Today’s focus is on outside turn variations in salsa.
If you haven’t already watched the previous video on inside turn variations, check it out. The goal of both videos is to show you that while it might seem like salsa has a million different turns, there really are only a hand full offundamental movements. Once you know and understand them you’ll realize how everything else is just a variation of them, allowing you to stop focusing on patterns and start improvising more naturally.
7 Salsa Outside Turn Variations Worth Knowing
Outside Turn (left to right parallel handhold)
Outside Turn (right to left parallel handhold)
Outside turn (free spin from the hips, shoulder, or hand)
Outside turn to hammerlock (right to left handhold)
Outside turn (right to right handshake handhold)
Semi circle/windmill (right to right handhold)
Touch and Go (crossed hands, right on top)
Bonus: Behind the back hand-switch (start with a left to right handhold, switch to right to right handhold)
Final Thoughts
If you enjoyed these variations, check out our online Salsa Program for full breakdowns and structured learning that helps you go beyond memorization. Each lesson is designed to make you a confident, musical, and adaptable social dancer.
Many salsa dancers, especially beginners, feel intimidated when they have to break away from their partners and dance solo. If that sounds familiar, don’t worry. Today, I’m giving you five simple shines that will help you stay confident and comfortable when dancing alone.
I’ll first walk you through each individual step, and then we’ll put on some music so you can follow along and have fun.
Shines Are About Expression, Not Impressing
Shines are not about showing off or proving yourself to your partner. Instead, they’re an opportunity to enjoy the music, express yourself, and keep the connection with your partner even while dancing solo. You don’t need to turn away and disconnect; keep eye contact, engage with the moment, and just have fun.
1. Basic Steps with a Cross
The first shine is more of a concept than a single move. You take your basic salsa steps—side to side, front to back, or even diagonally—and simply add a cross step.
Side Basic with a Cross: Step to the side, then cross your foot in front. Repeat on the other side.
Front Basic with a Cross: Do your front break step and then cross that same foot in front of the other. Repeat on the other side.
Back Basic with a Cross: Do your back break step and then take that same foot and cross it in front. Repeat on the other side.
This slight variation adds flavor to your basics and helps you break out of the standard front-and-back motion.
2. Front Basic with a Behind Step
Instead of the usual front-and-together basic step, add a step behind:
Step forward, then place the other foot behind.
Use the ball of your foot to push off.
Your second step can scoot in slightly before stepping behind.
This creates a subtle change in dynamics and makes your movement smoother and more versatile.
3. Chord Beat Walks
This shine focuses on walking on the strong beats (1, 3, 5, 7) rather than using the full salsa rhythm.
From any basic step, transition into walking on the 1, 3, 5, and 7.
Walk forward, backward, or sideways.
Add your own flair, like body movement, shoulder shimmies, or a slight bounce.
There is no strict pattern for your feet—just keep stepping on those strong beats and let the music guide you.
4. Step Touch with Full Counts
This shine introduces full-count movements (1 through 8) instead of only stepping on the chord/strong beats.
From a basic step, transition into a step-touch pattern: step, then tap your foot lightly beside your standing leg.
Keep it going for at least a full eight-count.
Move forward, backward, or even in a circle.
Try varying the size of your steps for more dynamic movement.
You can mix and match this shine with the chord beat walks for extra versatility.
5. The Son Step
The Son step is traditionally danced on 2, but we can also use it on 1 in this context.
Take your break step in place, slightly behind the other foot.
Rock back on your second step and then project to the side. Repeat.
Change directions or travel around the floor as you feel.
How to Make These Shines Work for You
The key to doing shines with confidence is understanding that there’s no single “correct” way to do it. The goal is to connect with the music and express how it makes you feel. If the song is groovy and laid-back, use simple, grounded steps. If it’s more energetic, you can go bigger or be more energetic with your movements. Focus on how the music makes you feel. Show that.
Remember:
Don’t worry about impressing anyone.
Don’t disconnect and forget about your partner. You can vibe off each other’s energy and steps.
Let the music guide your movement.
Have fun!
