Private Latin Dance Lessons for Rob and Di

Welcome!

I've set this page up to document the steps we cover in each lesson with videos for each step. ​I'll include multiple videos for each step where I can so you can choose the demo/teaching style which best resonates with you.

This page is broken down into three sections:

1. Music & Other Resources for each dance style
2. Lesson Plans
3. Videos for moves we've learned in our lessons

***** MUSIC & OTHER RESOURCES *****

Link to "Heroe" by Enrique Iglesias on Spotify HERE

Salsa

View SALSA webpage
​Slower Salsa Music

​Faster Salsa Music

Bachata 

View BACHATA page
​

Merengue

​View MERENGUE page

***** 2023 LESSON PLANS *****

Lesson A: Thursday 6 April 2023

​BACHATA WEDDING DANCE TO HEROE BY ENRIQUE IGLESIAS

• Walk onto dance floor - Rob's left hand with Di's right hand
• Rob turns Di anticlockwise to get into closed dance frame
• Turning Basic Steps
• Basic Step in Closed Frame
• ​Single Arm (Clockwise) Turn of Follower
  • Rob turns Di with his LEFT hand (to Rob's Left; to Di's Right) on counts 1-2-3-4/tap
  • Rob captures Di's other hand on 4/tap to get into two-handed hold and keeps his Left hand up
• Cuddle with Walk and Kicks x 2
  •  With Rob's LEFT hand up, he turns Di (anticlockwise) into Cuddle - hands go inbetween/inside
  • Once in Cuddle, Rob has straight LEFT arm and leads into Walk and Kicks (kick with inside legs; tap with outside legs)
  • Exit Cuddle to Rob's Left / Di's Right
• Leader Overarm Turn
  • Rob turns clockwise to his Right, Left arm is going over the top of his Right arm
  • Place his RIGHT hand  (Di's LEFT hand) on his waist; Di drapes her LEFT hand behind Rob's back
• Basic Step/s to get into Cross Hand Hold (RIGHT hands on top)
• Sweetheart Changing Sides (x 4)
  • ​Hands stay around shoulder
• Exit Sweetheart then Free Spin to get to starting position

Lesson B: Thursday 13 April 2023

​BACHATA WEDDING DANCE TO HEROE BY ENRIQUE IGLESIAS

We added the Arm Lock, Cross Hand Matador and another Rob Turn (to get into closed dance frame) to our sequence. The sequence is outlined below.

(Remember, all the individual videos for each move are shown below from last year. AND you now have your own video of you both dancing.)

• Walk onto dance floor - Rob's LEFT hand with Di's RIGHT hand
• Rob turns Di ANTICLOCKWISE to get into CLOSED dance frame, then wait until VOCAL starts
• TURNING BASIC STEPS
• SEQUENCE:
  • BASIC STEP in Closed Frame
  • ​SINGLE TURN FOLLOWER (Di Turn) - with Rob's LEFT Hand, turning CLOCKWISE
  • CUDDLE WITH WALK AND KICK x 2 sets
    • Turn Di into CUDDLE using Rob's LEFT Hand, turning ANTICLOCKWISE
    • Exit Cuddle with Rob's LEFT Hand Up 
  • LEADER OVERARM TURN (Rob Turn)
    • Rob turns CLOCKWISE - LEFT arm going over right arm
    • Rob places his RIGHT hand (Di's LEFT hand) on his waist; Di runs her LEFT hand behind Rob's back
  • BASIC STEP to get into CROSS HAND HOLD (RIGHT hands on top)
  • SWEETHEART CHANGING SIDES + FREE SPIN
    • Rob turns Di ANTICLOCKWISE with RIGHT hand
    • Change sides 4 times with hands staying SHOULDER HEIGHT
    • Exit Sweetheart then FREE SPIN to get to starting position
    • Remember to refer to the video below
  • ​BASIC STEP
  • ARM LOCK - Rob's LEFT hand goes up, turning Di CLOCKWISE then ANTICLOCKWISE to exit
  • BASIC STEP to get into CROSS HAND HOLD (RIGHT hands on top)
  • CROSS HAND MATADOR
    • ​Rob's RIGHT hand up, turning Di CLOCKWISE keeping Rob's LEFT hand down
    • "Grease" HAIRCOMB of Di as you both do the BASIC STEP footwork
      • ​Di does FLOURISH with RIGHT arm
      • Rob ends up with RIGHT hand on Di's shoulder
    • ​SHOULDER TURN OF DI
    • HALF BASIC in two-handed hold
    • Remember to refer to the video below
  • ​HALF BASIC STEP + LEADER OVERARM TURN (Rob Turn) to get into CLOSED Dance Frame
  • Then you get to do it all over again, just like Groundhog Day - yay!

