Advanced
Sombrero
Advanced Level
Full mastery — nuance, personal expression, and artistry
A figure where the arm passes over both partners' heads like putting on a wide-brimmed hat — the move that makes beginners gasp.
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.