How to Do a Salsa Underarm Turn to Left

Salsa is a great Latin dance, and increasingly popular. It’s a combination of several different Latin styles that were once a part of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and later the United States. In the beginning, it was a way that most Latin’s living in the United States remained true to their Latin heritage.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Man’s Steps

1. Start by stepping forward on you left foot (step needs to be quick) then step down in place again quickly on right and close your left foot slowly. Step back with right (quick). Do a quick step in place with left foot and do a slow close of right foot to left.

2. Get ready for the underarm turn to the left. As you step slow on your right foot, raise your right arm and get ready to turn your partner. On the next quick-quick-slow sequence have your partner turn left

3. Doing the Latin salsa is pretty simple and you can add some great style to your turns by practicing this underarm turn to the left.

Woman’s Steps

4. Place your right foot back (quick), step in place with your left foot (quick),step in place on left (quick), then close your right foot to your left foot (slow). Next you step forward on left (quick), then step in place on left (quick). Close your right foot to your left foot (slow), Step forward on your left foot (quick) Step in place on your right foot (quick). Close your left foot to your right foot.

5. Close your right foot to your left foot (slow), Step forward on your left foot (quick) Step in place on your right foot (quick). Close your left foot to your right foot.

6. Following your first quick-quick-slow then you are going to do a complete turn in place while your partner does another quick-quick slow. You start the turn on your forward right foot step. Start the turn on the second quick step and finish on the last slow step of your partner.

Tips & Warnings

• Some people tend to do the underarm turn with an added twist. The man does a back step to prepare for the lady's turn, instead of a forward turn. So he will rock back on beats the fifth, sixth or seventh beat to complete the turn.
• The secret to salsa is to keep up with the motion of the dance. The steps need to be practiced so they are quick and then the slow step breaks up the quick steps. Its important that the woman be following the mans lead and the man needs to be firm in his leading.