Salsa
Hand Toss / Hand Change
SalsaIntermediatePosition-ChangesBothconnector
Swap the hold without a turn. A downward toss that changes which hand is joined or passes the hand behind the back.
This move builds: Frame & Lead-Follow Clarity …on the always-on five — Connection, Frame, Comfort, Posture, Consent.
- Entry
- open, L-to-R or R-to-R, facing
- Exit
- open, hold changed, facing
- Tempo
- any
- Musical use
- accent/filler
- Connector
- Yes — connects open, L-to-R or R-to-R, facing → open, hold changed, facing vocabulary
- Level
- Intermediate
- Cluster
- Position-Changes
- Style
- Both
What This Move Is
Connecting at the wrist, the lead makes a small circle and tosses the hand downward and slightly back so the arm ends behind the follow — or, to change hands, tosses down, lets her continue, and re-collects with the other hand. The key is that the intention is down, not sideways, so it doesn't read as a turn.
Key Points
- Lead: Toss downward, not horizontally — a sideways toss makes the follow spin by mistake.
- Follow: Receive the toss, continue the down/behind motion yourself, and offer the hand back; don't read it as a turn.
- Timing: On1 prep on 7, execute on the following 3; On2 prep on 8, break on 2.
- Common mistake: Tossing too horizontally so the follow reads it as a turn.
Style Notes
A snappy little accent that quietly re-tools your hold so a different family of moves becomes legal. Sharp and percussive on a music hit.
Chains into
After this, you can flow into…