Help for the Hips

[SwinginBoo]

I do a bit of Salsa. But I always feel a bit self-conscious about what my hips are doing. I want to look sexy like the image I have of a salsa dancer in my head. But I've never been sexy, so the movement feels awkward. :? Any suggestions for ways to get those hips moving?

[DanceMentor]

The action of the hips is, to a large degree, a result of the bending and straightening of the knees. Also, it looks a lot better when the toes are turned out. Try turning them in and you will see what I mean. Also, small steps helps to keep it from looking too exagerated. It took me a couple of months to learn it.

[SDsalsaguy]

Quick version:

:arrow: Take small steps
:arrow: Step onto the inside edge of a turned out foot
:arrow: Use a lot of foot pressure & role it forward around the toebox of your shoe to generate your back step
:arrow: always arive on a flexed leg and use the push out of it to generate your next step. [Note: this is what actually creates the hip actions in salsa -- not any delibverate hip swaying (the lear mark of a newbie).]
:arrow: On your back rocks try and do the same (as much as possible) and just think about compressing into the heel on the back rock, not actually stepping onto it (in which case you'd be too back weighted)

Hope that helps.

[Sarah]

Now you've had the technical rundown here's something to take your mind off what your a** is doing.
Go get yourself a trianglar scarf with about a 15cm long fringe on it, and tie it round your hips. If you're anything like me you won't be able to resist playing with how it moves when you swing your hips around, spin or whatever.
The guys seem to like it too - which I think I'll make another thread about.

Cheers
Sarah

[pygmalion]

I don't want to get too technical here. (I'm going leave that for boriken or brujo or salsarhythms, or somebody. :lol:) Actually, there is a step by step break down for Latin motion that you can practice.

At the beginning stages, though, I'd say forget about your hips completely. If you think about them, you'll unconsciously generate the movement from your hips, which is the wrong place. Just focus on bending and straightening your knees alternately while pushing into the floor with your feet. One leg bent and one leg straight at all times. The your hips will naturally move, responding to what your knees and feet are doing.

Like DM, it took me months of practice before my hips started moving, and I think that's true with most people new to the concept, so don't get discouraged if it doesn't come quickly. It does come, in time.

Have fun! :D

Jenn

[SwinginBoo]

Thanks a lot. You all are so helpful. I'm going to have to practice in the privacy of my own home.

Stephanie

[SDsalsaguy]

Keep us posted Steph... and save me a salsa! :D

[msc]

It's not easy, Stephanie. Don't feel bad if you struggle at first, everyone does, but if you stick with it, you'll slowly but surely improve.

[SwinginBoo]

Definitely will do, SD! :wink:

Thanks for the support. It's kind of sad when your boyfriend/leader's hips look sexier than yours. :( :D

[HothouseSalsero]

You're much better off not trying to force it. One really quick way to identify new salseras is to look for that exaggerated hip movement that results in a very non-aligned look (or something like that).

Sorry if that's not encouraging.

What others have said is also what I have learned: pay more attention to the feet and the knees. Pushing down with the inside of the foot as you step will help create that hip action.

I'd also say that in my observation many street dancers actually have a lot less "Cuban motion" than people who have taken lessons. Or at least, this is true for the men.

[Sagitta]

I'd also say that in my observation many street dancers actually have a lot less "Cuban motion" than people who have taken lessons. Or at least, this is true for the men.

I agree. :)

[hopelessly_addicted]

:arrow: Step onto the inside edge of a turned out foot
:arrow: Use a lot of foot pressure & role it forward around the toebox of your shoe to generate your back step
:arrow: always arive on a flexed leg and use the push out of it to generate your next step.

Say I'm arriving on my left flexed leg (stepping foward). Here, I should step onto the inside edge of the ball of my left foot.

Right. When I do this with a lot of foot pressure, my left knee doesn't move forward. Rather, the knee does a slight circular movement anti-clockwise as my left foot now pushes out the ground to generate my next step. Is this circular movement of the knee correct??

Gosh I dunno when I'd ever feel comfortable doing the 'basic' step of salsa (this is my 6th month of dancing salsa). It seems basic/easy enough but this is what gets back to me everytime :oops:

I'm asking the above question because I've received a feedback that I've got a very circular rhythem (although I have a good feel of rhythem if that makes any sense for you)... I think this means two things: 1) I don't pause enough on 3 and 7 (when dancing on1) 2) not enough leg action (and possibly hip action). Now I know that I should be wary of any swaying of hip, but I've received an advise to put an accent on my hip by settling back on it. So I'm trying to figure out how to do this correctly...