Don,

Do you mean literally "all times"? Do you mean any figure during any Latin dance?

Guest. I won't say exactly what Hazel Fletcher'said about loose buttocks in a lecture I attended years ago. It was rather humorous. The message was tight at all times.

Thanks Don.

I would like to ask why the muscles in buttok should be in high tone throughout the dance ? Whether muscles over the buttocks have transient relaxation at some particular moment?

I tried , and found more strengh muscle tone over my pelvic abdominal muscles and standing buttock. No high muscle tone palpable on the swinging buttock region during the time from the passing point to forward heel onto its position. . The tone is increasing since foot fliction ...

In my mind use of equal tone of opposite muscle groups help stable frame , such as elbows line, side lines, head line etc .
Head weight+ relaxed anterior muscles + contracted posterior muscles generate body curve.
Lifting leg level involves contraction of belly core muscles +anterior lower limb muscles + relaxation / stretch of rear opposite muscles of lower limb. We contract and relax different part of muscles to create our outlook with music rhythm.

Strong anterior center tone obtained from up and in belly muscles + reacitive force from floor and head weight + shoulder weight , foot pression . Bryan said :a liitle central muscle used ,he pointed the region on clip. Tony told me just enough but not excessive muscle tone needed to avoid from the body rigid ( because he found I used too much upward streching and affected my swing) and let weight gravity convert into kenetic energy...
( I took his lesson in FEB 06. Of cource we had no time to discuss about the buttock muscle tone at that time.)

I understood buttock muscles must be involed when they were supporting body weight, driving body weight , rising ... which is easily to noted with its firmer changing. but I did not understand why it must be contracted in whole dance and possible is it? Looking forward to your teaching tip. Great thanks.

Dear Jild, From DVD of Luca ( basic waltz ). I noted lady's head extending beyond her hip , as you mentioned ,with her thighs and knees more toward man to avoid from heavy. and keep balance . (Loraine called it "back sway" resulting from particular muscles contraction ( direction toward her center : spine .)of her left side back , some degree of left shoulder blade rotation . Her posture and poise look soft, natural, girly and very graceful .
After 6 months searching ,learning, comparing, I am going to adhere to this couple's views and techniques mainly.
Great Internet ! Great top dancers ! Great friends on this website!!
ylchen

Yichen. You mentioned the ladies head and the action. It is very important that any exaggerated movement must come from the man's body position and balance .Just because the teacher , or you see on a tape, the head being used it cannot be put there just because the teacher said so.. Be aware of your partners position on the floor and work off him.Counter balance if you like Hope this makes sense.
A bit about Latin. In this the use of your arms is through your body. The arm does not go ahead of the body. If they did it would look very mechanical. Like the body is trying to fit in with the arms instead of the other way around.Hope this also makes sense.

Dear Don,
As you said : any exaggerated movement must be come from man's body position and balance. Yes, no selfserve.
I have fremarkable improvement in my head shape and frame within this 3-4 weeks due to training and leading by new coaches. I have 2 now.

Man's shape lady, It is part of his ability of leading. With my teacher's frame and balance, I got more natural girly frame and more reasonable counter banlance . My teacher instructed me to do head line extending exercise at home. But my neck is not long and smooth.
Don, Latin hands are difficult than its foot work . I wondered why some dancer's hands beautiful, and natural , some wild or too artificial.
One of the answer is that they should be through the body. Thanks for advice.
ylchen