top of page
Writer's pictureRalf Lepehne

The Backward Walk



“The walk" is a combination of change of bodyweight, leg and foot action timed correctly – Development of hip action (pelvic movement) and awareness of body movement above the waist line.

The complete beat of a Slow in Rumba gets divided into the count “S &” in order to time and accommodate a hip action.


A simple way to explain the timing of hip movement is: on every count of & the hip commences to move sideways, except for the 4&1&, which is a slower hip change using 2 beats of music.


This count of 2& 3& 4& 1& (totaling 8 beats) then gets divided even further into:

2&a 3&a 4&a 1&a (totaling 12 beats)


For more accuracy in order to complete the following:

  • the timing of change of body weight

  • the timing of foot and leg actions

  • the timing of hip movement



Timing of changes of body weight on 2&a

Count “2“= Body weight more or less remains over preceding step


Count “&”= Body weight changes towards the latter part of the beat to finish in balance over the back foot


Count “a”= Body weight remains


Timing of changes of foot and leg action on 2&a

Count ”2”= Two straight legs both heel on the floor (the timing of the knee straightening and the lowering of the heel of the foot of the moving leg are coordinated)


Count “&”= Two straight legs with the foot position of the front leg in a pointed position with the heel naturally lifted off the floor.


Count “a”= the free leg bends swiftly (fast) allowing the foot of that leg to point backwards past the standing leg (take care not to reach out with a completely straight leg with a pointed foot)


Timing of hip movement

Count” 2”= hipbone starts to level towards neutral position, then passing through neutral position at some point


Count ”&” = hipbone starts to incline sideways following the diagonal line between the two legs (please notice: pelvic bone is straight–not tilted backwards).


Count “a” = Hipbone continues a slight rotation backwards


Best Wishes and Happy Dancing!


This article has also been featured in our Brillante Magazine.

0 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page