Salsa Inspiration for Leads: Adding Turns to Your Cross Body

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Here's some inspiration for all you salsa leads. Take a break from turning your partner and try out these ideas for adding turns into your own cross body leads. Let me know what you think in the comments!
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Hi my name is Robin and I'm no different than you. A few years ago I started learning salsa. After struggling for a while I found some great mentors and the rest is history. Now I travel the world dancing, teaming up with amazing teachers and growing Dance Dojo - the deeply detailed online dance lessons I wish I had when I started. My goal is to help as many of you enjoy the same rewards I've been lucky enough to experience through dance. Join me if you'd like to meet amazing new people, leave stress behind, connect to music in a whole new way and feel more alive. Life only gets more colorful - just take the first step.
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[@FelipeSoares-oo7bv]

Amazing Class!!

[@thedancedojo]

Glad you enjoyed it! -Robin

[@junior2oo]

I really appreciate these inspiration videos- done to music to see how it flows, and lots of variations to pick and choose from to add spice to your dance. I probably won't be able to learn them all but found a few of these very cool and will be trying them when I go out next!

[@thedancedojo]

thanks Kunle! Let me know how it goes when you take em for a spin 😂

[@tegenet8]

I second this. This program is very easy to understand and I really appreciate the breakdowns of everything

[@gtnotoriouz]

I third this. Really love these.

[@kidphillyorg]

I’m really liking these videos. You’re showing how to easily build on basic moves to give the appearance of more complexity. Just these little variations make the dance together that much more fun and enjoyable. Thank you for these videos!

[@thedancedojo]

My pleasure, I love the details and modular way of building on things. -Robin

[@DLC_-mw4mc]

What a great video. Lots of things to learn and practice. Thank you!!

[@thedancedojo]

Thanks appreciate that! Have fun with it -robin

[@RadoGG]

Amazing!! Keep up the good work, Robin!

[@thedancedojo]

Thanks bro, will do!

[@goanj]

just great

[@thedancedojo]

Thanks!

[@eduardomundo100]

Excellent Video and lots to use and bring into my dancing and routines. Thank you

[@thedancedojo]

Glad you enjoyed it! -Robin

[@dmcnotme]

Thanks, I'm still an early learner and find your example videos very inspirational, discovering new things I would like to learn.

[@thedancedojo]

So happy I could offer some inspiration. Keep learning, exploring and enjoying! -Robin

[@juliecantina8479]

Great videos, these are very helpful!

[@thedancedojo]

happy you're finding them helpful! -robin

[@PaulMusso2]

Thanks for this video, and the previous one. I found both of these really helpful! Since they are leader turns, they are easy to add into my dancing without needing someone to practice with.

[@thedancedojo]

Awesome, and great feedback, thanks Paul! Glad you're enjoying them. If you have any other video ideas shoot em my way -robin

[@salsalanguage]

Nice video! It is the details and timing of executing these movements is a challenge.

[@thedancedojo]

Totally! but it's the process of figuring it out that gets you the big gains. -robin

[@Jesus-ts5ig]

Great Value

[@thedancedojo]

Glad you liked it! -Robin

[@Haiti3063]

Amazing how changing the arm work can make two virtually identical moves look totally different to the eyes at higher speeds.

[@thedancedojo]

Totally right? The amount of moves out there is quite limited. The variations are many. -Robin

[@ozgun6719]

awesome

[@thedancedojo]

thanks!

[@mexchewy]

I love the half and halfs. I think I've been trying to master them They look impressive.

[@thedancedojo]

Nice man! yea, they're fun and flow nicely. Any favorite?

[@Albert-PhotonChem]

Great video!!

[@thedancedojo]

Thanks Alberto!

[@thomas.haglund]

great video! so many awesome moves, I'll add these to my chunk named "Lead moves" 😎

[@thedancedojo]

Thanks for watching man, glad you enjoyed! -robin

[@maximilyen]

Looks nice

[@thedancedojo]

thanks glad you liked it. -robin

[@MrUlismar]

Great!

[@thedancedojo]

Thanks man, appreciate it! -Robin

[@aquilesml21]

I discovered your channel and i love the content and specially the name, because i practice Martial Arts and love salsa and latin rythms. Greetings from Perú.

[@thedancedojo]

Right on man. Glad you're enjoying it! Very cool, I like the name too :) -robin

[@MrRmccoy]

Excellent

[@thedancedojo]

Thanks 🙏 -robin

[@jesusmarionavagonzalez2987]

I just started checking the Salsa course at The Dance Dojo, its really nice a nicely explained, however I cannot find this video or some reference through the content. I really love how this looks as lead. Awesome tips!

[@thedancedojo]

Hey! If you're dancing on1 here's where you can find the moves: the "Suave" and the "Rejection" are both in Partner Work On1 > Experienced Beginner level. In the Shines module you can find the steps they're based on as well: the "Left turn" and the "Hook turn." The "Spot Turns" are also in the Shines module, but the "Pencil turn" isn't - it's the only move that's not recorded. Hope that helps! -Robin

[@gabrielemarchioni567]