Lesson C - Tuesday 18 April 2023

​​BACHATA WEDDING DANCE TO HEROE BY ENRIQUE IGLESIAS

In today's lesson, we reviewed the sequence and worked on styling, smoothness and tips in order to de-Thunderbird!

The song will probably allow you to do three sets of the sequence. We discussed running through the sequence twice, with a few Turning Basics in-between the two sets, then the DJ will call the other dancers to the floor. 

• Sweetheart:
  • Rob's arms to be wrapping around Di's shoulder - not doing the Zorba dance
  • When doing the Sweetheart Changing Sides: Your taps on counts 4 and 8 need to be with the foot AWAY FROM your partner
• Arm Lock - Rob to "SPAN HIS WINGS" on count 8 of the previous step before leading Di into the Arm Lock 
• Doing the Bachata steps with SOFT KNEES keeping head parallel to the ground
• Smooth is good however we also need to keep the Bachata fluid movement in our dancing
• Optional: add HIP LIFTS to the TAPS
• Rob is not a horse when he taps - bend the knee in tapping leg, imagine soft tap with ball of foot (don't squish the marshmallow)
• Di and Rob to both ensure there's a weight transfer on FOUR counts - especially for the turns:
  • steps on counts 1, 2 and 3 with tap (and hip, optional) on count 4, then
  • steps on counts 5, 6 and 7 with tap (and hip) on count 8
• When starting the sequence from the Turning Basic Steps, Rob to do the "activation" of the dance frame to indicate to Di that sequence is starting. Also, Rob to raise his LEFT arm up on count 8 of the Basic Step so Di is super clear that she's going in to her single arm turn.
• We had a brief chat about how you wanted to end the dance - with a dip or just continue dancing, or something else.
• We talked about contingency plans for when you may stuff up during the sequence:
  • Stop, re-connect and continue the sequence OR
  • Stop, re-connect and start from the beginning

Lesson D - Thursday 27 April 2023

​BACHATA WEDDING DANCE TO HEROE BY ENRIQUE IGLESIAS
​
In today's lesson:

• Mapping out the dance space:
  • we were mapping out where you'd come in from in the restaurant/bar/terrace space
  • and what your starting position would be so your guests could see you
  • especially with the cuddle and walk move - we are aiming to have you walking towards the audience or to the side of the dance space, rather than having your backs to your guests as you do this move
• Bachata Movement:
  • reminder to add the Bachata UPPER BODY MOVEMENT
  • if you wish, you can add a HIP LIFT with the tap
• Musicality:
  • we dove into the musicality of the song
  • there's a GUITAR section that starts around 2:25 - this indicates the slow bit is coming
  • the song SLOWS down at around 2:50 
  • at 3:03, the song starts speeding up again and goes to full tempo at 3:16
• Sequence Updates:
  • inbetween the first and second round of the sequence, we are adding TURNING BASIC STEPS
    • reminder with the Turning Basic Steps - you don't turn in the middle of the step (you keep your line straight), you only change direction once you've tapped
    • keep a firm frame in the Turning Basic Steps
  • after you've completed the second round of the sequence, it'll be around the GUITAR section (starting 2:25) and coming into the SLOW BIT (starting 2:50)
    • this is when you can get into the CLOSE BODY TO BODY FRAME and just sway, transfer your weight side to side or do a single step side to side (and turn as well if you wish)
      • Really Close Frame Tips:
        • you can wrap your arms around each other more
        • dance cheek to cheek
        • feel into each other and connect with each other and the music and the movement
  • Dip: we talked about adding a (little) a dip and a kiss at the start of the Close Frame section as well as at the end of the sequence
  • Once the slow bit has finished, you can go back into the sequence for (part of) round 3. 
  • SEQUENCE SUMMARY... So, in summary, our sequence is:
    • walk onto dance floor and connect in closed dance frame
    • round 1 of sequence
    • turning basic steps
    • round 2 of sequence
    • body to body frame (cheek to cheek, single steps/sways side to side, add turns if you wish) - with dip and kiss before and/or after - during guitar and slow bit
    • when music speeds up, start round 3 of sequence (or parts thereof)
    • finish with dip and kiss if you wish or your own interpretive dance!!

