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THE MAMBO FAMILY
The Mambo family includes Rumba, ChaChaCha, Mambo & Salsa, thus variations below can be translating into any one of them, but remember to skip the chasse and instead give a S count move for the Q&Q when applying to the Rumba, Mambo and Salsa.
The Peek-a-Boo
A simple, fun figure that starts in Open Facing Position, w/ a RH to RH hold. Note the slightly unuasal start for the man.
Man
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Lady
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Q
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Move back onto the LF, leaving RF in place.
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Q
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Move back onto the RF, leaving the LF in place
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Q
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Transfer the body weight fwd onto the RF
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Q
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Transfer the body weight fwd onto the LF
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Q&Q
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Making a ¼ R, chasse to the L, leading the lady to turn L across and in front of man, then release hold
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Q&Q
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Maing a ¼ L, chasse to the R, across and in front of the man, releasing hold
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Q
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Walk fwd ontot he RF, bringing the L side fwd and curving a little to the R- take a ‘peek’ at the partner
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Q
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Walk back onto the LF underneath the body and curving a little tot he R- take a ‘peek’ at the partner
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Q
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Transfer the weight back to the LF
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Q
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Transfer the weight fwd onto the RF
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Q&Q
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Chasse to the R, across and behind the lady
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Q&Q
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Chasse to the L, across and in front of the man
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Q
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Walk fwd onto the LF, bringing the R side fwd and curving a little tot he L- take a ‘peek’ at the partner
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Q
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Walk back ontot he RF underneath the body and curving a little to the L- take a ‘peek’ at the partner
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Q
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Transfer weight back to the RF
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Q
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Transfer weight fwd ontot he LF
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Q&Q
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Chasse tot he L, moving across and behind lady
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Q&Q
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chasse to the R, across and in front of man
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end in a classic Fan Position or Cross Body Lead.
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The New York Overspill
The NY is a standard figure for Mambo, Rumba & Cha Cha. This variation is best danced as part of a short NY series.
Man
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Lady
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Q
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Lead lady to the NY SS position by swivelling ¼ L. on LF, & move fwd onto the RF
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Q
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Get to the NY SS positin by swivellng ¼ R on RF, & move fwd onto the LF
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Q
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Skip LF to cross behind RF, straightening the L leg and bending slightly fwd at the waist.
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Q
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Skip RF to cross behind LF, straightening the R leg and bending slightly fwd at the waist
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Q
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Move back onto the RF
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Q
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Move back onto the LF
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&
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Move back onto the LF
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&
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Move back onto the RF
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Q
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Move sideways ontot he RF. Making a ¼ R to face lady, resuming normal posture and changing to a LH to RH hold
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Q
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Move sideways ontot he LF. Making a ¼ L to face the man, resuming normal posture and changing to a RH to LH hold.
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The New York Ronde
Man
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Lady
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Q
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Lead lady to the NY SS position by swivelling ¼ L. on LF, & move fwd onto the RF
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Q
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Get to the NY SS positin by swivellng ¼ R on RF, & move fwd onto the LF
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Q
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Drop the body weight back ontot he LF, flexing the R knee and allowing the RF to swing (Ronde) slightly off the floor, around behind the LF.
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Q
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Drop the body weight back onto the RF, flexing the R knee and allowing the LF to swing slightly off the floor around behind the RF.
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Q
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Cross the RF behind the LF, turning the R toes outward and flexing both knees.
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Q
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Cross the LF behind the RF, turning the L toes outward and flexing both knees.
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&
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Place the LF to the side, small step
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&
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Place the RF tot he side, small step
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Q
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Move sidew onto the RF, facing partner, knees straight
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Q
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Move sideways onto the RF, facing partner, knees straight
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The New York Party Popper
Man
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Lady
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Q
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Lead lady to the NY SS position by swivelling ¼ L. on LF, & move fwd onto the RF, relaxing the R knee and sllowing the body to overturn slightly.
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Q
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Get to the NY SS positin by swivellng ¼ R on RF, & move fwd onto the LF, relaxing the L knee and allowing the body to overturn slightly.
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&
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Hop on the RF or slip it back underneath the body.
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&
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Hop on the LF or slip it back underneath the body
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Q
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Move back onto the LF and recover the body shape
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Q
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Move back onto the RF and recvoer the body shape
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Q&Q
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Draw the RH back to its original position. On the LF, swivel ¼ R and chasse to the R. Take hold w/ the LH then release hold w/ the RH. End facing partner.
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Q&Q
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On the RF, swivel ¼ L and chasse to the L. End facing partner.
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The Zig Zag
Start in open facing position w/ double hand hold. Feet apart. Man is standing on RF and lady on her LF.
Man
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Lady
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Q
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Move fwd onto the LF, making a ⅛ R
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Q
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Move back onto the RF by making a ⅛ R
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Q
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Move sideways onto the RF, making a ⅛ L to come square w/ the partner
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Q
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Move sideways onto LF, making a ⅛ L to come square w/ partner
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Q
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Move back onto the LF, making a ⅛ L
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Q
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Move fwd onto the RF, making ⅛ L
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Q
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Move sideways onto the RF, making a ⅛ R to come square w/ the partner
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Q
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Move sideways onto the LF, making ⅛ R to come square w/ the partner
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Repeat if necessary.
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** Style Tips: A slight inclination of the body toward partner enhances the look of the move and will enable the couple to work off each other. However, never lean on the partner.
