Latin American Hip Motion

Excerpt from Dancing USA, 2002
by Jeff Allen

In this article I want to build several scenarios for the development of what we in the dance education business and profession call Latin Hip movement or Cuban motion (these terms will be used interchangeably.) You know what I am referring to - the seemingly unobtainable usage of hips that produces what the general public sees as an alluring seductive hip and body gyrations, pulsations, isolations and even wiggles or thrusts - the kind used by experienced Latin dancers.

"You can do very little with faith, but you can do nothing without it."

I hope that by describing what it is and also what it isn't, your interest in Latin American dancing will broaden. And quite possibly the expense and arduous time in "trying to get it" will be reduced dramatically. This has been lost somewhat in modern Latin dancing such as Salsa, Bachata etc.

Controlled and well timed Cuban motion is an acquired skill rather than the automatic product of ethnicity or culture. It has no barriers, no boundaries, no genetics and no gender. Latin hip and body movement does have great social acceptance in the areas of its origin and therefore is encouraged and developed with great enthusiasm and even social responsibility.

But above all, this type of movement must be learned by all who desire to participate, in the same way that learning to play baseball and the baking of a delicious apple pie are developed, by much trial and error. The degree to which you perfect any "learned skill" rests on your motivations, the quality of your learning experience and most importantly the level of your physical gifts or athleticism.

"Tangerine" by Jimmy Dorsey

What I tell my students and prospective students is that virtually all of you have the foundations to do the Latin American dances of Cuban origin well at a social level. What?  Yes, simply stated, if you have the ability to travel up or down a staircase without using the handrail, if you can ride a bicycle or if you can swim, then you have already demonstrated that you possess more than enough physical talent to dance the Latin dances very well at the social level.

To the extent that you may want to excel (i.e. competitive dancing, "International") as with any athlete, will require these ingredients, qualitative athleticism, good training, and tons of practice. Again, learning to dance and learning to dance the Latin characterics, is directly proportionate to your physical gifts and desire.

(More later? Yes)