Lesson E - Thursday 4 May 2023

​BACHATA WEDDING DANCE TO HEROE BY ENRIQUE IGLESIAS
​
In today's lesson:

• we worked on the transitions into and out of the slow bits and did a lot of practice around that
• we moved the dip and kiss into the middle of the slow section, so it wasn't being rushed
• we practised dancing to the whole track with three rounds of the sequence
• we refined the Arm Lock so Di was turning clockwise to her right (to Rob's left)
• we looked at learning some Merengue moves in our next lesson

SEQUENCE SUMMARY... 

• walk onto dance floor and connect in closed dance frame
• round 1 of sequence
• turning basic steps
• round 2 of sequence
• guitar and slow bit:
  • single steps turning in a body to body frame (cheek to cheek) with a dip and kiss in the middle (ideally when the guitar bit transitions to the slower music)
  • remember to pause after the dip, transfer weight to Rob's right leg and D's left leg, ie
• round 3 of sequence (after slow bit)
• hug and kiss

​REFER TO BACHATA VIDEO SECTION BELOW FOR ALL THE VIDEOS.

MERENGUE

Merengue has no structure; you just keep doing the 1-2 Merengue "march" and do a bunch of stuff with your arms. Feel free to check out my Merengue page for a preview here. 

Lesson F - Thursday 11 May 2023

​BACHATA WEDDING DANCE TO HEROE BY ENRIQUE IGLESIAS

​Practised sequence. Discussed DJ/MC will call people onto dancefloor after you do the dip (which will be either after your first or second round of the sequence).​

MERENGUE

There is very little structure to Merengue. There is no set count that you need to keep to. You could do a move in 4 counts, 8 counts, 16 counts or whatever!

• Merengue March - this is the base footwork and everything else is armwork
• Figure 8 Turns 
• Arm Lock 
• Cuddle
• Gateway
• Yoke

REFER TO MERENGUE VIDEO SECTION AT THE BOTTOM FOR ALL THE DANCE STEP VIDEOS. 

***** 2022 LESSON PLANS *****

Lesson 1 - Monday 31 October 2022

​​LESSON PLAN:
​

• SALSA:
  • Learned Forward & Back Basic Step
• BACHATA:
  • Learned Basic Step (Side)
  • Learned Underarm Turns of Follower
  • Learned Arm Lock (also called Hammer Lock)

Lesson 2 - Monday 7 November 2022

​LESSON PLAN:
​
SALSA

• Revised Forward & Back Basic and the different frames - palm to palm, peeking over the fence and closed dance frame
• Learned Figure 8 Turns 

BACHATA

• Revised Basic Step, Underarm Turn of Follower and Arm Lock
• Learned Leaders Turn - underarm and overarm variations

Lesson 3 - Monday 14 November 2022

​LESSON PLAN:

SALSA

• Revised Forward & Back Step
  • ​How to get from Two Handed Hold into Closed Frame, and vice versa
• Learned Side Step
  • Can be done in Two Handed Hold or in Closed Dance Frame
• Learned Open Out Step 
  • Lead - push and release with leader's left hand
  • Can be done in Two-Handed Hold or in Closed Dance Frame
  • Closed Dance Frame:
    • Leader's hand on follower's shoulder blade
    • Follower's hand on leader's shoulder 
• ​​Revised Figure 8 Turns (also called Ochos) as well as the different arm variations

BACHATA

• We didn't cover any Bachata in this lesson.

Lesson 4 - Monday 21 November 2022

​LESSON PLAN:​

SALSA

• Revised Figure 8 Turns / Ochos, specifically the 5 turn sequence outlined in the Ochos Video #4 Hand Switch Ochos

BACHATA

• Revised (a) Basic Step, (b) Underarm Turn of Follower, (c) Overarm Turn of Leader and (d) Arm Lock
  • ​Revision Sequence:
    
    • ​Full Basic Step
      
    • Underarm Turn of Follower then finish Basic Step
      
    • Overarm Turn of Leader - going into two-handed hold then finish Basic Step
    • Arm Lock of Follower and Exit
• Learned Cuddle (also called Cradles or Wraps)
  • ​We did one full Bachata Basic (that is, 1-2-3-4/tap, 5-6-7-8/tap) ending with Leader's RIGHT arm up on 8/tap
  • Turn Follower CLOCKWISE on 1-2-3-4/tap to her Right (to Leader's Left) with Leader's RIGHT arm (which stays up until you cuddle) and Leader's LEFT arm stays down (Follower essentially wraps into Leader's Left Arm)
  • Then unwind (turn Follower out in the opposite direction) on 5-6-7/tap
  • Refer to the Wraps & Hammerlocks video​

Lesson 5 - Monday 28 November 2022

SALSA

• No moves/revision covered.

