Some Pointers in Man's Leads On Several Beginning Level and Intermediate Level Salsa Figures

1. The Cross-Body Lead(Regular) The man will, in the 3rd step of the Forward-Backward salsa basic, pull the lady’s R arm toward her on his left side, and at the same time, he will use the pressure of his right hand on the lady’s back to lead her to go more forward. On the second quick of the basic, he will his L arm to steer the lady’s body to finish the half-turn to the L on the last slow(the second slow). Remember that the cross-body lead has the same timing as the Forward- Backward basic--QQS, QQS.

2. The Cross-Body Lead(Man Using Both Hands The man will, on the 3rd step of the Forward-Backward salsa basic, pull both the lady’s arms towards you on your(the man’s)left side, but unlike the previous cross-body lead above, the lady’s L arm will come more in front of her than her R arm. Then, on step 4 of the Forward-Backward basic, the man will bring both of her hands towards him on his L side as he turns her arms about halfway in a counterclockwise on steps 5-6 of the salsa basic to face the partner again(because the cross-body resembles the forward-backward basic despite the half turn to the left).

3. The Cross-Body Lead With a Throwout Spin The man will do the leading as in the initial part of the regular cross-body lead but he will create more pressure on the lady’s sides after step 3 of the baisc to lead her to turn a full counterclockwise rotation as you throw her out. The man catches her hands if he wants to get her back into closed position to restart the Forward-Backward basic. Advanced salsa dancers would usually come up with other moves besides the basic when the throwout spin from the cross-body lead is done.

4. Fifth Side Basic(from Forward-Backward Basic) Here, the man leads her usually after she closes back her LF to the RF after the Forward-Backward basic. He then puts a grip on the lady’s R arm, going clockwise, and at the same time, he moves the lady’ss back clockwise with his R hand.

5. Side Step From The Forward-Backward Basic Here’s soon as the left foot of the lady closes with the RF(back), the man pushes the lady’s back to the L side and also pushes the lady’s R arm to the left side. When the man wants to move the lady to the R(in the second part of the side step), this leading process is reversed.

6. The Lady’s Underarm Turn(Outside)From The Fifth Break As soon as the lady crosses the RF in the Fifth Break, the man lifts the lady’s R arm to the L side and then turns the raised arm slightly counterclockwise to help the lady to follow and complete the turn.

7. The Lady’s Inside Underarm Turn and Outside Underarm Turn Making a dance position change from closed to open, the man will will start raising the lady’s R arm at the end of any very basic salsa figure(forward-backward, side step, fifth break), and bring it counterclockwise and to his R side for the inside underarm turn. Then, in almost a continuous motion, the man will raise the lady’s R arm again in a clockwise fashion to make her underarm turn from the outside. If both of those underarm turns are done with the man’s R hand on the lady’s L hand, the leading will be in an inverse; the lady’s inside underarm turn will be done clockwise with the lady’s L hand; on the inside underarm turn, it will be counterclockwise.

8. Spot Turns From The Fifth Break This is more of a push lead. This usually comes on the first 3 steps of the Fifth Break, with the man turning to the R and L and the lady to the L and R(both one-quarter). The push comes when the dancers face their partners, and the man will push with both hands almost 1/4 to the R counterclockwise(with more pressure on the lady’s L hand on his R hand)to lead the lady to do the spot turn. If another spot turn in inverse directions immediately follows the regular spot turn, the lead is in an inverse--more pressure on the lady’s R hand on his L hand(still using both hands)will be done almost 1/4 to the L clockwise.

9. The New York From The Forward-Backward Basic This happens when the man leads the lady to the side at the end of the Forward-Backward Basic, by pulling her R arm to the right (his right)in such a way that the lady will turn to her left halfway. The New York can also be started(and led)by pulling the lady’s L arm to the left(his left)from the same Forward-Backward figure.

10. The Lady’s Sweetheart Wrap To The Left of Man Here, the man will lead in a manner resembling the entry to the lady’s inside underarm turn, using a 2-handed open hold. With his L hand, he will raise the lady’s R arm, turning it counterclockwise and put it down. Then the man’s R hand will be on the R side of the lady for the wrap.

11. The Lady’s Sweetheart Wrap To The Right of Man Using a 2-handed hold, the man will use his L arm to raise the lady’s R arm clockwise and then go down again, and the L arm will be on the lady’s L side for the wrap.