The main factor that makes this move interesting and is the de facto signature of this move is the fact that leaders will drop only the right hand after their first Sombrero and pick up the follower’s right hand again straight away but behind the follower’s left hand. This part is quite awkward to get used to initially and takes a lot of practise to be able to execute it smoothly especially when leading a Coca Cola from this position but it is a very nice visual effect that also features in some more complicated moves. It is important that leaders raise their hands at the right time and high enough for the followers to do their Coca Cola as it is easy to bump into each other if the Coca Cola is not prepared and signalled perfectly.
The name Ochenta Y Ocho meaning “eighty-eight” comes undoubtedly from the shapes the hands make when executing this move. The key feature that is specific to this move is when the leader’s hands change from the initial Sombrero into the Coca Cola starting position described above. It is at this point that the hands form a figure of eight at the end of sombrero followed by the leader dropping the follower’s right hand and picking it up again behind the follower’s left hand which creates another figure of eight. Therefore, the key feature of the move looks like an eight followed by another eight when looking at the hands and arms of the dancers, hence the name eighty-eight.
