Hello,
Man has a sway in step 3 and 6 in Opening Out Right to Left. When followed by a Spiral I see the same sway going from step 2 to 3 just before he spirals the lady. My question if anyone can answer this, does man always have the shoulder shaping and a sway between 2 and 3 of Natural Opening Out if Spiral was not preceded by Opening Out Right to Left.

I appreciate any comment.

Anne. If the Opening out is the one I am thinking of . We call it Opening out for the lady and the man does Cucarach's x 3. As the lady moves from my right side I am taught to shape to my right grasping the ladies hand with my left which is way above my head and over to the right. We then take two bars of music before the lady goes to the Fan Position after the Spiral. Eight bars of Rumba all told which includes the Alamana Turn at the beginning.. The Slow Spiral manoeuvre is to keep the group within eight bars of music.Good Luck

Mr. Serendipity. Thank you.
I want to ask one more favor. Just before you spiral a lady and lift your left arm, which side of your upper body is stretched? Is it the right side?

I am starting to learn the man's part, not that I am confident of my skills in dancing the lady's part. While learning man's lead I have come to have great respect for anyone who does the male lead well. Even a beginner gentlemen who trys their best to lead.

Anne . Yes I am taught to create half an arch to my right. This has the lady mirroring that shape. It also makes the Spiral for the lady a lot easier and more showy. If you are doing the man' s steps keep the arm up at shoulder level as you do the Cucarachas. You can produce another action in the Cucarachas which they call the Grab. All done with the free hand just as if you were grasping some ones clothing at the shoulders. You Grasp and then turn the wrist upwards whilst the arm is outstretched just before you draw it in.. That comes from Lorna Lee from a video called Latin Legeds. Keep going.
I'll add a bit more to this one. If you go to to www. dancesport. uk then to dancesport infonet on the right. Then to Donnie and Gaynor Freedom Dance Its there just below the top. I may be bias but I think it is one of the best Rumbas I have ever seen. You will see a version of the Opening Out if you keep your eye on the clock untill it reaches 6 mins 51 sec. The Rumba lasts for 8.1/2 minutes.

Is the Donnie and Gaynor Freedom Rumba still there?

I could not find it this time.

Paul and Dot.It was there two minutes ago but in a roundabout way. I went the normal way and got sound only. Then when I clicked to leave the site I got a picture. The next time I tried it came up straight away doing it the normal way. This time I filmed it just in case it goes for ever.
15 minutes later. Donnie and Gaynor are still there as normal. I've just been back.