Bachata
Right Turn / Inside Turn
Also known as: Inside turn, underarm turn (inside/outside naming is school-dependent — flag)
The workhorse turn. The follow's underarm turn from an open hand hold — the most-used turn in bachata.
Coach's notes — the how & why
What This Move Is
The follow's underarm turn from an open L-to-R hand hold, the most common turn in social bachata. The lead raises the connected hand and leads the follow around, usually changing the hand connection on exit.
Key Points
- Lead: Raise the connected hand and lead the body — not the arm — around; prep on the tap, then send.
- Follow: Prep, spot, turn under the arm across the travelling counts, and collect on the tap.
- Timing: Prep on 4 or 8, turn across 1-2-3, resolve on the tap.
- Common mistake: Lead yanking the arm instead of framing the body; follow over-rotating or failing to spot.
Style Notes
A CONNECTOR because it changes hand connection (L-to-R to R-to-R). Inside vs outside naming differs by school — define it for your students once and stay consistent.
Quick notes, not instruction — always learn moves in person with a qualified teacher.
- Musical use
Accent- Level
- Beginner
- Type
Turns & Patterns- Frame
Open- Style
Modern
Chains into
After this, you can flow into…
Learn these first
One way to flow
Go deeper with your coach
Own Right Turn / Inside Turn, 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
- Variations
- Musicality




