her CW 180. Stop her with LH on her R elbow.

1-2-3-4: Use LH on her elbow to turn her ACW 180. Stop her with RH on her L elbow.

5-6-7-8: Repeat previous 5-6-7-8 for another elbow turn.

1-2-3-4: Catch her RH with your LH and do a girl's ACW turn.

5-6-7-8: Use another Salsa to recover the standard close hold.

 

WEEK 5 - SNOWBALL, BARREL

1-2-3-4: Starting with a two hand hold, uncrossed, raise LH and change places with the girl. You pass on the L, she goes ACW 180 under L arm. You go CW 180 to face her. You'll need to briefly let go of the RH as she turns under your LH.

5-6-7-8: Change places again, but this time raise your RH. You go ACW 180 under your R arm. She goes 180 CW to face. You'll need to briefly let go of LH as your turn under to RH.

1-2-3-4 and 5-6-7-8: (repeat the previous phrase)

1-2-3-4: Barrel is similar to Snowball, except guys remain where they are. Wrap girl ACW 180 into your RHS with LH going high and then lowering in front of girl. RH stays at waist level.

5-6-7-8: Raise LH to unwrap girl CW 180 back where she came from.

1-2-3-4 and 5-6-7-8: (repeat the previous phrase)

 

WEEK 6 - MAN'S SHOULDER THROW, WRIST LOCK

1-2-3-4: Cue, girl's ACW turn

5-6-7-8: With LH still holding, change places going ACW and throwing the girls hand over his R shoulder. Girl turns CW 180 to face. Retake girls hand with your RH, so end up RH to RH. (Man's Shoulder Throw).

1-2-3-4: Cue RH down, pull RH towards your R hip, at waist height, and rotating your wrist CW so that the girl's R arm goes behind her back. End up both facing forward, girl came in ACW 180. Footwork is the same as the Neck Lock that we do in beginners. (Wrist Lock)

5-6-7-8:  Guys step back on RF, ladies on LF then turn the girl back out CW 180. Guy's keep RH low and take it forward so the girl's arm can come back to where it was.

1-2-3-4: Cue, girl's ACW comb, where like lady's turn but guys end with RH behind their neck. Guys let go with RH when hand has gone behind their neck.

5-6-7-8: Use basic step, or open out, to go back to close hold

 

WEEK 7 - GIRL'S COMB, GUY'S COMB

1-2-3-4: Cue, girl's ACW turn

5-6-7-8: Use a Salsa to change to a RH to RH hold

1-2-3-4: Cue, girl's ACW turn but end with RH behind your neck. Do this by placing RH over your head just as the girl completes her turn. End offering your LH at waist height.

5-6-7-8: Girl takes offered LH, let go with RH, and take the LH holding over your head. End by offering RH, again waist height, which the girl takes. Let go with LH.

1-2-3-4: Cue RH, and turn girl ACW again, ending with RH behind neck as before.

5-6-7-8: Let go with RH and turn out to R but come back into standard close hold. The footwork is like the opening out step.

 

WEEK 8 - DOUBLE NECK LOCK PLUNGE

1-2-3-4: Cue, girl's ACW turn

5-6-7-8: Use a whole Salsa to change to a RH to RH hold

1-2-3-4: Cue, pull girl ACW 180 in for a Neck Lock (a beginners move), where you are both facing forward with girl side- on and your R arm is across her shoulders. Offer your LH  just below shoulder height, which the girl takes.

5-6-7-8: Turn the girl back out CW to face, with both hands holding high.

1-2-3-4: Cue, girl's ACW turn but keep both hands holding, lead with the RH.

5-6-7-8: Open out to the L, i.e. you go ACW 90 and the girl CW 90, so you are side-on. As you do this, lower your LH behind your neck and your RH behind the girl's neck. (Double Neck Lock)

1-2-3-4: Both Mambo forward, guy on L foot, but girl on the R foot. As you go actually bend knees so you go down. Come back up to face, raising both hands up high again. (The Plunge)

5-6-7-8: Recover by placing hands holding behind your neck, letting go and resuming the standard close hold.

Tip: On last 5-6-7-8, still step back and then use the rest of Salsa step to come closer to your partner for the recovery.

 

WEEK 9 - NECK LOCK, HIGH TURN, MAN'S TURN

1-2-3-4: Cue, girl's ACW turn.

5-6-7-8: Use a whole Salsa to change to a RH to RH hold.

1-2-3-4: Bring girl into RHS for a Neck Lock (a beginners move), where you are both facing forward with girl side-on and your R arm is across her shoulders. Offer your LH in front of her.

5-6-7-8: Woman takes your offered LH and you return her out of the Neck Lock, as always, going back on the RF first. You should now have two hands holding, and L over R.

1-2-3-4: Cue, girl's ACW turn, leading with the RH. As she completes the turn, let go with the RH.

5-6-7-8: Then RF and then do a ACW turn. Don't worry if you don't get all the way round.

1-2-3-4 and 5-6-7-8: Use the next two Salsas to recover the close hold. Do this by slowly putting your LH over your heard and letting go of the girl's hand so it drops behind your back.

 

WEEK 10 - BRAZILIAN PUSH SLIDE

1-2-3-4: Open out step on L, but change hands LH to LH, when you come back to face each other.

5-6-7-8: Turn out to the guy's L, so both facing out to L, side-on. End with LH behind guy's neck and RH on girl's L hip.

1-2-3-4: Push the girl away with RH on her hip and let go of hand behind your neck. The girl should allow her LH to go down the guy's R arm. Use the progressive side step footwork, where you take a step back, cross over in front with other foot and then step out so feet slightly apart again.

