Salsa Northwest
A Beginner's Guide to Dancing Salsa!
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Open Position     Closed Position     Lead Closed Position     Follow Closed Position      

Lead Closed Position

 

1.    Stand facing your partner, about six inches apart. 

2.    Place your left hand slightly to the left of your body.  

3.    Keep fingers together, palm flat and facing your partner, and with thumb facing up. Fingers will be pointed left, away from your body.

4.    Follow will place right hand in your left. Follow’s fingers should be perpendicular, resting between your thumb and index finger.

   

5.    Loosely grip Follow's right hand.  

6.    Raise your arm so that both Follow’s hand and yours are at the height of Follow's shoulder, if not already.

7.    Unless instructions indicate otherwise, your left arm and wrist should remain somewhat tense throughout the dance.

8.    You should be able to feel some pressure from Follow's hand in yours, and your joined hands should remain about three inches in front of each of you.  

9.    Take your right hand and place it just below Follow's left shoulder blade. In most cases, the tips of your fingers will be touching the spine.

 

 

 

10. Ensure your right arm is bent at the elbow and has enough tension so that if you were to step backwards, you would pull Follow towards you.

 

WARNING: Placing your right arm too high may result in injury to your partner due to its awkward pressure on the back. Placing your right arm too low may result in a slap and/or loss of partner.