Plancha is a category of moves that precede Cuban salsa and is one of the common elements seen in Son Cubano. Plancha – literally meaning “Plank” - is a move where one partner freezes completely leaning slowly onto their other partner so that it looks like they are an immobile object in the process of falling over similarly to the practice of planking (a fad that became internationally popular in 2009). Even though it is a relatively old dance elements it is not often seen on the dance floor and is therefore often mistaken as an innovation rather than something that has been around long before Cuban salsa became popular. Similarly it is often one of the first Son Cubano elements Cuban dancers outside of Cuba are exposed to through the popularity of Cuban salsa due to Son Cubano itself being rarely taught and performed internationally. There are many ways to include Planchas into Cuban salsa but Sombrero Con Plancha is often the starting point for many dancers as it is relatively simple and well supported, so not too uncomfortable or dangerous for beginners contrary to some of the more difficult Plancha moves.
The hand sign for Sombrero con Plancha consists of the various hand signs for Sombrero (tapping the head with your free hand – see Rueda Hand Signs Part 3) and the hand sign for “Con” which is the moving together of the thumb and index finger of the free hand. This is then followed by the hand sign for Plancha which is a diagonally upwards facing hand to signal a plank lying in an elevated position.
The word “con” is optional both in the name of the move as well as the signal.
To see a video of the move Sombrero Con Plancha as well as the hand sign, please click on: https://youtu.be/qGfy2judI4k
