I've been dancing for a while but am confused ... hey i always will be.

What do you think about when you dance cha (int.style)? Is it?

Pushing off foot?
Separation in knees?
Hips?
Center? Pushing centre into ground?

Whats the first thing that moves in your body?

Assuming the movement is directional, I feel two things happening at the same time to commence movement: (1) My hip settling, and (2) My body weight moving into the intended direction.

I don't particularly feel the need to "push" off the standing foot, especially as the commencing action. Indeed the muscles must activate to cause the body to move, but the way I interpret it as a sensation is simply of rolling my weight forward, backward, or in whatever direction I'm heading. It's not until just before I have left a foot that I really feel the ankle muscles engage in a strong way.

Separation in knees? Well, yes, inasmuch as the action is connected to the settling of the hip. One knee pushes forward and across while the other pushes back. Just make sure that this is accompanied by commencing of your body weight moving. The only time you should settle a hip while standing in place is when the next step is in place.

I've never heard of the concept of "pushing the center into the ground", but it was probably stated to illustrate some particular point. When I settle the hips to one direction or the other, I do feel that the center of gravity also relaxes downward. But I don't push.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Jonathan

Thanks for that. As a continuation i have 2 more questions:

More specifically, in cha basic when you're going into a forward break on the 2:
You settle the right hip on 1 step
Move your weight forward, turning left foot out, and settle left hip as you move on the 2(does your body weight go completely forward)
Then bring your weight back and settle right hip on the 3.
Is this correct. I'm unsure on what happens exactly as you move forward on the 'and' between the 1 and 2.
I'm also always confused about what happens to the back leg when you step forward in the break. Do you straighten the back leg as in a walk or is it just relaxed and bent when the weight is forward on the left leg.

Help would be appreciated

> More specifically, in cha basic when you're
> going into a forward break on the 2:
> You settle the right hip on 1 step

Well technically, after the step is placed, not at the same time. Think of the hip action as happening on the "&" of 1.

> Move your weight forward, turning left
> foot out, and settle left hip as you move
> on the 2

Again, after the 2... on the "&" count.

> does your body weight go completely forward

This is what is known as a forward "check", and generally we do not transfer full weight on a forward check. I would estimate about 70/30.

> Then bring your weight back and settle
> right hip on the 3.

Again, always settling between steps. Steps are on the "downbeats" (the numbers) and hips are on the "upbeats" (the "&" counts).

> I'm also always confused about what
> happens to the back leg when you step
> forward in the break. Do you straighten
> the back leg as in a walk or is it just
> relaxed and bent when the weight is
> forward on the left leg.

You shouldn't have to straighten the back leg as you move away from it... it should already be straight because you just had weight on it. Remember, it's the weighted leg that's straight. As you move away from it, it should remain straight until the "&" count, at which point you can relax the knee and settle the hip. It should then straighten again immediately prior to receiving weight on the following step.

This is true of almost all movements except for one: The back break. After moving away from the front leg, it does not have to bend in order to allowthe hip to settle. Some people prefer to leave the front leg straight for the entire time it is free of weight. Others prefer to allow it to bend just slightly. Either way is acceptable, as long as you don't bend it too much, resulting in the replacing of weight to a bent knee on count 3.

Good luck!

Sincerely,
Jonathan Atkinson www.ballroomdancers.com