Pizza Hold in Salsa On2: definition, module and class

Preview of the Left Turn Variations module

Taught in

Left Turn Variations, a module of Partnerwork 101

From the module notes

The Rule To Remember 🧭

You have seen right to right. Now left to left. For now, keep it this simple:

Right to right for all the right turns, her Right Turn, your Right Turn and the Outside Turn.

Left to left for the Left Turn.

Lead: Steps and Technique 🕺

Her Left Turn, left to left.

5 6 7, 1 2 3, then offer the hand on 5
5 6 7, 1 2, there is a preparation, 2 3, 5 6 7, and that is her Left Turn

The palm tells her what is happening. On the check you keep the palm up, which is what gives you the tension for the turn. When you actually want to lead her into the turn, the palm goes down.

The comb. This is the first time we do one. It is a basic right to left comb, and it is not a turn, because you are not giving her the space to turn and you are not changing her frame.

bring the left up, palm facing up. That is also called the pizza hold, because you are holding it like a pizza
bring the elbow up
the movement is only up and down, on 5 6 7. Up on 5, behind her head on 6, and 7
really go up, and let only the elbow fold
put it down on your right side, which is her left, let go, and trace

There are many variations of the up and down, and we go into those in the more advanced courses.

Your own Left Turn. Same idea as your own Right Turn. Her palm stays down, your fingers rotate, and you essentially give yourself the turn: 5 6 7, 1 2 3, prep, turn, back to the basic.

Follower: Steps and Technique 💃

While he is turning, here is a small styling detail you can add.

make a little roll with the forearm, only that part of the arm, using the elbow, not the whole arm
from there, stretch and take the whole arm up
your hand towards the ground, not out, not up
then comb your hair, the same way we did behind the head

💡 Drill it: Practise the comb on its own, up and down, nothing else. The moment it starts to look like a turn, you have added space that does not belong there.

🎯 Community

Practice without judging yourself. Every dancer started exactly where you are. Be patient. This lands in the body over months, not days. Record yourself. You will see things you cannot feel. Post it in the community tab, or on Instagram tagging the page.

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From the module notes

The Rule To Remember 🧭

You have seen right to right. Now left to left. For now, keep it this simple:

Right to right for all the right turns, her Right Turn, your Right Turn and the Outside Turn.

Left to left for the Left Turn.

Lead: Steps and Technique 🕺

Her Left Turn, left to left.

5 6 7, 1 2 3, then offer the hand on 5
5 6 7, 1 2, there is a preparation, 2 3, 5 6 7, and that is her Left Turn

The comb. This is the first time we do one. It is a basic right to left comb, and it is not a turn, because you are not giving her the space to turn and you are not changing her frame.

bring the left up, palm facing up. That is also called the pizza hold, because you are holding it like a pizza
bring the elbow up
the movement is only up and down, on 5 6 7. Up on 5, behind her head on 6, and 7
really go up, and let only the elbow fold
put it down on your right side, which is her left, let go, and trace

There are many variations of the up and down, and we go into those in the more advanced courses.

Your own Left Turn. Same idea as your own Right Turn. Her palm stays down, your fingers rotate, and you essentially give yourself the turn: 5 6 7, 1 2 3, prep, turn, back to the basic.

Follower: Steps and Technique 💃

While he is turning, here is a small styling detail you can add.

make a little roll with the forearm, only that part of the arm, using the elbow, not the whole arm
from there, stretch and take the whole arm up
your hand towards the ground, not out, not up
then comb your hair, the same way we did behind the head

💡 Drill it: Practise the comb on its own, up and down, nothing else. The moment it starts to look like a turn, you have added space that does not belong there.

🎯 Community

Practice without judging yourself. Every dancer started exactly where you are. Be patient. This lands in the body over months, not days. Record yourself. You will see things you cannot feel. Post it in the community tab, or on Instagram tagging the page.