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Cuban Motion in One Short Lesson

Seven Easy-to-Follow Steps to Developing Latin Body Action

Improve the way you dance salsa, mambo, merengue, rumba, and cha cha

Cuban Motion in One Short Lesson PLAY Windows Media Quicktime Flash Video Help

In Latin Dancing, it’s not the moves you do but how you move that’s really important. Historically, dance classes have focused on teaching the steps, not the action. Very few teachers have been successful at understanding how to break down and teach the Latin Body Action or “Cuban Motion.” Not knowing how to break it down, many teachers simply dictate, “move your hips.” Some believe you either have it or you don’t. Other teachers go into a long, complex, confusing explanation of theory that ends without providing a clear step-by-step approach. This short video cuts through the “BS” and gives you a short, simple, step-by-step guide to achieving Cuban Motion.

Video Script

Cuban motion comes mainly from the alternate bending and straightening of the knees. As a knee bends the same hip drops. Conversely, as a knee straightens, the same hip rises. Thus the hips move up and down. A common mistake is to twist the hips in an effort to achieve Cuban motion.
 

Step 1—Loosen Up by Bending and Straightening the Knees

Begin by standing in place with your feet together and alternately bending and straightening your left and right knees. As a knee bends allow the same hip to drop.
 

Step 2—Add Stepping Action to the Bending Action

Next, begin stepping in place and continue the alternate bending and straightening action. Try to make complete weight changes with each step. Remember; as a knee bends allow the same hip to drop.
 

Step 3—Make Distinct Steps Using Ball-Flat Footwork

The correct footwork is ball-flat for all steps. All steps are taken to the inside edge of the ball of the foot. The ball of the foot hits the floor first, and then you lower to the flat of the foot. All steps should be distinct. A mistake is to shuffle the feet. Again, try to make complete weight changes with each step.
 

Step 4—Add Contra-Body Action

The natural walking action of humans is for the right arm and shoulder to move forward as the left leg moves forward and conversely for the left arm and shoulder to move forward as the right leg moves forward. This is called contra-body action. Keep your hands above your waist and add contra-body upper body action to the stepping and bending action.
 

Step 5—Isolate the Rib Cage

In Latin dancing, steps to the side entail a natural lead of the rib cage. First loosen up the rib cage. Stand in place, hold your lower body still and move your rib cage alternately from left to right. Be careful not to tilt your upper body.
 
On steps to the side, the ribcage will lead as shown here. Thus as the left foot steps out to the left, the rib cage slides over to the left. Don’t forget that the left hip will drop as the left knee bends in preparation for stepping to the left.
 
The action we see here is important for meringue dancing. Again, be careful not to tilt your upper body.
 

Step 6—Put it all together

With your feet together, step in place, making distinct steps, using the ball-flat footwork. The stepping action should be accompanied by the alternate bending and straightening of the knees. Remember, as a knee bends, the same hip drops. Conversely, as a knee straightens, the same hip rises. This is why the steps feel like you are pushing into the floor. Incorporate the contra-body upper body action. Be sure to keep your hands above your waist. Now let’s go from stepping in place to making a basic mambo step pattern. The step timing is quick quick slow, quick quick slow. The small step to the side should entail a natural rib cage lead.
 

Step 7—The Most Important: Practice

At first, you will need to think about the actions and the steps. You might feel awkward. As you practice, everything will begin to feel natural and to look natural. Review and practice every day or as often as possible until the actions become as natural and as automatic as tying a shoe.
 
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