Bachata
Lady's Outside Turn (from Open)
Also known as: left turn, outside underarm turn (inside/outside naming is follow-referenced and school-dependent — flag)
The turn that goes the other way. She turns away from you instead of toward you — same prep, opposite direction, and a whole new exit to play with.
Coach's notes — the how & why
What This Move Is
From an open two-hand hold, the lead preps and sends the follow turning away from him (to her right) rather than toward him. It's the mirror of the inside turn, and having both means you can turn her in either direction on demand — the start of real variety.
Key Points
- Lead: Prep slightly earlier than an inside turn (on the 5-side of the bar); guide the body to rotate outward, releasing the spare hand cleanly.
- Follow: Turn over your right shoulder, spot, and keep the turn on your own axis — outside turns drift if you let the arm pull you.
- Timing: Prep on the tap, turn across 1-2-3, collect on the tap.
- Common mistake: Lead muscling her around because outside feels harder to lead. It's still body-led; the hand only frames the axis.
Style Notes
This is the beginner Modern outside turn, led simply from open two-hand. It overlaps with the I1 Left/Outside Turn (B014) but enters from a simpler hold and doesn't demand a chain-out — teach this first. Direction names are follow-referenced; define them once for your students.
Quick notes, not instruction — always learn moves in person with a qualified teacher.
- Musical use
- Level
- Beginner
- Type
- Frame
- Style
Chains into
After this, you can flow into…
Learn these first
One way to flow
Go deeper with your coach
Own Lady's Outside Turn (from Open), then make it yours
This page is free, always. Your online coach goes further on every move you own — styling that makes it look like you, variations to keep it fresh, and how to hit it on the music.
- Styling
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