Butterfly

Butterfly is a Partnering Dance Technique. The dancers starts with the Leader doing an Open Break (see "Open Break") in an Open Dance Position with a Left to Left Hand Hold (see "Hand Holds") and with a Pressure Hand Connection (see "Hand Connection") above a Right to Right Hand Hold with a Pulling (Hook) Hand Connection. The Leader moves after the Open Break from left going to the back of the Follower (he brings the Left to Left Hand Hold over her head!) and ends in an Open Dance Position, but with the Follower standing with her back towards him.

The Follower just did a half Mambo Basic (see 'Mambo Basic') (3rd count). The Leader Breaks back with his right foot crossed behind his right foot (5th Dance Position) and the Follower breaks with her right foot forward (4th Dance Position). Because of the increasing tension in her arms (Basic Salsa Guideline: her arms never passes behind her centre!), and because the Leader pulling her back, the Follower will automatically "bounce" and make 2 steps to the back while the Leader makes 2 steps forward passing her left side (he brings th Right to Right Hand Hold over her head!) (6 & 7 count).

Now the Leader is standing at a 90 degrees angle to the Follower (with his right side towards her) and she just finished a whole Mambo Basic. He can reverse this process by breaking to the side (see "Side Break"), moving behind her, letting her bounce, passing her on right side, and ending at a 90 degrees angle in front of her (his left side towards the Follower) with his right foot crossed in front of his left foot. If he keeps repeating this process the Follower looks as if she's flying like a Butterfly.