Definetely enjoyed this video A LOT! Now I know that I know all of these Turns [My Master teached to me in disguise😂] and you give me an idea for some Patterns. I have an idea for a video: When we learn some patterns in school, we always do these patterns in Social Dancing, because we are still learning and so we have still not enough Imagination to come along with new patterns by ourselfes. We always raise, FOR EXAMPLE, the right hand of our partner with our left hand to turn her because our Master told us to do in this way [IN THE BEGINNING], right? Then I came with this idea: try to think about a "WHAT IF.... [INSTEAD OF, AND THEN, ETC]....?" scenario. For example: "WHAT IF I try to use my RIGHT hand to turn my Partner INSTEAD OF the left hand?". Another example: "WHAT IF I do a Cross Body Lead with CROSSED arms INSTEAD OF parallel arms?". And a third one: "WHAT IF I do a Cross Body Lead with a turn AND THEN crouch in order to pass under the arm of my Partner?". And a fouth one: "WHAT IF I block her during an inside turn INSTEAD OF continue her turn AND THEN toss one of her arms in a Hammerlock Position....?". [Definetely not having Fun write these things😂]. And so on. In other words: EXPERIMENTING juuuust a little bit outside the box with the basic steps and techniques that I know and maybe that i DON'T know, always keeping in mind the Style that I am dancing and the EASE of my PARTNER, obviously🤗

[@thedancedojo]

Absolutely Gabriel, the "WHAT IF...?" Is the starting point for exploring and going deeper like you said. If you don't explore your understanding of salsa will be limited. It's about taking the fundamentals and building blocks - each individual move - and exploring it to see what happens and more deeply understand what's possible.

[@negatif9163]

🙏

[@thedancedojo]

🙌

[@claudialodirizzini8745]

14 : 58 💖💖💖💖💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻

[@99cooking.]

Can you give us tips on how to stay cool when dancing -sweaty guy

[@thedancedojo]

Haha there's not much you can do besides look for an air vent, or spend time by a window, or take a break from dancing. If you sweat a lot just bring extra shirts! -Robin

[@user-zw2ge4vp5n]

I really like the way you teach and show the movements. Any suggestions for the follow? I'm having a hard time understanding and following the lead. I'm a beginner and I still don't know how connect with the lead.

[@thedancedojo]

Thanks, appreciate that! Yes, of course, there's so much the follower needs to understand in order to play their role. I'd say our online course is the best place to absorb that information to take a big leap forward in your progress. You can try it free for a week here. thedancedojo.com/product/free-trial Some of the concepts we cover are: 3 centers, posture, frame, how to hold your arms, tension, hand connection, the structure of the dance, etc. The follow technique module in the "Skills and Technique" area is a great place to start. -Robin

[@user-zw2ge4vp5n]

@@thedancedojo Thank very much for your answer Robin. I'll check it out. Btw, I also have a twin. I have a twin sister.

[@thedancedojo]

@@user-zw2ge4vp5n oh really? haha awesome! you're welcome :)

[@user-zw2ge4vp5n]

@@thedancedojo haha, yes, really. It's a great experience, nothing you don't already know. I think it's the best gift life has given to me.

[@rianmonnahan]

Cool. Can you make a similar video from the closed position?

[@thedancedojo]

You can't really do turns from a closed position. You have to open up.

[@rianmonnahan]

@@thedancedojo Thanks for your response. I see your point, yet I frequently manage to execute a right hand turn while leading my follower through a cross-body lead. I perform this with a hook step on the count of three after the follower just passes by me. I dance On2, so for On1 dancers it would likely be the count of seven. As for my hand position, this move either requires a pizza pie hold over the top of the lead's head with the left or a hand switch (L-r -> R-l ) low behind the back during the lead's turn. I stole the pizza-pie version from Hache y Macheta (kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIHPoIh_l52kjpo circa 2:57) and the hand switch version from Neeraj Maskara (kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZ_KkJeDer-Gbtk) ... although Neeraj's footwork is different from mine. I thought there might be other variations. I guess not since, as you have correctly pointed out, the inherent nature of the closed position makes this difficult. And the lead does have to abandon the closed position to turn. Anyway, I enjoyed your video and am looking forward to incorporating some of the moves you demonstrated into my repertoire.

[@rianmonnahan]

@@thedancedojo You actually do these two tuns in your video.

[@thedancedojo]

That's what I was thinking haha. Hope it was helpful :) -Robin

[@thedancedojo]

Have you tried adding any of these turns into your cross body before? what's your favorite? As always, lots more to learn at thedancedojo.com -Robin

[@MrTolearn]

Hi, I am a subscriber of dance dojo online, but I can't find the breakdown for these turns.

[@thedancedojo]

Suave and rejection are in the "Partner Work - Experienced Beginner" module. The pencil turn isnt in there but pretty much the same as a spot turn just moving forward instead of side to side (See Shines module for spot turns). The second half of the video is just more creative variations using the above mentioned moves. The half and half turn is half a spot turn one direction follow by half a spot turn the other direction. If you have those base moves, you can start getting more creative. -Robin

[@MrTolearn]

@@thedancedojoHi Robin, it will be nice to break down the whole sequence by count, one by one, anyway, that's my wish :)

[@quicknet1965]

Dear Robin, I have a paid subscription to your salsa course, but can't find these turns there. In which chapter can I find them?

[@thedancedojo]

Hey there, the Suave and Rejection are in Experienced Beginner Partnerwork On1 OR Beginner Partnerwork On2. The solo footwork for the spot turn is in the shines module and you'll see it in a couple patterns. Intermediate level patterns Jimmy Juggles uses the half half spot turn and suave; and Señor Suave uses the suave. The advanced combo Bouncy Hands and Buena Onda use a version of the spot turn as well. The pencil turn is actually not in the curriculum (my mistake) -Robin

[@quicknet1965]

Thank you

[@amird.khakbaz3134]

is it on1 or on2?

[@thedancedojo]

this video is on1

[@senorsoskinouchiha8938]

Salsa : baila como es

[@thedancedojo]

Asi es

[@senorsoskinouchiha8938]

Hello dance dojo the title of the song please

[@thedancedojo]

I don't remember, you can use the shazam app to find it though!

[@DaniloElvir]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXKVf6GNm52pn5o