Moves

Moves and positions shared by several Cuban dances — son, casino and timba.

Moves

• Closed position
  In closed position partners dance close together in the casino hold. It is the foundation of timba dancing and suits the calmer, groove-based parts of the music, such as the marcha abajo.
• Open position
  In open position partners stand apart, holding one or two hands or briefly letting go altogether. There is room for bigger figures, turns and styling, which suits the energetic parts of the music, such as the marcha arriba.
• Suelta
  Suelta is dancing apart from your partner, solo — in son, casino and timba. In timba it is more grounded and contained than despelote — a cooler, more controlled individual expression that still responds directly to the music.