Merry Christmas to All.
I've noticed in the American CCC Chasse clips, on this site, (The clips are excellent. Thank you Jonathan) that the hips move lateral on each weight change, also the feet close on step two in the CCC Chasse clips. Laird stated that the hips only move through the three steps of the chasse once and the feet are apart. Is this because the chasse counts on the clips are slower than the actual speed in which the music is played or is this the way the American CCC Chasse is danced?

Curious.
I've viewed a Cha Cha video clip of Corky and Shirley Ballas. Corky's hips attempt to dance a figure 8 on the chasse but not Shirley's. Far too busy for me. I definitely prefer the Laird technique. Merry Xmas to you and everybody.

If Corky were really producing as full an action on his half-beats as he is on his whole beats, it might be too busy for my taste, too. I'd have to see the video for myself to be sure.

Of course, that's the extreme opposite of what Curious described as Laird's technique, as best I understood him. If I read his post correctly (and if he interpreted Laird correctly), the hip should settle into one position and remain for 3 steps. While that would certainly be less "busy", it would nonetheless be quite awkward.

If I was going to have no hip action at all, I would suggest keeping the hips neutral throughout. Beginners and social dancers do it all the time. But to my sensibilities, the "correct" action would be 3 changes, one per step, the first two being somewhat less than the third (which is a whole beat). The exact amount is a matter of taste, and of course, context (eg competitive vs social dancing, etc).

Regards,
Jonathan

It's a combination of things.

American style uses a slightly different technique than Int'l, although there are still several schools of thought in terms of what constitutes "correct" American style technique. But most people agree that there is at least some difference, so it doesn't really make sense to to quote Laird when discussing American style.

On the other hand...

If Laird really wants you to have only one hip change over three steps, and doesn't think the feet should fully close on the second "cha", then this technique is highly outdated, even for Int'l style. That would be considered extremely sloppy by today's standards. If you truly leave your hips in the same position for all 3 steps, it will probably look like bad EC Swing.

As for music, yes, that will always have some impact on the quality of movement, partly because of the tempo, and partly because dancers react differently when they hear music. But none of these factors should prevent foot closure or 3 hip actions over the three steps.

Latin hip action, by the way, generally isn't lateral. Hips rotate around the spine. It may appear to be lateral when the action is smaller, much in the same way a small section of a large circle may appear to be straight. So what you're seeing is a lesser action on counts "4&", which I would consider correct. Since counts "4&" last only a half-beat each, there is less time to complete the action.

Regards,
Jonathan

Thank you for the replies to my post of The CCC Chasse. The Laird technique states for the CCC Chasse to Right: 1. RF to side. R knee compressed. Hips commencing to move to R. 2. LF half closed to RF. Both knees compressed. Hips central. 3. RF to side. Both knees straight. Hips to R. I expect the majority of us know that Wally trained Donny Burns and Gaynor. After Donny he also trained Jukka Haapalainen and Sirpa Suutari with his wife Julie. Both of the above dancers have videos on the market. I will see if I can view one on the CCC. Merry Xmas.

Didn't Donnie/Gaynor change the technique to the straight leg look?

Curious. I have always been told that in a Cha Chasse to my left there is never a hip movement to the right. International style.

Curious. International style. Moving to the left. There is no hip to the right. What do we do in the Rumba on that last step to the left before a New York or Spot Turn.. So what is this discusion
about.

View the clips and see the hips rotate to the left on the 2nd step of a chasse to right plus the feet close.

Jonathan. Comimg back to. Is there a hip movement to the right on a Cha Chasse., and do the feet close. What i am observing is that the closing foot RF. the knee is bent, instep high, and the knees touching, therefore the knee is forward and slightly across the other, and the feet will not close. As we push of into step three of the Chasse( beat one ) the right hip should not give. There will be a Latin Hip on one LF. prior to a Spot Turn or a New York. The person who sugested that there is a hip to the right in the Rumba might find it a bit funny to then have to do a Latin Hip on one to the left.. All of the above does rely on the music being played at the correct tempo of course. Wonderful site this.