​
BACHATA

• Revised Cuddles and Arm Locks
• Learned Crossed Hand Matador
• ​Learned Sweetheart Changing Sides

***** SALSA VIDEOS *****

1. Forward & Back Basic
2. Side Basic
3. Open Out Basic
4. Figure 8 Turns / Ochos

SALSA Basic Steps: (a) Forward & Back, (b) Side Step, (c) Open Out Step

VIDEO #1:
​This video shows three Salsa basic moves: Forward & Back Step, Side Step and Open Out Step (referred to as Cumbia Step or Halfswing in this video)

VIDEO #2
This video also includes three Salsa Basic Steps - (a) Forward & Back, (b) Side Step and (c) Open Out Step (called Cumbia Step in this video)

VIDEO #3
​This video provides a more detailed explanation of the Salsa Forward & Back Basic Step

SALSA: Figure 8 Turns (also called Ochos)

VIDEO #1: CHANGE IN PLACE

​​This video shows a move called Change of Place, which is the FIRST part of the Figure 8 Turn.
It shows that you can just do the first part and then exit.
​

• Rock Back and Turn the Follower with Leader's Left Hand on 1-2-3
• Back Basic on 5-6-7

VIDEO #2: BASIC OCHOS

​This video shows the Figure 8 Turns / Ochos using Leader's Left Hand Only and showing the Leader's Overarm Turn Version.

So the pattern in this video is:

• Rock Back and Turn of Follower with Leader's Left Hand on 1-2-3
• Rock Back and Leader's Overarm Turn on 5-6-7
• Rock Back and Turn of Follower with Leader's Left Hand on 1-2-3
• Back Basic (ie Rock Back footwork without the Rock Back momentum) on 5-6-7
• Then go into Forward & Back Basic

VIDEO #3: CASCADING OCHOS
​
​This video is called CASCADING OCHOS - which is basically the version of Figure 8 Turns / Ochos where the Leader changes hands:

• Start in Two Handed Hold
• Forward & Back Basic
• Rock Back and Turn Follower with Leader's LEFT Hand on 1-2-3 - Leader catches Follower's Left Hand with his RIGHT Hand
  • Notice how this move is much more connected.
    
  • Leader is tracing his arm around Follower's Back and down her Left Arm.
• Rock Back and Leader's Underarm Turn with Leader's RIGHT Hand on 5-6-7 (with what I call "platter hand" for Leader)
  • As Leader goes into his turn, he places the Follower's Right Hand on his Left side. 
  • Follower then traces her hand around Leader's back and Leader catches her hand with his Left hand.
• Rock Back and Turn Follower with Leader's LEFT Hand on 1-2-3
  
• Then Back Basic on 5-6-7 to exit the move

VIDEO #4: HAND SWITCH OCHOS

This video shows HAND SWITCH OCHOS - the different hand variations for the Ochos / Figure 8 Turns:

• Rock Back and Turn the Follower using Leader's Left Hand on 1-2-3
• Rock Back and Leader's Overarm Turn on 5-6-7 - finishing with Right-Right Handshake Hold
• Rock Back and Turn the Follower with Leader's Right Hand and Follower's Right Hand on 1-2-3
• Rock Back and Leader's Turn with Switch the Hands Behind the Back on 5-6-7
• Rock Back and Turn the Follower with Leader's Left Hand on 1-2-3
• Back Basic on 5-6-7

***** BACHATA VIDEOS *****

1. Basic Step (Side to Side Step)
2. Single Turns of Follower
3. Arm Locks
4. Cuddles
5. Cuddle with Walk & Kick
6. Leader Turns 
7. Sweetheart Changing Sides
8. Crossed-Hand Matador

Bachata: Basic Step​ (Side to Side Step)

Bachata: Practising Basic Turns to the Left & Right (without your partner)

Bachata: Basic Follower Turns (for the Lady) - Demo​

Bachata: Arm Locks and Cuddles - Demo

Arm Locks are referred to as Hammerlocks in this video. 
Cuddles are referred to as Wraps in this video; I've also heard them called Cradles.

Bachata: Cuddles (In & Out) - Lesson

This video explains how to get from closed dance frame to two-handed hold, then how to do the cuddles from both sides.

