How To Salsa Dance: Cuddle Step For The Follower

Pair of soft-soled shoes

Step 1: Footwork For The Follower

The salsa open break under arm turn is an intimate salsa dance step. The follower's footwork starts by beginning with a back break on the on the right foot. So, starting with your feet together with equal weight on both feet, move your right foot backward about a foot or two, placing your weight on this foot. Next, keeping the right foot in the same place for a beat, replace your weight to your left foot and then step forward with your right foot past your left foot and pivot a half a turn to the right. Now begin a back break on the left, starting by stepping back with your left foot, and replacing your weight to your right foot for a beat. Now step forward with your left foot past your right foot and make a half a turn to your right. And repeat.

Step 2: Upper Body For The Follower

In terms of upper body movement, the follower will be held by the leader in a closed position hold for the first back break, bringing her right hand down on the last count of the first back break (seven) to a double hand hold. Now you raise your right hand as the leader raises his left and will allow him to bring your right hand across your face to your left and simultaneously turn you to your left so that you end up with your back against the right side of his chest, still holding both of his hands with your arms are cross crossed in front of you. This is the cuddle position. In this position, you will do a back break and then allow the leader to elevate your right hand and send you under the raised hand and spin you to your right so to leave you again ending facing the leader in an a double hand hold. You can now repeat the move starting from this double hand hold position.