Salsa
Shoulder Catches
Also known as: Continuous shoulder catches
The leader catches the follower at the shoulder as she travels, redirecting her into the next change of place — strung together, the catches become a flowing, continuous run.
Coach's notes — the how & why
What This Move Is
A change-of-place family move where, instead of holding only the hands, the leader briefly catches the follower's shoulder to guide her across and redirect her. Repeated back and forth, the catches link into a smooth continuous pattern.
Lead & Follow It
The leader's catch is a light, clear contact that steers — never a grab or a push. The follower keeps travelling on her line and lets the catch turn her toward the next direction, staying soft through the shoulders.
The Thing Almost Everyone Gets Wrong
Gripping or stopping the follower with the catch. It should redirect momentum, not halt it — keep the hand light and the travel alive.
How It Connects
It chains naturally with cross-body leads and changes of place; use it to build a long, flowing passage before resolving back to open position.
Quick notes, not instruction — always learn moves in person with a qualified teacher.
- Musical use
- Level
- Intermediate
- Type
- Frame
- Style
Chains into
Layer this onto any move.
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Own Shoulder Catches, 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