Bachata: Leader Turns

Bachata: Two-Handed turns for Leaders & Followers

Bachata: Crossed-Hand Matador

​​​

• Start in Two Hand Hold
• Do a Basic Step and change to Cross Hand Hold (right hands on top)
  • ​Lead: Right Arm UP on the tap
• ​Turn Follower to her Right (Leader's Left) with Leader's Right Hand. Leader keeps Left hand down so it wraps behind Follower.
• Both do Basic Step as Leader loops his Right Hand over Follower's Head, landing on Follower's Left Shoulder
• Free Spin of Follower (Leader uses his right hand on followr's left shoulder to guide her into free spin)
• Recapture into Two Hand Hold and Finish Basic Step

Bachata: Sweetheart Changing Sides

Called "Reverse Cross Hands Turn" in this video:
​

• Start with Bachata Basic to get into Cross Hand Hold with RIGHT hands on top - count: 1-2-3-4/tap, 5-6-7-8/tap
• Turn Follower Clockwise to get into Sweetheart position - count: 1-2-3-4/tap
  • Note: The video shows the Leader doing a Basic Step in the video, whereas I taught you to do Cross Behind Footwork. So, Rob, do whatever footwork works for you!
• Switch Sides in Sweetheart position - count: 5-6-7-8/tap
  • ​FOLLOWER: Follower does Reverse Basic Step when switching sides - refer to the second video below for more details on this footwork
    
  • LEADER: In our lesson, I showed you the leader's footwork as Cross Behind footwork. The video just does Basic Step. Once, again, choose whatever footwork works for the both of you.
• Switch Again - count: 1-2-3-4/tap
• Unwind Follower - count: 5-6-7-8/tap

Refer to the video up to 1:00 for the version I taught you in our private lesson.

The remainder of the video shows the move from the opposite side (ie start with half a basic then turning the follower to her left to get into sweetheart position).
​

​Reverse Basic Steps - this is the follower's footwork when switching sides in the Sweetheart position.
​

​***** MERENGUE VIDEOS *****

Merengue March
​

Merengue Basics

• Generally (like all the other Latin dance styles), the leader starts on his left foot and follower starts on her right.

Merengue: Single Arm Turns of Leader & Follower

We learned Figure 8 Turns in Merengue, where we swap places as we turn. We can actually do follower turns and leader turns on the spot. The video below and the one above shows you how. 

Merengue: Cuddle of Follower: Basic, Rotating/Turning & Changing Sides

Note: You may also find this step is referred to as Basket or Cradle.
​

• You can do Cuddle on both sides. Leader can move around the Follower so she can get into the Cuddle quicker.
• You can exit a Cuddle by simply unwinding the follower to get back into the two-handed position.
• When unwinding the follower from Cuddle, you can also keep turning her untl she gets into Arm Lock.
• You can also exit Cuddle by "flicking her out" - ie the Leader releases the hand in front and uses the hand behind the Follower's back to flick her out of the Cuddle position. 

The video below shows three moves:

• the Pretzel (Gateway with leader ducking in and out of back-to-back position)
• Cuddle Changing Sides with Flick Out Exit (using the arm leader has behind follower's back)
• Sombrero (which we haven't learned yet)

Merengue: Arm Lock (Hammerlock)

You can do Arm Lock on both sides. From the Arm Lock Position, you can:

• turn around on the spot
  
• go into Gateway
  
• unwind the Follower to get back into Two-Handed Hold

Merengue: Gateway

• The Gateway is the back-to-back move from the Arm Lock position. ​
• What I call the Gateway seems to have other names such as Colocho and Pretzel (although there are heaps of different versions of Pretzel in Merengue). 
• The first video shows the leader raising the follower's arm to walk under the "gate" to enter and exit - which is what I taught you in our lesson. 

This second video calls the move Pretzel and has the leader ducking under the follower's arm to enter and exit into the back-to-back position. ​ 

This third video (below) which is actually in Brazilian Portuguese calls the move "Labirinto". I've included the video as it uses the arms in a slightly different way, which you might like to try.​

Merengue: Figure 8 Turns

Do the Merengue March and use the same turning pattern and armwork as we learned in the Salsa Hand Switch Ochos here (video is also above in the Salsa section).

The video below (in Brazilian Portuguese) shows a simple version of the Merengue Figure 8 Turns where the Leader is simply using his Left hand to turn the Follower and turn himself (underarm turn). 

Merengue: Yoke

• In this video, the Yoke move seems to be part of a combination called Lazo.
  
• Unlike what I taught you, the video shows the Leader doing one arm at a time behind the Follower's and Leader's heads.
  
• You can turn around in the Yoke position. 
  
• You can also change to the opposite side by raising your arms up and switching directions.
  
• You exit the Yoke with the Leader letting go of the hand behind his head and running the hand behind the Follower's head down her arm.
• The video adds on with a bunch of other moves.