Carlos

“This movement has to happen on the axis. I don't think there should be any weight transfer here. The moment you transfer weight, you knock your partner off her axis.”

Walking through a head movement combination and stressing how to keep the partner's axis

“The intro is so important. You can throw in fancy combos after that, but if you get the intro right, she'll remember you.”

Explaining how to connect with your partner once the song starts, stressing the importance of the intro

“I want to create a safe space for her. I want her to feel that I'm going to take good care of her.”

On the attitude behind building a psychological connection with your partner in the intro

“I don't want it to feel like "welcome to my show" — I want it to feel like "okay, let's do this together."”

Contrasting two very different attitudes a leader can bring to a partner

“I think most followers are open to connecting once they feel safe.”

Closing thought on what you get out of a well-made intro

“Connection matters way more than musicality.”

Explaining what comes first — musicality or connection with your partner — in a bachata connection masterclass

“When I dance, my default is to always try to stay in the flow. I want her to feel like there's space to do whatever she wants.”

Comparing flow mode and frame mode while explaining his core leading philosophy

“I don't want to feel that you're pulling me here and I pull you here. It's not about this, it's about opening.”

Coaching a partner connection and stressing that the connection comes from the feeling of opening the frame, not from pulling each other