By practicing these five shines, you’ll never feel lost when dancing alone again. Instead, you’ll embrace the moment with confidence and style!
Ready to level up?
Try our online salsa and bachata programs free for a whole week. There’s plenty you can practice solo and there’s no credit card needed for the trial.
Here are nine salsa turns all salsa dancers should know. Why do you care?
All of you practice solo footwork in class but most of you don’t understand how to apply those steps in partner work and social dancing, therefore not realizing their importance.
I’m going to show you how each turn is executed solo first and then how the turn gets used in salsa partner work, by both leads and follows.
Watch the video for examples of each turn and how they’re used in social dancing.
Right Turn
The right turn can be used by both leads and follows, on its own or in a combination where partners take turns turning.
It’s also a useful turn the lead can use to change directions. A common example is a right turn, to hand toss and then leading the follow into an inside turn.
Left Turn
The left can be used in a similar to the right turn – on it’s own or taking turns with your partner.
Additionally the left turn is super useful for a cross body lead variation called a suave where the lead performs the left turn as they to the cross body lead. There are many variations of the suave but the common thread is they all use the left turn footwork.
Inside Turn
An inside turn is a cross body lead with 1.5 left turns for the follow.
I’ve made a separate video on 7 Inside Turn Variations You Should Know.
Outside Turn
An outside turn is a cross body lead with 1.5 right turns for the follow.
I’ve made a separate video on 7 Outside Turn Variations You Should Know.
Half and Half
The half half starts with the right turn footwork, stepping forward on the left and pivoting to the right and then is repeated on the other side, stepping forward with the right and pivoting to the left.
It’s use comes in the pivots. As a leader, you’re constantly pivoting your feet when doing partner work.
One clear example is using the half and half footwork to lead a cross body lead.
Spot Turn
The spot turn uses a prep and then turns on the spot, in place. You can turn to the right or left.
These turns are used in so many different situations for both leads and follows and are a must-know.
Leads often use them for themselves after leading a single right or left turn for the follow. They’re also very commonly used after leading double right turns for the follow.
Double Turn
The classic double turn is a must-have. You’ll use it a ton as a follower and it’s the gateway to doing 3+ turns.
You don’t execute this turn much for yourself as a lead, but you’ll be leading follows through it.
In the video above, I paired the double turn for the follow with a right or left spot turn for the lead.
Half Spot Turn
The half spot turn is the same as the previous version, just a 180 degree version.
It’s commonly used for the lead to turn away from the follow, so the follow is in a shadow position, and then the leader guide’s the follow into a right turn while their back is facing the follow.
Hook Turn
The hook turn is a staple turn in both casino (cuban salsa) and linear salsa. It’s versatile and very useful.
In the video I demonstrate it alongside three different steps: the cross body lead, the change of place (called enchufla in cuban salsa), and a right turn for the follow.
Wrap-up
Master these 9 salsa turns solo first and you’ll be so much more prepared with the coordination and precision of your footwork when you do partner work.
Everything is progressive, one step at a time, and I hope that’s the message you’ve got from this video and post.
When laid out well, salsa isn’t overly complex. A high-level of social dancing is achievable by anyone with a teacher who knows how to develop you layer by layer.
That’s what we do here at Dance Dojo.
Ready to Level Up?
Try our online salsa and bachata programs free for a whole week, start learning these turns and prepare yourself for better partner work. No credit card needed.
You now know how to identify your partner’s comfort zone and adjust what you do and how you do it, so let’s learn how to play within those constraints.
Since you can’t do advanced moves, how do you find those moments to play with your partner?
What are some ideas you can try during a dance to have fun?
Tip #1: Find Ways to Play Within Their Abilities
When you’re playing, if she makes a mistake, just smile and pretend that’s what you meant to do. Nobody likes to feel like they’re making mistakes. Dance is not about being perfect; it’s about having fun together. People remember how you make them feel. If you make them feel great, they’ll want to come back and improve. If you give them a negative experience, they won’t have fun or keep dancing. It’s all about playing and having fun.
