The Summary Guide to:
Salsa from the Start
Volume II


This page shows the sections and topics only.
For the complete guide, with a fuller description of the material, 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