Sombrero
Beginner Level
The foundation — what every new dancer needs to know
A figure where the arm passes over both partners' heads like putting on a wide-brimmed hat — the move that makes beginners gasp.
Beginner focus
From open position, leader: lift your left hand (holding follower's right) and arc it over her head from right to left, continuing the arc until it passes over your own head and comes down on your right side. The follower turns under the arm while you turn under it as well. You should end in a wrapped position. The entire movement should take 8 counts and feel like one continuous, flowing arc. Keep the arm path high — nobody should duck.
Tips
- •The arm path should feel like it's drawing a hill with two peaks — one over her head, one over yours. If it feels flat, the arc isn't high enough.
- •Leader: practice the arm path solo first. Stand in front of a mirror and trace the sombrero arc with one arm, watching the shape. It should look like an inverted U.
- •Height matters. If your follower is significantly shorter, you need to bend your knees slightly as the arm passes over her. If she's taller, extend fully.
Common mistakes
- •Making the arc too tight, causing one or both partners to duck uncomfortably
- •Losing hand grip during the overhead portion because of poor grip rotation management
- •Rushing the arm over the second head (usually the leader's own), making it sloppy
- •Forgetting to turn the body under the arm — the sombrero requires both partners to rotate, not just move arms
Practice drill
Sombrero entry and exit, 15 repetitions. On each rep, exit into a different position: rep 1 exit to open, rep 2 exit to cuddle, rep 3 exit to back-to-back, rep 4 exit to sweetheart, rep 5 exit with a turn. Cycle through exits. This teaches you that the sombrero is a transition device with multiple endpoints.