5-6-7-8: Catch her LH with your RH and use the progressive side step to come back towards each other, still  side on. Place with woman's LH on your R shoulder (almost throw it up there!) and put your hand back on her L hip. 

1-2-3-4: Repeat previous 1-2-3-4

5-6-7-8: Use progressive step again for guys but turn the woman CW in front of, with RH.

1-2-3-4 and 5-6-7-8: Recover to close hold.

 

WEEK 11 - SHOULDER DROP, GUY's HALF TURN

1-2-3-4: With LH holding girl's RH, signal a mambo turn by lowering and then raising LH in a inverted 'C' shape.

5-6-7-8: Mambo turn the girl CW, she steps round going foward on her LF on 5. As girl is completing turn, guy turns 180 ACW, letting LH still holding go over R shoulder.  Offer RH behind you, at waist level.

1-2-3-4: Mambo forward and let go of girls' and so it drops down into your waiting RH. Turn back CW 180 ta face girl.

5-6-7-8: With RH holding girls RH, turn girl CW 360 again, with a mambo turn.

 

WEEK 12 - LH WRIST LOCK, MAN'S ROLL OUT

1-2-3-4: Cue with LH keeping it low and bringing girl in ACW 180 to your RHS for a Wrist Lock. Her R arm goes behind her back, you finish both facing forward, side-on. Need to lead this by gently rotating her wrist CW to encourage her arm to go behind her back.

5-6-7-8 Turn the girl back out CW 180 to face.

1-2-3-4: Repeat previous 1-2-3-4 for another Wrist Lock, but at end, put your RH under the girl's R arm, taking up the girl's other free hand.

5-6-7-8: Turn the girl back out CW 180, keeping hold with both hands. Should end with LH out and RH near girl's R hip.

1-2-3-4: Keeping RH low , cue the girl for a ACW girl's turn, leading with LH. Should end with both hands holding in front and uncrossed.

5-6-7-8: Raise both hands, and turn underneath them CW 360. Should end with hands crossed.

1-2-3-4: Cue for a girl's ACW turn, leading with the RH mostly.

5-6-7-8: Use a Salsa to recover to a standard close hold.

 

WEEK 13 - HALF ROUND THE WORLD, HIP FREE TURN

1-2-3-4: Cue, girl's ACW turn.

5-6-7-8: Come side-on to the girl, so  she is on your RHS, putting your R arm down behind her back ending at waist level. You should now be facing opposite directions.

1-2-3-4: Use RH to bring the girl CW, from your RHS, round to your LHS. As she does this put your L arm out to the L, at waist level. This not only stops her at your LHS but we'll need your hand there for the next bit. She should end side-on but on your LHS, both facing forward.  Footwork: Guys staying on the spot  but Mambo on LF as the woman steps round, by first going forward onto her RF. (Half Round the World)

5-6-7-8: Use the LH, that you positioned at waist level, on her L hip to free turn the girl CW 360. Turn a half ACW to face her as she does this. Footwork: Guys first go back on RF before they turn ACW. Woman is stepping round CW. (Hip Free  Turn)

 

WEEK 14 - ACCORDION

1-2-3-4: Cue, girl's ACW turn.

5-6-7-8: Use to change hands R to R and offer LH underneath, which girl should take.  

1-2-3-4: Use both hands to turn girl CW 360, she steps back on RF and keeps stepping round. Guys just do a basic on LF. Tip: Try to turn slightly to L as girl completes, ready for your turn.

5-6-7-8: Guys turn to turn ACW 360, going forward on RF (rare) and keep going round. Girl does basic on LF as guy is turning.

1-2-3-4 and 5-6-7-8: Can repeat last phrase.

Finish by using basic steps to back to close hold.

 

WEEK 15 - MAN'S HIGH TURN, MAN'S LOW PASS

1-2-3-4: From open hold, open out to guys L.

5-6-7-8: Open out to guys R but finish changing hands R to R.

1-2-3-4: Back step, guys L, ladies R, end by offering LH under RH, which lady takes.

5-6-7-8: Guy cues both hands to R and then turns girl CW on the spot. Tip for guys: You do back step on RF but try to finish with R shoulder nearer to girl, i.e. slightly turned to your L.

1-2-3-4: Guys raise both hands and keep them steady as you turn ACW 360, starting by going back on LF (Columbian Turn). Girls just does Back Step on RF.

5-6-7-8: Guys turns girl for a CW Mambo Turn 360, leading immediately on beat 5. Lady does turn by stepping round, starting by going forward on LF. Guy does a Back Step on his RF.

Can repeat last 1-2-3-4 and 5-6-7-8 until you get board, or your partner gives you a slap. To get out of it just let go of all hands and resume to a open hold or close hold.

 

WEEK 16 - TWO HANDED ROUND THE WORLD

1-2-3-4: Use open out step to open out to LHS.

5-6-7-8: Open out to RHS but and be changing hands, so R to R.

1-2-3-4: Use RH to pull woman down your RHS to she goes behind you and turn her ACW 180 as she goes. End by offering LH at your RHS.

5-6-7-8: Allow girl to step back and leader back up your RHS, so she ends in front, facing you. She turns CW 180 to do this.

1-2-3-4: Use hands to lead girl round your back from R to L.

5-6-7-8: Turn girl CW 360 in front of you. Finish with LH behind your neck and RH behind hers, still holding with boht hands. Let go on 8.

Use basic step to recover to close hold.

 

After this we will go back to week 1