Dancing Tips - Cuban Motion

By Stanley McCalla

Hello there! I hope everything is well with you & that you have made use of the exercises mentioned in the previous articles.

Today I want to talk to you about Cuban motion and how you can practice it.

Cuban motion is described as the lateral motion of the hips which occurs as a result of the flexing and straightening of the knees and never a conscious swing of the hips. You can use this technique in the Rumba, Bolero, Mambo, Cha Cha, Merengue, and Salsa, to name a few.

Stand with your back straight, your shoulders lined up over your hips, your center pulled toward your spine, feet together with toes turned out. You should feel that your weight is poised towards the balls of your feet.

Start by bending one knee at a time, and then straighten it. While doing this, you should control the movement through the center of your body. In order to feel your center, tighten your stomach muscles as well as your plexus muscle.

You should then feel the natural and lateral motion of your hips. If you don’t, then your posture is incorrect.

Once you feel the correct motion, try to use the same principle by taking a small step to the side with your L.F then slowly close your R.F to your L.F. All the while, remember the posture, the center and the bending and straightening of the knees one at a time.

Make sure that you confirm what you’re doing with your teacher.

Until next time, happy dancing,

Cheers,

Stanley Mc Calla
US Ten Dance Finalist
Fred Astaire National Smooth Champion
FADS National Dance Board Member Coach and Adjudicator
FADS Dance Board Examiner
jsmccalla@mindspring.com