Hi OK,
RE:
I don't think that anyone can do a Rumba Walk exactly the same as the other. We have different heights. Then there is the thickness of the thighs. calves and so on. One thing does stand out is the short to medium height person has an advantage over a tall person.

I respectfully disagree. A relatively tall couple demands presence on the dance floor (not abnormally tall). Of course a proportional body is important.

With regard to the schools of Rumba, I talked to a teacher last night, who was Slaviks student for years. She agrees that there are two major accepted styles.

Voco. Even among the elite they dont always agree. On you tube there is a lecture given by Salsberg assisted by Slavik. I dont like to see that said Slavik. I do said Salsberg. I was at a Seminar where Fletcher and Salsberg spoke about the turn out of the feet on a Rumba Walk. One believed the front foot should turn out. The other in his part of the Seminar said no. Both taught that the rear foot must turn out. And so it will go on. For those who compete The, at that time currant World Champion, in a lecture said. I dont care if you are a World Champion (he pointed to himself ) or a Bronze Medalist. When the pressure is on you will only dance about 75% of your best. On those very rare occasions you may get to a 100%. Make sure your 75% is better than your opponents 100%

OK,
Would you please give me a link to that video? (Salsberg & Slavik) I would be very interested to watch it.

With regard to the 75%, they are right. I find that at competition, under pressure, I fall back on my muscle-memory, even if that move was proven wrong and corrected long time ago, unless I concentrate to execute that particular movement correctly. On the other hand, such concentration makes me look rigid and unnatural.

Well, we all know that dancing is not easy except for a few geniuses like Slavik - one in a million. For most of us simple mortals, it is a constant process of getting rid of the old bad habits and put the corrected version in muscle memory.

Voco The way I go to the Salsberg Slavik Video is first .Google Espen Lecture. Zip along to 30.27. If you watch the whole thing right through you will find the answer to several thing you have been writing about. Please come back and say if you have changed any of your opinions or have learnt anything from the Lecture. Take a close look at 25.26. Very interesting as is the whole Lecture. Another part is going from the Cuban Motion to an Emotional action and then back to the Cuban Motion all within a couple of bars of music. I found the Delayed Forward Walk also very interesting. Especially where the body weight should be.

Its not easy to explain the Rumba Walls in detail. The step forward is followed by a movement of the hip. The weight is not completely over the front foot. The rear foot still has a fair amount of weight on it. The rear foot is turned into a Latin Cross Position and is still behind . Toe to Heel. From the front the rear leg is hidden by the front leg. The rear hip is still not completely under the body . When it arrives you have danced your weight completely onto what was the front foot and is now the standing foot. When looking at a demonstration look for this action.

Hi OZ,

What you describe is pretty much the way Slavik and Karina teaches it (in the video quoted somewhere in the above posts). My point was that Allen Tornsberg, an equally great dancer and recognized teacher, teaches it differently (as quoted somewhere above).

So my question was if there are 2 recognized schools. I have the answer in the meantime by talking with some advanced teachers who said, yes, there are two schools, and both are correct in competition.

Hi OK,
RE: (6/2/2014 2:39:00 AM)the footwork on the Cha Cha Chasse

Would you describe that change? Or provide a link?
Thanks.

Voco. Hi. Google The Cha Cha Time Step. It will tell you all you need to know. It is presented by Stefan Green and Adriana Sigona. You will notice the Half Close which is now Close. Footwork. Before was ball Flat throughout. It is now
Ball Flat. Ball. Ball Flat. This is a official WDSF presentation.

Hi OK,

The 3 ball-flat chasse versions have not been danced in competitions for probably at least decade. It looks slow and rigid. I realize that it has been on the books, but the competitors just ignored the book.

It appears that the current tendency is to speed up the 4-And in order to have enough time to accent the 1. Do you agree?

Voco. I expect you often see the Cha Cha Chasse danced wrong especially in the social scene in which the three steps are wrongly given an equal value. As you know the correct timing is 1/2 . 1/2. 1. I still have the former I.S.T.D. Technique Book 1983 Edition.In it they don't even bother to state the timing, it just says 4 & 1. Back to the real world. If you do move the closing foot in faster to accent the whole beat your timing would more likely be 3/4 . 1/4 1. I suppose it then depends on the judges. They would be very quick if they could pick it. If you look good, why not do it that way.