More tutorials at my danceblog, SalsaSelfie.com, www.salsaselfie.com
The Grapevine is a universal dance pattern used in many dance styles. It is not common in Cuban Salsa. I don’t know of any named classic move containing a Grapevine figure. I have wanted to use such a figure in my Casino for a long time.
Fortunately, Grapevine figures are common in Cuban Son. I have looked at a lot of those figures for ideas for how to implement it in Salsa. Grapevine figures are not standardized in Son. The basic patterns are the same but each Lead seems to have his own versions for how to start, exit and continue the Grapevine.
* Grapevine in general *
We have two basic patterns, the asynchrone where the Lead crosses over as the Follow crosses behind and the synchrone pattern where the Lead and the Follow crosses behind or over simultaneously.
The Grapevine figures can be done as a basic figure of one count of eight or as a double figure with a count (or two) of eight in between to turn around and start the return. It is common that the first Grapevine uses a couple of steps to lead the Follow into the pattern making the actual mutual Grapevine rather short. And it is common that the second Grapevine figure starts the mutual Grapevine right away because the Follow has already been prepped, giving us a full count of the Grapevine pattern in the return figure.
Since the first Grapevine of one count of eight only have the the mutual Grapevine in the last half of the count of Eight, it is tempting to continue for a half or a full count of eight in the same direction. Such figures are feasible but since the Grapevine is a linear figure, it requires that the couple have the dance floor almost for themselves.
* Grapevine in Casino *
In Salsa, where Grapevines are rare, the Lead should choose robust and proven patterns that are easy to lead. One can always improvise with Follows that are used to Grapevines or when one has a basic Grapevine figure working with a particular Follow.
When I use the Grapevine figure (single or double), I tend to use the figure at least a couple of times during the dance in order to give my choreography a distinct look and feel. I like the idea of using “themes” in my dance.
* Grapevine with Walk-around *
I this tutorial I present my first Grapevine figure for Salsa. I want a dynamic figure that fits well into my style of dancing: Casino based on natural walking with no back-steps for the Follow except as an exception to the rule. The figure must be generalized and optimized, it must have textbook quality. It must be easy for anyone to recreate it: easy to teach, learn and execute and easy to remember.
Feel free to use it as if you have invented it yourself. Casino is more than 60 years old, and Cuban Son is much older. No matter what Grapevine figure we come up with, somebody probably did something similar in the past.
I call it “Grapevine with Walk-around”. The "Walk-around” is the exit and continuation between the two Grapevine figures. We have so many options for how to exit and continue that it makes sense to qualify Grapevine figure with the name that best describes the exit/continuation, in order to remember it.
* Grapevine recipe *
It starts in the Caída position, the Follow at the Lead’s right side. The Follow is in Caída position ready to step forward. The Lead is positioned sideways. This signals to the Follow that an unusual figure is up.
The Lead steps sideways on “1”, the Follow steps forward. Next, on "2", the Lead crosses behind as the Follow continues to step forward. The Lead’s behind step is one more signal to the Follow: A Grapevine pattern is up. On "3", the Lead steps sideways and the Follow step forward. The Follow has now had plenty of time to realize that it is a Grapevine figure.
Next, on "5", the Lead leads the Follow into a cross behind on “5” as he himself steps forward. On "6", the Lead steps sideways and and the Follow steps forward. Finally on "7", the Lead crosses behind as he makes the Follow step forward. And this is the end of the Grapevine proper.
The Exit is based on Lead’s Crusado Lateral. The Follow is led into a loose, short Exhibela type of Walk-around: Steps forward on "1-2" and returns on 3. The Follow can also do a proper Exhibela using the pause, "4", to pivot around. But I prefer a dynamic free-styling, one-off walk breaking the rules.
The Continuation is based on Lead’s Paseo Steps, walking under the Rodeo arm, turning around on "2", leading the Follow into Caída Position.
From the Caída Position the Lead can start a new Grapevine (in the videos I use the same Grapevine for the return) or continue with one of the very many figures that can be started from Caída Position: Saloneo, Paséala, Exhibela, Enchufla por la Derecho, Adiós Inverso or one of the many Dile Que No variations, etc.
- End -