Crossbody lead of the woman

[looser]

I have noticed in many videos that in crossbody the woman instead of taking a straight step on 3,she,she is turning her body to the left (as if she is going for an outside turn).2 examples are these:

1.

1:18
2.

0:22

Do the men lead the women to do that by their frame or by stretching their left-right connection?Or do the women do that on their own?If yes,do they do that for practical reasons or just for styling?I would really like an answer if anyone knows.

 

[olamalam]

In standard crossbody steps, there is no turning to left or right. simply walk to the other side of the line and do a half left turn to face the lead. Mostly LA style dancers add some styling to it, lead opens his partners line and pulls her on3, therefore followers body turns to left as if she is prepped for an outside turn. Actually follower doesnt need to "know" this. As I've written in another thread, if she knows basic connection and frame principles, her body will turn to inside as the leader opens up.

See Milton Cobo's crossbody lead here:

He doesnt care to create sharp effect like LA dancers, it looks smoother.

 

[looser]

In standard crossbody steps, there is no turning to left or right. simply walk to the other side of the line and do a half left turn to face the lead. Mostly LA style dancers add some styling to it, lead opens his partners line and pulls her on3, therefore followers body turns to left as if she is prepped for an outside turn. Actually follower doesnt need to "know" this. As I've written in another thread, if she knows basic connection and frame principles, her body will turn to inside as the leader opens up.

See Milton Cobo's crossbody lead here:

He doesnt care to create sharp effect like LA dancers, it looks smoother.

I don't see it as smoother.I like better the one that ,as you described,the lead make her turn on 3.It seems nicer to me. Thx a lot for the info.

off topic: I see that many of you here have great knowledge about salsa,like you.Therefore,I have great expectations for you on the dance floor.I hope I meet you some day in a salsa festival although I don't even know where each one of you is from.

 

[olamalam]

I don't see it as smoother.I like better the one that ,as you described,the lead make her turn on 3.It seems nicer to me. Thx a lot for the info.

We all have preferences.
And they change in time

off topic: I see that many of you here have great knowledge about salsa,like you.Therefore,I have great expectations for you on the dance floor.I hope I meet you some day in a salsa festival although I don't even know where each one of you is from.

As I said earlier, I pretend like I know a lot of stuff So don't have high expectations from us, I don't want you to be disappointed

I'm from istanbul. My next congress is Cyprus salsa jam in late august. Then hoping to go to Amsterdam in October. I'll be happy to follow you if we meet.

 

[olamalam]

Also check Frankie Martinez and Oliver Pineda

Look how they avoid unnecessary noise and big movements in their crossbody. They keep it minimal, simple and clean.

 

[looser]

We all have preferences.
And they change in time




As I said earlier, I pretend like I know a lot of stuff So don't have high expectations from us, I don't want you to be disappointed

I'm from istanbul. My next congress is Cyprus salsa jam in late august. Then hoping to go to Amsterdam in October. I'll be happy to follow you if we meet.

I am a neighbor. I am from Greece. I usually go one time every year in Bulgaria.But I really wanted to go to Istanbul last year because all my salsa idols were there. For this year, we plan to go to Borovets in Bulgaria,in autumn but I am not 100% sure,we will see.I hope we will meet sometime face to face.

 

[olamalam]

I am a neighbor. I am from Greece. I usually go one time every year in Bulgaria.But I really wanted to go to Istanbul last year because all my salsa idols were there. For this year, we plan to go to Borovets in Bulgaria,in autumn but I am not 100% sure,we will see.I hope we will meet sometime face to face.

my gf was in Mykonos last weekend. She loved there!
Next weekend we'll be Meis island as well. Not planned anything for the main land of Greece yet though

 

[looser]

my gf was in Mykonos last weekend. She loved there!
Next weekend we'll be Meis island as well. Not planned anything for the main land of Greece yet though

Yes,Mykonos is one of our most famous islands.As for Meis,we call it Kastellorizo. We have many festivals in Greece,I hope you come in one of those.

 

[MacMoto]

I have noticed in many videos that in crossbody the woman instead of taking a straight step on 3,she,she is turning her body to the left (as if she is going for an outside turn).

Do the men lead the women to do that by their frame or by stretching their left-right connection?Or do the women do that on their own?If yes,do they do that for practical reasons or just for styling?I would really like an answer if anyone knows.

You can think of it as a mini-prep for the counter-twist (to the right) on the 5, which preps for the crossbody turn. It can be useful especially if you are leading fast crossbody turns. You can lead it using your frame (torso and arms) - some leaders lead it, others don't. Some followers do it anyway, others don't.

 

[tallpaul]

Yeah - it depends if we're talking about a plain crossbody lead, or a crossbody lead with inside turn.

A lot of people teach these twists and counter-twists as part of the crossbody lead+inside turn - its useful for fast turns, and it also keeps the whole motion very compact (particularly useful in crowded dance floors).

I've not seen twists being taught for plain crossbody leads before though (no inside turns).

 

[owldancer]

You can think of it as a mini-prep for the counter-twist (to the right) on the 5, which preps for the crossbody turn. It can be useful especially if you are leading fast crossbody turns. You can lead it using your frame (torso and arms) - some leaders lead it, others don't. Some followers do it anyway, others don't.

I do have a follow up question about this. As a lead, if the follow does the hip twist anyway even though it's not led and it's not isolated but causes a momentary disconnect, is it good practice to go along with it for subsequent CBLs for a smoother connection, or as a lead I should "stand my ground"? I have no issues with leading either, although personal preference is for a non-twisted CBL.

 

[kbitten]

for me its a stling thing with no need to be led..

 

[Kading]

I do have a follow up question about this. As a lead, if the follow does the hip twist anyway even though it's not led and it's not isolated but causes a momentary disconnect, is it good practice to go along with it for subsequent CBLs for a smoother connection, or as a lead I should "stand my ground"? I have no issues with leading either, although personal preference is for a non-twisted CBL.

I just go with it, since I can imagine it's hard for the follower to change such a 'basic' muscle memory move on the spot.

 

[Sabrosura]

I have noticed in many videos that in crossbody the woman instead of taking a straight step on 3,she,she is turning her body to the left (as if she is going for an outside turn).2 examples are these:

1.

1:18

I just want to caution any beginners who are looking at these video examples to *not* dance like the instructors in the first video, who are taking *enormous* steps! Their back steps are particularly horrible.