The Ocho

Spanish for 'eight' because that is what would be left on the floor if the lady had chalk on her feet.
One way to lead a backward ocho: The man takes a side step to the open side. He secretly changes his weight whilst turning his chest to the open side. He takes another side step in same direction, leading the lady into the first step of the back ocho. To continue, the man turns his chest to alternate sides before side stepping in the direction his chest is pointing.

Tips for the man: If you keep your chest still between side steps, it will change the back ocho to a forward ocho, and vise versa, for the lady.

Tips for the woman: Between each step bring your feet and ankles together. Do not extend your foot until you are led to do so (ochos are a common area for anticipation.) Practice ochos on your own, you should be able to perform them backwards and forwards without leaning on a partner for support.

The Cross/Cruzada

Leading a cross gets you from parallel system into cross system or from cross system to parallel system. This happens because the woman takes one more step than the man in the same amount of time.

One way of leading a cross: Starting from cross system, the man takes the lady to the open side, by turning his chest. He takes a normal step with his left whilst turning his chest a little further to let his partner know what is coming. On the next step (right) he takes a longer step - aiming for the lady's back foot - and simultaneously brings his chest back to face the front. This will produce a cross for the woman because she will always try to stay in front of his chest.

Tips for the woman: keep your presence forward; you will be more sensitive to his lead. Keep the connection by turning your upper body to face his when you are taken to the side.
Tips for the man: When you take the lady to the side you must dissociate (chest to your partner, feet and hips forward) so that you don't lose the connection. Bring you chest back to face the front just as her foot on her leg nearest to you is about to touch the ground.

The Giro

In the giro, the man pivots on the spot and the woman moves around him, staying in front of his chest and stepping in a 'back, open, front, open' pattern.

In this animation the man lets go of his partner and makes an extra turn whilst doing a planeo with his free foot.

Tips for the woman: Make sure you step around him not away from him, especially on the back step. This means swivelling your hips right round before you take the step so that your leg can move freely in that direction.
Tips for the man: Don't lose the connection with your partner - make sure your upper body is with her no matter what is going on with your feet.