Bachata
Left Turn / Outside Turn
Also known as: Outside turn
The mirror-image turn. The follow's outside turn, rotating away from the lead.
Coach's notes — the how & why
What This Move Is
The follow's outside turn, rotating away from the lead. It needs a clearer path and prep than the right turn and frequently resolves into a wrap or hammerlock.
Key Points
- Lead: Open the path and lead the follow to turn away from you; clear the arm so there is no collision.
- Follow: Turn outward, keep a compact frame, and spot.
- Timing: Prep on 4 or 8, turn across 1-2-3, resolve on the tap.
- Common mistake: Collision risk if the lead does not clear the arm path; the outside direction is less intuitive, so the follow may turn the wrong way.
Style Notes
The natural feeder into the wraps-locks cluster — an outside turn that does not fully unwind lands you in a hammerlock or cuddle.
Quick notes, not instruction — always learn moves in person with a qualified teacher.
- Musical use
- Level
- Intermediate
- Type
- Frame
- Style
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