Salsa
El Dos
The two. El Uno's shadow-walk dialogue extended into a second phase — same conversation, one chapter longer.
What This Move Is
El Dos = "the two." The second member of the El Uno / El Dos / El Tres numeric family. It opens like El Uno — the lead ends up behind the follow leading the shadow-position forward/back walk — then adds a second position-change phase before resolving, making it a longer two-part figure than El Uno. Exact club choreography may vary — verify against your teacher's version.
Key Points
- Lead: Establish the shadow walk cleanly as in El Uno, then lead the second phase without losing the hand connection on the transition.
- Follow: Mirror the forward/back walk in front of the lead, then follow the second change rather than resolving early.
- Timing: First phase across one 8-count (forward 1-2-3, pivot 4, back 5-6-7), the second phase across the next, resolve on the following 8.
- Common mistake: Treating it as a single El Uno and resolving after one phase — El Dos is two phases by definition.
Style Notes
Sits one step up the numeric ladder from El Uno (SL046); same playful shadow-position dialogue, extended. Same partner throughout, great on a sustained groove.
A video walkthrough for this move is on the way.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Type
- Position Changes
- Frame
- Open
- Style
- Cuban
Chains into
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Own El Dos, 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.
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