Bachata
Right Turn / Inside Turn
BachataBeginneropen-handsModernconnector
The workhorse turn. The follow's underarm turn from an open hand hold — the most-used turn in bachata.
Also known as: Inside turn, underarm turn (inside/outside naming is school-dependent — flag)
This move builds: Frame & Lead-Follow Clarity …on the always-on five — Connection, Frame, Comfort, Posture, Consent.
- Entry
- open L-to-R
- Exit
- open R-to-R
- Tempo
- any
- Musical use
- accent
- Connector
- Yes — connects open L-to-R → open R-to-R vocabulary
- Level
- Beginner
- Cluster
- open-hands
- Style
- Modern
What This Move Is
The follow's underarm turn from an open L-to-R hand hold, the most common turn in social bachata. The lead raises the connected hand and leads the follow around, usually changing the hand connection on exit.
Key Points
- Lead: Raise the connected hand and lead the body — not the arm — around; prep on the tap, then send.
- Follow: Prep, spot, turn under the arm across the travelling counts, and collect on the tap.
- Timing: Prep on 4 or 8, turn across 1-2-3, resolve on the tap.
- Common mistake: Lead yanking the arm instead of framing the body; follow over-rotating or failing to spot.
Style Notes
A CONNECTOR because it changes hand connection (L-to-R to R-to-R). Inside vs outside naming differs by school — define it for your students once and stay consistent.
Chains into
After this, you can flow into…
Left Turn / Outside TurnIntermediateCross-Body LeadIntermediateHammerlockIntermediateHand-to-Hand ChangeBeginnerSensual TurnIntermediateCradle In-and-OutBeginnerBack-to-Back ChangeBeginnerLead's Half Turn (180)BeginnerS-TurnIntermediateHand Toss (Release & Catch)IntermediateDouble Inside TurnIntermediate