Rainbow
in Melbourne 🇦🇺
An overhead arm arc that traces a rainbow shape over the follower's head — a traveling lasso that changes position.
Why it matters
The rainbow teaches leaders to create clear overhead arm paths without the follower needing to duck, strain, or guess. It develops vertical spatial awareness — most of bachata happens at hip-to-shoulder height, so going overhead is a deliberate vocabulary expansion. The rainbow is also a versatile transition tool: it changes the follower's facing direction, making it a smooth way to move between figure families.
The rainbow is an elevated arm figure where the leader guides the connected hands in a sweeping arc over the follower's head from one side to the other, like tracing a rainbow across the sky. Unlike the lasso which circles, the rainbow travels in one direction — from left to right or right to left — changing the follower's facing or position in the process. It's the arm path equivalent of a windshield wiper: one clean sweep that rearranges the partnership's geometry. The quality should be expansive, generous, and unhurried — a rainbow that rushes is just a hand waving over someone's head.
Beginner
From open hold with left hand to right hand, leader: lift the connected hands upward and sweep them in an arc from your left to your right, over the follower's head. Her body will naturally turn underneath the arc. Keep the arc high and wide — think of drawing a rainbow across the sky. She should never have to duck. Complete the arc and settle into whatever position the turn has created.
Intermediate
Chain the rainbow with turns and wraps. A rainbow followed by a lasso creates a continuous overhead phrase. A rainbow into a cuddle position transitions smoothly because the arm is already overhead. Practice rainbows in both directions and with both hands. Experiment with speed: a slow rainbow over 8 counts for musical effect versus a quick rainbow over 2 counts as a transition tool.
Advanced
Use double rainbows (one hand follows the other in quick succession), reversed rainbows (starting the arc and pulling it back before completion), and rainbow-to-wrap sequences where the overhead arc deposits the arm on the neck or shoulder. The advanced rainbow is a calligraphy stroke — it has speed variation, intentional arc shape, and musical timing that makes it feel like the arm is painting the air.
Practice drill
With a partner, do 10 rainbows from left to right, then 10 from right to left. On each one, the follower rates the comfort on a 1-5 scale. Adjust height, speed, and width until every rainbow scores a 5. Then chain alternating left-right-left rainbows for 32 counts of music.
Rainbow in Melbourne
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