Rumba

[elisedance]

We did silver rumba in our lesson last night.  One thing that my instructor is really emphasizing now is sticking my steps.  And it's been a problem for me, in rumba and cha-cha particularly.  I guess it get it from smooth, where your feet are moving all the time, but I have a lot of trouble with unnecessary foot movement in the Latin dances.  Things like letting my standing foot rotate when it isn't supposed to, or dragging my moving foot through a step rather then stepping and placing.  Sometimes I fee like I my legs are made of concrete and I just can't make them move quickly enough.

I guess the precision is very important in Latin dancing. To do this, I believe you have to have strong legs and feet.

I'm always amazed at the speed of rotations and then the instant stops....

[pinkstuff]

Currently working on walks - have gone from dropping the moving hip joint too much to rotating with no settling action - never goes right, and I have a tendency to replace one problem with another 

Here's how i was taught how to do a rumba walk, this apparantly is the way in which walks are done in cha cha, rumba and samba. Start with you right foot back behind the left to try and create a line, make sure that both feet are turned our slightly, have the weight forward and pull up through the thighs to gain stability (if done properlly this should start working the muscles in the legs very quickly ). Push your left hip forward over the front leg, this should push the hip out while making sure that the back is straight and pelvis is not 'poking out', then as you move your right leg forward push both your hips forward into a neurtal position, still keeping your weight forward and your left leg straight, move your right leg out toes pointed until almost fully extended. Finally transfer you weight onto your right leg, pushing your right hip forward and making sure feet are turned out and standing leg is straight. Continue this until you don't feel like walking anymore

Hope it helps, if it's not clear i'll try and explain it again...

Zac

Now that I have been 'corrected' I am doing something similar to above.....the pain involved in getting there  and I still have a long way to go 

[pinkstuff]

Ugh, at the moment my hips do very little except drop too much resulting in a knock-kneed rumba walk (attractive, I know) or nothing.  I think because I am taught to release my hip to initiate the movement and then the follow this with the foot action, pushing from the standing foot, may be I am not getting it and I need to think of it some how differently?  I think the knee issue results from my lack of hip control and "dropping" the hip instead of just releasing.

Just to clarify, pinkstuff--you're in Australia and dancing International, right?

Somewhat late reply - international yes, but sadly am not in Australia..am enjoying a chilly European winter.

[samina]

I'm always amazed at the speed of rotations and then the instant stops....

one of the things i love and appreciate about the challenge of competitive rumba... how so much energy is managed with such apparent ease & control.

[elisedance]

yes, one would like to learn it just for itself ... love to watch the top-tracked youngsters practising...

[ZPomeroy]

Now that I have been 'corrected' I am doing something similar to above.....the pain involved in getting there  and I still have a long way to go 

Correcting habits, and creating new ones is a very hard thing to do. I've done plenty of that over the last year and still have many more to sort out.

Zac

[QPO]

and that applies to all styles 

[Some guy]

one of the things i love and appreciate about the challenge of competitive rumba... how so much energy is managed with such apparent ease & control.

Think about that for a moment Samina.  You'll be surprised at the secret behind the perceived paradox. 

[samina]

one of the things i love and appreciate about the challenge of competitive rumba... how so much energy is managed with such apparent ease & control.

Think about that for a moment Samina.  You'll be surprised at the secret behind the perceived paradox. 

i have a feeling what's on your mind was on mine when i wrote that...

[elisedance]

I take it its the challenge thats percieved ?

[Some guy]

Very intuitive Elise!