Ok, first of all, hi everyone, I'm a proffesional ballroom and latin american dance instructor and this Q goes out to everyone... please can anyone give me tips on how to instruct propper cuban motion in the latin dances?? Sure I've gotten to the part where they understand to step on the inside edge of the stepping foot without weight, but they just dont seem to get it right, any tips or ideas are appreciated.

Oh dear!

If you are a professional dance instructor, then we might reasonably hope that YOU would be telling US.

Perhaps you and InstructorTG should start your own chain school. Try packages of ten lessons for $5,000. That should pull 'em in.

Hahaha, I know how to teach it, its just that my students simply cannot grasp the concept, and quite frankly its drivng me insane! hehe

My 15 yr. old daughter is probably the ideal student, but some motions just takes time to develop. (doesn't happen overnight). Fortunatly for my daughter, her latin instructor hasn't given up on her, like I have seen with other instructors on their students.
I admire you for inquiring. No many instructors will admit they are having problems in instructing.
(Me thinks that Telemark may be one of them.)
I think the secret may be patience.

I began learning ballroom dancing four years ago and only after a full year of private lessons can I say that I'm beginning to dance with proper Cuban motion. My biggest problem was transferring Cuban motion from isolated exercises to incorporating it into my dance. But I'm getting there.

Have lots of patience, be constant in reminding your students about Cuban motion and always set an example.Emphasize Cuban motion in every style you teach. Don't expect them to immediately apply it across the (Latin) board. When you take a student to dance, use those first few moments just to sway transmitting the feel of Cuban motion.I've also come to understand that not all students are interested in "dancing correctly". They want to dance "their way" and won't invest the effort. But some will. And those will eventually get it. I did.

Emph. cuban motion in every "style" you teach ???.. I would hope not

Hehe, thanks everyone, If I look at all your replies I can see that it all boils down to basically just having patience...which I agree with, thaks alot! Maybe its the perfectionistic Virgo in me that just wants to pop out the entire time

Hi,

Is it the done thing to mention Youtube?

I found this link to Cuban Motion, I am at work unable to view it in it's entirity, any comments appreciated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsqQUHO_jug

Simba,


*sigh* okay so I agree with the assessment that Cuban Motion takes time. It really does, but for it to develop at all you must be able to intelligently explain to your students what exactly they are developing.

Depending on your framework, and whether or not you want your students to be any good, telling them to roll their foot, without weight isn't even proper technique. It is all that most are willing to do...but it isn't right. By the way if you are telling them not to take their feet off the floor, that isn't right either. You end up with mediocre dancers who don't know what the hell they are doing, and shlop from one movement to the other. There should be some crispness to Latin, which requires precise placement of the feet.

I'm going to give you very GOOD advice. Spend the money and get some coaching from either Linda Dean or Ron Montez, or any number of other high level professionals who can tell you what good Cuban Motion is and how to teach it to your students. Yes they are expensive and they are worth every penny.

In the meantime...Cuban Motion does not arise solely from the feet. It has much more to do with the knees, in terms of straightening and bending the knees at appropriate times, settling or not settling into the hips based on the step you are executing and maintaing proper balance. On top of that the hip movement and your lines come from the proper contractions and release of core muscles. You must also develop core strength because where your weight is over your foot determines if you are even in proper position to pivot or swivel. You can't control that weight without a strong core. You also can't control balance without a strong core.

Cuban motion also arises from proper foot placement, and that does not mean a foot roll with no weight. The only time you actually roll the foot like that is when you are going to the side and if you are doing it right, for a small moment in time as your feet collect your entire body weight will be on that rolled point of the foot. In forward motion and backwards you get a lot of the Cuban motion from rising one hip enough to allow the other foot to pass without any movement to the side (no ronde), which means inevitably the trailing foot must flip and drag the pretty little toes on the ground. As my instructor says, if there isn't blood or toenail polish in a trail behind you you didn't do it right. This is just the very basic beginnings. Every step has a different flavor and a dfferent set of expectations that go with it.

You just have to get a real coach to teach you so you can in turn teach this to your students.

Wow, thats quite a message... hehe thank you very much! I just have to add that everything you stated in that message I'm familliar with, foot placements, hip action etc. Where the difference comes in is that I am constantly reminded NOT to teach my students on the same level, or just yet, as an instructor is trained, wich I disagree with at some points.

I fully agree with you on everything you said, plus you gave me some new material aswell, especially the blood trail part! hehe, but thanks anyway! It really helped alot!