I recommend always to adapt to the level of the Follow. If she doesn't sense that you want forward momentum most of the time, you can reduce the use of figures that often triggers back-rocking, like DQN, Exhíbela and Enchufla. And when you do use those figures, you must focus on leading the Follow forward on one and five. If the Follow gets the message fast, good. If she doesn't, there is nothing to do about it. The Leader must then adapt to the Follow's low level and dance with her as if she is a beginner or a weak Follow. A social dance simply doesn't work if forward momentum has to be led again and again. It must be something the Follow does mostly by default when she senses in the beginning of the dance that's what the leader wants. What strategy to use also depends on the situation. If you are not likely to see that Follow again, just adapt to her way of dancing and get the best out of the situation. If it is a Follow you would like to dance with again, ask her for another dance right a way, and ask her if she wants to try a dance based on forward momentum, that is without back-rocking.
@SalsaSelfie I was being a bit tongue 'n cheek to be honest. It can't be incorrect to back rock of the peeps from that culture do I that way and they are old and have never left the island. It's preference
You are right. Back-rocking is by far the most common way to dance Cuban Salsa most places also in Cuba. Back-Rocking makes Casino very similar to all other dance styles, and for that reason also less interesting. We could just as well dance LA or e.g. New York style. “Always forward” on the other hand, is an educated dance school concept mostly for an elite that wants to take the dance to the next level but still realistic as a social dance. It turns Casino into a dance miracle unlike any other dance style and has the potential of making Casino second to none when it comes to computational options, creativity and musicality.
What about all those 65 year old untrained dancers I dance with on the street in Havana that sometimes back rock....
I recommend always to adapt to the level of the Follow. If she doesn't sense that you want forward momentum most of the time, you can reduce the use of figures that often triggers back-rocking, like DQN, Exhíbela and Enchufla. And when you do use those figures, you must focus on leading the Follow forward on one and five.
If the Follow gets the message fast, good. If she doesn't, there is nothing to do about it. The Leader must then adapt to the Follow's low level and dance with her as if she is a beginner or a weak Follow.
A social dance simply doesn't work if forward momentum has to be led again and again. It must be something the Follow does mostly by default when she senses in the beginning of the dance that's what the leader wants.
What strategy to use also depends on the situation. If you are not likely to see that Follow again, just adapt to her way of dancing and get the best out of the situation.
If it is a Follow you would like to dance with again, ask her for another dance right a way, and ask her if she wants to try a dance based on forward momentum, that is without back-rocking.
@SalsaSelfie I was being a bit tongue 'n cheek to be honest. It can't be incorrect to back rock of the peeps from that culture do I that way and they are old and have never left the island. It's preference
You are right. Back-rocking is by far the most common way to dance Cuban Salsa most places also in Cuba.
Back-Rocking makes Casino very similar to all other dance styles, and for that reason also less interesting. We could just as well dance LA or e.g. New York style.
“Always forward” on the other hand, is an educated dance school concept mostly for an elite that wants to take the dance to the next level but still realistic as a social dance.
It turns Casino into a dance miracle unlike any other dance style and has the potential of making Casino second to none when it comes to computational options, creativity and musicality.