Quickstep, I got cut off before I was finished my previous message.

Just wanted to say Thank you, and I hope I can accomplish what you have suggested. Since you are so informative on this what do I practice for the following.

Another problem I have is keeping my balance to stay straight instead of lifting hips by rising up on my toes that creates a bounce look says my teacher. Keeping my upper part of the body still while settling when walking and holding on the 3 before doing the 4,1.

Is this just practice as well to stay more level when walking forward? Backward is easier when trying to maintain the Cuban motion.

Gloria. I would try to get Slavik and Katrina's DVD called Inovation on Cha or Rumba. I was just looking at the hip movement, which is the same for Rumba and Cha Cha basicly. She stands feet apart and talks about a pendulim swing from side to side. To that she adds a figure eight or infinity sign. As the hip goes to the left it is lifted. The same to the right. For me to write this is easy. I have a mental picture to copy. Nothing will beat looking for yourself. There are some differences in a Backward step. It is not just a forward step turned around. Also between the Cha Cha and the Rumba there are some slight differences on how the Walks are performed All this is explained..Balance can be as simple as having a turnout of both feet and dancing with pressure to the floor and not skimming over it. This is also dealt with. Good Luck

listen to the instructor that tells you to keep your shoulders straight, once you get a good feeling for this and you can control it then you can start playing with the music and your body and decide when you can express with the shoulder and when not to but you got to be in control of this movement,or else you will look like you are not in control of your body. Look at ballet dancer they raised the shoulder depending on the feeling they need to portray but you can see that this is being done deliveretly .