Tip #2: Keep Partner Work Simple and Playful
In partner work, keep her movements simple and add complexity for yourself. Add playful movements whenever you can:
Hair Brushes and Head Loops:
Add a check during a cross body lead
Put her arm on your shoulder or back and turn your head underneath it
Interlock Arms and do a basic beside her
Interlock Arms and rotate around each other
Go into a hammerlock and walk around each other in a circle like in cuban style salsa.
Tip #3: Playful Shines
When you let go of her for shines, she might be nervous if you just do your own thing. Instead, make eye contact and do a simple step with body movement that’s easy for her to copy. This will help her relax and have fun. Here are a few ideas:
Stepping on Chord Beats: Step slowly on counts 1, 3, 5, and 7 toward or around her. Add a shoulder shimmy and a smile to give her energy.
Rotate on the spot: move around in a circle on the spot using the chord beats 1-3-5-7, adding shoulder or hip movements.
Do Enchuflas and Groove from side to side. As you switch sides, groove, have fun, make eye contact, then exit into an “enchufla” or something that flows nicely.
Tip #4: Example from Magna Gopal (see video)
Magna Gopal is an amazing dancer. She always finds moments to connect with her partner and have fun, regardless of their level. She listens before she speaks, paying attention to the music and her partner to find those moments to play. Check out her social dance videos for inspiration.
Summary
Listen Before You Speak: Pay attention to how your partner holds themself, how they move, and what they’re comfortable with.
Adjust Your Moves: Modify what you’re doing and how you do it.
Find Moments to Play: Have fun within the constraints of your partner’s comfort zone.
Understanding Inside and Outside Turns in Salsa and Bachata
Imagine this…
You were at a park and your friend asks, “What did you see?”
You: “I was walking down the path and saw people walking these four-legged animals. They were furry, had long noses, and were wagging their tails.”
Instead of giving this long description, you’d just say, “I saw some dogs.”
Lesson: use a name when it exists! It’s a shortcut.
Similarly, when explaining movement in dance, having names for everything helps students, teachers and partners clearly communicate.
So, let’s clarify the difference between inside and outside turns in both salsa and bachata.
Inside and Outside Turns in Salsa
In salsa, we use the lead as the reference point to classify if a turn is “inside” or “outside” Here’s how:
Line of Dance and Rails
In salsa, the line of dance is for the follow, while the lead has one rail on the right and one rail on the left. Think of them like railroad tracks.
When doing a cross body lead, the lead steps off the line of dance (the middle line) to open the path for the follow to walk across. The lead does this by getting on to the right rail.
Inside Turn
Using the lead as the reference point, an “inside turn” occurs when the follow executes a cross body lead with 1.5 turns towards the lead (turning to the left).
Outside Turn
Conversely, an outside turn happens when the follow does a cross body lead + 1.5 turns away from the lead (to their right).
An Alternative: Inside and Outside Turns in Bachata
If the lead is directly in front of the follow (like in bachata), the terms can change:
Inside Turn: follow’s arm moves across her body during the turn.
Outside Turn: follow’s arm moves away from her body during the turn.
This way of naming the turns is commonly used in bachata but may be applied in salsa in some cases or in some schools.
That said, the most common way of understanding inside and outside turns in salsa is what I mentioned in the previous section.
Bonus: How to Double Your Moves
Want to double your moves in Salsa? Here’s a quick tip:
Use Both Rails
Most beginner leads dance on the right rail, but you can also learn to dance on the left rail. This essentially doubles your move set.
Use the Reverse Cross Body Lead
When dancing on the left rail, perform a reverse cross body lead (see video above).
Inside and Outside Turns from the Left Rail
Reverse Inside Turn: follow does inside turn like normal, but lead is on the left rail.
Reverse Outside Turn: follow does outside turn like normal, but lead on the left rail.
By practicing moves on both sides, you effectively double your repertoire without learning entirely new steps.
Conclusion
Understanding inside and outside turns will enhance your dance communication. If there’s a name for something, you should know it.
It’s easier to say “inside turn” than “cross body with 1.5 turns to the left for the follow starting on ___ count. “
Whether you’re dancing salsa or bachata, knowing these naming conventions will help you improve faster and have more fun on the dance floor.