Lado a Lado
A chance to dance some stunning steps in a new orientation- SS position, or lado a lado. In such moves, both dancers dance the same steps. Either partner must change from the normal opposite foot to their partner onto the same foot and, at the end of the move, back again. Start in open facing position, feet apart. Man on RF lady on LF. Stand not too far apart.
Man
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Lady
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Moving into Lado a Lado Position
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QQ
Q&Q
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Standard basic (Chasse for Cha Cha. Skip the Chasse for Rumba, Mambo or Salsa) releasing hold to allow the lady to turn
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QQ
Q&Q
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Basic Rock back and forth step, then move fwd onto RF next to man’s R side on the 3rd Q. Release hold on the RF, swivel a ½ L to end facing the same direction as man. Last Q to move sideways onto the LF.
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Dance whatever moves, NY, Syncopated NY, NY Party Popper or NY Ronde are some of the choices.
** Tandem Points: EITHER point the LF fwd but remain standing on the RF OR point the RF back but remain standing on the RF. Allow the body to counter-balance the pointing leg.
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Exit- Option 1
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Q&Q
Q&Q
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Fwd Chasse x2, LRL, RLR
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QQ
Q&Q
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2 fwd step,
Spiral turn
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Exit- Option 2
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Q&Q
Q&Q
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Coaster Step (back, close, fwd), LRL,
Fwd Chasse RLR
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QQ
Q&Q
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2 fwd step,
Spiral turn
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La Elenita
Alemena Turn in Open Facing Position while Man holds Lady’s R hand w/ his L. Finish in a double hand hold. Man ends on RF, feet apart, Lady on LF feet apart.
Man
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Lady
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QQ Q&Q (remember to skip the chasse if incorporating in Rumba, Mambo or Salsa. Alemena Turn in Open Facing Position while Man holds Lady’s R hand w/ his L. Finish in a double hand hold. Man ends on RF, feet apart, Lady on LF feet apart.
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Q
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Move fwd and across onto the LF, turning a little to the R.
Lower the RH to waist level and raise the L arm, leading the lady to turn L into R arm.
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Q
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Move fwd and across onto the RF, leaving the LF in place and making a ¼ L
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Q
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Hold the position while leading the lady to continue turning slowly to the L, inplace.
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Q
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Still on the RF and leaving both feet inplace, start to swivel slowly to the L.
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Q&Q
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Hold the position while lowering LH to waist level, still leading the lady to turn slowly to the L.
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Q&Q
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Still on the RF and leaving both feet inplace, continue to swivel to the L, to end w/ man on L side
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Changing Sides- now change sides to prepare for the next move
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Q
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Releasing hold w/ the RH, move back onto the RF, starting to turn L
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Q
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Move fwd onto the LF, starting to turn L
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Q
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Move sideways onto the LF, continuing to turn L
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Q
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Move sideways onto the RF, continuing to turn L
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Q&Q
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Move fwd onto the RF, outside the lady’s R side, completing a ¼ L. Place RH thumb down on the lady’s R hip.
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Q&Q
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Move back onto the LF, completing a ¼ L.
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Now, the couple are positioned a little apart, almost R side to R side.
Three Circling Walks (Natural Top) w/ Open Hip Twist Ending
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Q
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Walk fwd onto the LF, circling to the R
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Q
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Walk Fwd onto the RF circling to the R.
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Q
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Walk fwd onto the RF circling to the R
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Q
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Walk fwd onto the LF, circling to the R.
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QQ
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Chasse fwd onto the LF, circling to the R.
On the LF, swivel slightly to the R, moving the LH slightly fwd to lead the lady to swivel to R.
Release the RH and move it back out of the way.
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Q&Q
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Chasse fwd onto the RF, circling to the R.
On the RF, swivel to the R to end at R angles to the man.
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QQ Q&Q- Continue w/ the second half of the Open Hip Twist. Remember to skip the chasse if putting it in the non-triple step dances.
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El Paseo
A teasingly playful figure, man and lady alternate spot swivel turns. Start in Open Facing Position and release hold.
Man
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Lady
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Get to face the same direction
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Q
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Move fwd onto the LF, leaving the RF inplace
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Q
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Backward Basic
Walk behind the man (skip the chasse if not triple)
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Q
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fwd walk turn, end backing the lady
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Q
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Q&Q
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fwd chasse LRL (or just walk if not triple), still back to the lady
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Q&Q
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Change walls
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Q
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Spot turn on the LF ½ R and move back onto the RF, end facing lady.
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Q
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Move fwd onto the LF, leaving RF inplace
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Q
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Transfer body weight fwd onto the LF, leaving the RF inplace
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Q
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fwd walk turn, end backing man
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Q&Q
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fwd chasse RLR (or just walk if not triple)
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Q&Q
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fwd chasse LRL, still back to the man
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Lady repeats man’s steps
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Q
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Fwd Basic, resuming normal close hold in the end.
Skip chasse if not triple.
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Q
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Spot turn on the LF ½ R and move back onto the RF, end facing man.
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Q
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Q
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Transfer body weight fwd onto the LF, leaving the RF inplace
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QQ
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Q&Q
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Compact chasse RLR (or close RF if not triple).
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part 1- The SWING Family
part 2- The MAMBO Family (you are here)
part 3- The CUBAN Dances
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