moves balancing on one foot and being led around...

S

smiling28

Moderator
I know there is a Spanish word for these types of moves, ESPECIALLY in Son.

My question to you all. What do you think of these moves?

The ones where the lead or follow balance on the ball of one foot (often crouching low) and have the other partner walk around in a circle holding the partner thus spinning them on the spot.

What do you think of the moves?

Obviously it depends on how they are done. I remember when I first saw a guy lead a girl to rotate him around and I thought 'you lazy sexist fella' :) :) :)

*not realising that the guy is still leading the step.

What about the follows? Do you like walking around rotating the guy? Being rotated?

*I know that sounds terrible but hopefully you get the idea.

I like the idea in Son that the guy is the PERFECT gentleman thus clears the way for the lady like a doorman opening a door. Looking at the girl. Connecting. I find the moves done on the salsa floor (that i have seen) loses that element. Even when I did it last night, I did not look at the girl. Felt a little disconnected from my partner.

Thoughts...
 
Not one of my favourite moves. I don't think it looks that hot, and when a Cuban style teacher led me into it, it felt so heavy to push him around I couldn't keep it going.

Never seen it done the other way (girl crouching on one foot, guy walking around her rotating). Would it be leadable?

There's a move in NY style (I think -- crossbody style anyway) that's sort of similar, where the guy would pivot on one foot rotating the girl around him in a crossbody hold (guy's right hand on girls left shoulder blade). It feels more like an extended crossbody lead (360, 540, etc. -- I suppose that's basically what it is) and I like the look and feel of it much better than the Cuban cossack dance version.
 
MacMoto said:
Not one of my favourite moves. I don't think it looks that hot, and when a Cuban style teacher led me into it, it felt so heavy to push him around I couldn't keep it going.

Never seen it done the other way (girl crouching on one foot, guy walking around her rotating). Would it be leadable?

There's a move in NY style (I think -- crossbody style anyway) that's sort of similar, where the guy would pivot on one foot rotating the girl around him in a crossbody hold (guy's right hand on girls left shoulder blade). It feels more like an extended crossbody lead (360, 540, etc. -- I suppose that's basically what it is) and I like the look and feel of it much better than the Cuban cossack dance version.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I thought that might be a popular opinion. Sort of feel the same way but admittedly doing it feels pretty cool as you have to balance.

* leading the girl

A REALLY cool variation is leading the girl rotating on one foot in the centre and then doing exhibe and catching her whilst continuing to walk around without losing a beat (i.e she does an exhibe without putting her foot down)

Really cool fun actually.

That one I like a lot.


*hard to describe and imagine. Will post a video if I ever find one.
 
It comes from Intern . latin-- the " coffee grinder "-- it fell out of favor some time back ( it used to be called the screw-- no kidding ! )-
There are by the way,kinda similar ideas in Arg. tango ( toe pivots ) -- but-- not lowering to the floor , and much slower .
 
Terence2 said:
It comes from Intern . latin-- the " coffee grinder "-- it fell out of favor some time back ( it used to be called the screw-- no kidding ! )-
There are by the way,kinda similar ideas in Arg. tango ( toe pivots ) -- but-- not lowering to the floor , and much slower .
Click to expand...

LOL, true. That is what our instructor said. You must screw the girl...
 
I have seen this done by a couple of teachers in the UK.

One of them briefly tried to teach it. Every time I tried to get it working in social dancing the girl either gives me a look like "ehh" or runs out of steam after 1/3 of a turn... and I'm like... doh! So I've only tried to lead a few ladies into this.

Personally I quite like the look of this move, but it has to be done in a fun way, and when non-cuban style, it would look very very weird.
 
This move has to be taught ( very difficult to imitate ) last time I taught this was to a very experienced salsa couple-- they had a very hard time with it .
The idea. roughly, is to start with a slow continuos spin ( one foot ) and the lady gradually lowers to a" sit spin " position ( like in ice dance ) gradually increasing speed, then returning to an upright position.

It was danced in one of the so called World Champs.-- cant remember if it was in Salsa or Mambo-- Its on the net somewhere .

Would agree Sw.-- it does seem out of character-- but ok just for fun.
 
Terence2 said:
The idea. roughly, is to start with a slow continuos spin ( one foot ) and the lady gradually lowers to a" sit spin " position ( like in ice dance ) gradually increasing speed, then returning to an upright position.
Click to expand...
Are you talking about the "coffee grinder spin" like the one in this clip (from about 2:15)?
w w w.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ2jlYkU-8M

It's a very different move -- the person who's powering the spin is doesn't move. In the cuban move, the rotation is powered by someone (usually follower) walking around the person turning (usually leader). The rotation is much much slower because of it. Having said that, both moves require good balance and are very hard to do well.
 
Can , and is , danced both ways . Like a lot of b/room, there are mnay interpretations . Its still the source, for usage in Mambo / Salsa-- but Mac., like I said--- personally think it should stay there ! ( I danced it over thirty yrs ago )

PS-- I dont know any cuban that would dance this ( among a lot of other
things ! )
 
The coffee grinder (where the Lead stands still) was done a number of times in the Mayan competition vids (don't remember which year) if anyone's looking for that version.
 
That first video is awesome. Love the song too. Saw Sierra Maestra live last month. That was an amazing evening of dancing and music.

Second was good, but was obviously a performance, so less interesting.
 
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