Too old for Cuban motion?

[Incertus]

Hi, I've been Latin dancing for a couple of years and really enjoy it, but teachers have commented that my upper body and hips still aren't moving enough. I am in my mid-thirties - am I too old and stiff to learn proper Cuban motion at my age?

 

[etp777]

Too old? no. Too stiff, maybe for now. It is definitely somethign that you have to work into. I'm at least 5 years younger than you and hips still don't move as well as I want. Keep at it, and ask your teachers for stretching/exercises to help relax(strengthen? whatever ) hip flexors.

And welcome to DF!

 

[Incertus]

Too old? no. Too stiff, maybe for now. It is definitely somethign that you have to work into. I'm at least 5 years younger than you and hips still don't move as well as I want. Keep at it, and ask your teachers for stretching/exercises to help relax(strengthen? whatever ) hip flexors.

And welcome to DF!

Cheers dude, thanks for the advice!

 

[dlgodud]

Hi, I've been Latin dancing for a couple of years and really enjoy it, but teachers have commented that my upper body and hips still aren't moving enough. I am in my mid-thirties - am I too old and stiff to learn proper Cuban motion at my age?

:shock:

 

[wonderwoman]

Mid-thirties is not too old for anything! I'm 24 and I'm not getting it either so it's not an age thing necessarily.

 

[White Chacha]

I learned some at 40+...

 

[TAK]

Mid-thirties is not too old for anything! I'm 24 and I'm not getting it either so it's not an age thing necessarily.

Yeah, you should see younger people try to do it.

I'm glad I didn't have the age excuse or I might have given up! But I'm glad I didn't give up. I've improved a lot (I'm still improving!) and I'm sure you will be able to do the same.

 

[davedove]

Yeah, age has nothing to do with it. I'm in my forties and I learned it. My main problem is that it just doesn't come naturally to me. So, I have to learn a step and then "apply" the Cuban Motion to it.

 

[ireniecat]

Yeah, age has nothing to do with it. I'm in my forties and I learned it. My main problem is that it just doesn't come naturally to me. So, I have to learn a step and then "apply" the Cuban Motion to it.

I think that's how most of us have to do it

 

[singndance]

I am in my mid-thirties - am I too old and stiff to learn proper Cuban motion at my age?

Oh goodness, mid-thirties - no way are you too old! Have your instructor discuss the proper foot and knee action that goes along with the hips, and ask for exercises, as ETP pointed out. It takes practice, but I have seen people much older than mid-thirties learn cuban motion, myself included. Your instructor may also be able to give you isolation exercises to get the desired motion in your upper body too. Good luck!

 

[j_alexandra]

Age has Nothing to do with cuban motion. Hip flexors, extensors, psoas, abdominals, etc, do. And the will to do it. And stretching. And practice.

 

[latingal]

Welcome to DF incertus!

Definitely not too old for cuban motion. Good cuban motion can be quite complex (unless you're one of the lucky few whom it's natural to or you're like...six *grin*), hang in there and know that it takes time.

 

[Incertus]

Welcome to DF incertus!

Definitely not too old for cuban motion. Good cuban motion can be quite complex (unless you're one of the lucky few whom it's natural to or you're like...six *grin*), hang in there and know that it takes time.

Thanks for your encouragement! I've only recently started having 1-2-1s with an instructor and already it's started to help. I am definitely a bit stiff so some stretching is the way to go!

 

[tsb]

try wearing a thong and loosening it without using your hands. your cuban motion should improve accordingly.

seriously, i found it easier to master taking a bottom-up approach (toe-heel and straightening the knee) vs. a top down approach. YMMV.

 

[BallandChange]

I am in my mid 50s and always working on it, so it can be done at any age, and my coach is always asking for more and more and more. . All the advice given in the previous posts are really good. I started with my legs and footwork, alternating legs between locked knee and bent knee and pressing into the floor. Concurrently I used isolation and stretching exercises to help me my body movement. Properly doing your arm work will also help you with your body movement. Now having said that it is always not enough and constant work!!