Who can tell me the difference between Cuban rock, syncopated cuban rock and hip rock in Rumba. I know Cuban rock but the others, I don't know. Thank you for your help.

Thank for your help. In additional I have a question more about Rumba step. That 's Close Hip twist and Open Hip twist. Could you explain the difference between them for me. I 've read on Internet that Hip twist is as follows: (Lady's)

2: RF back
3: LF weight
4: RF forward
1: RF weight, turn right 90 degree

Is this right, if it is, is it Closed Hip twist or Open Hip twist.

One more question about Tuskish towel that I 've read:

23 forward basic, right hand to right hand
41 raise right hand to turn girl CW

23 Small right step back, turn girl
41 right step foward, stop with hand directly above head

23 left foot step back and right
41 hand above the head and slightly foward

23 right foot step back and left
41 Hand must lower and not cover girl's face

2341 in
2341 out
23 in
41 left step round and right 180 deg to face girl spin girl anti-clockwise by whipping hand inbetween
23 right back step
41 right step FORWARD to catch up with girl.

This is right? But I don't understand clearly about that description, what does "in" and "out" mean? Could you explain more (And anyone who could). Thank you very much.

Do Manh Cuong
Hanoi, Vietnam

If you need information on international style technique, I'd suggest trying to get copies of the ISTD and/or IDTA technique books. In my area of the United States we follow the ISTD syllabus and not really the IDTA one, but they're similar and the information in the two sets of books do kind of complement each other. Try looking at http://www.istd.org/ and http://www.idta.co.uk/ for the societies' web sites. You should be able to find the ISTD books at their site as well as other stores on the web. The IDTA books you might need to order directly from them because I don't recall seeing them in other web stores. I can look up the exact book titles if you need them, but you can probably find them on those web pages. This is where I get the majority of my information from, but it is supplemented by notes I've taken in group classes from time to time. And yes, you're right that discussion boards like this are a good way to get help from other dancers all over the world.

In short, the Curl is a lady's spiral turn from open facing position. Start in a regular open facing position (man's LH to lady's RH), do a forward half basic and at the end of it lead the lady into a spiral turn (the Hockey Stick direction). In rumba timing you'd want to have your hand up in position for the turn by 4 and once the lady has her foot down in position, lead her spiral turn on 1. From there the common ending is to lead the lady out to fan position while you do a backward half basic.

I rarely see anyone do the Fencing figure around here so I know very little about it besides what's in the technique books. It looks like the figure starts from fan position and the man leads the lady to close on 2, then step forward on 3 and 4-1. For the fencing line, the man then leads the lady to turn to PP on 2, it's a kind of sharp turn for her (he turns a bit, too) and when they step it's with knees slightly flexed and the joined arms extended forward. Both replace weight on 3 commencing to turn to CPP then on 4 finish the turn to take a step in CPP. Perhaps someone else with more knowledge of the figure will be able to provide more help if you need it. I can't really tell you any more than what's in the technique book for this. I hope this helps.

--
James Marshall
marshall@astro.umd.edu
http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall

Thank you for replying how to do Turkish Towel in Chacha. I 've done it better.
I 'm working as a dance teacher in Vietnam, but in Vietnam there are little teacher know about international style, so I have encountered much difficulties. So I see that this forum is an excellent one for people like me. People can discuss and be given help from others worldwide.
In Rumba, there's a figure named "Curl", and a figure named "Fencing" - I 've read much from Internet but don't find anything about its description. Could you help me? Thank you for all your help.

Do Manh Cuong
Hanoi, Vietnam