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

A bit more on the fencing line:

It can be taken from any open facing position and could turn either way. I'll use a typical example; with LH to RH hold, having danced danced half a basic or similar, turn to PP and step forward and across with 'inside' feet (man R, lady L). Use a checking action and slightly flex the knee. Take joined hands forward and hold free hands back and just above shoulder height. The effect should look like a lunge in a sword fight, hence the 'fencing' name. Replace weight on 3, turn to face partner and step to side on 4,1. As I said the step can also be danced into CPP with RH to LH hold.

Some dancers like to circle the free hands forward and down in a large circle, joining hands to end in double hand hold, but that detracts from the original fencing image.

HTH

Howard

To quote _Popular Variations in Latin-American Dancing_ by the ISTD:

"The Cuban Rocks are a group of three weight changes which may be danced in any position where the Man and Lady have their feet apart, with weight on either foot." The count is as for most rumba steps, 2 3 4 (hold 1).

"They may also be danced as four weight changes, usually known as the 'Quick' or 'Syncopated' Cuban Rocks." The count here is 2&3 4 (hold 1).

I don't know what a "hip rock" is, so I can't help you with that one.

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

The main difference between the Closed Hip Twist and the Open Hip Twist is the starting position. The actual "hip twist" part is the 4-1 count where the lady does the swivel/twist. For an Open Hip Twist you begin in an open facing position with one hand hold (man's LH to lady's RH) and do almost exactly what you described. A Closed Hip Twist is similar, but you start from a closed dance position, normal hold. It begins with a Natural Opening Out Movement with the lady doing the hip twist action on the 4-1 as before.

I'm not as familiar with the Turkish Towel as other figures, but I'll see if I can help. First, I think this is only a syllabus step in Cha Cha, not in Rumba. You could do it in Rumba I guess, too, but it would be considered an open level figure then. So I'll talk in cha cha timing instead of rumba timing. I'm not sure I understand your description of the figure (e.g. whose head is the hand going over?). It looks to me like you're taking 4 measures to complete the lady's underarm turn and get into the position for the Turkish Towel. It should only take 2 measures -- RH to RH hold, do a forward half basic leading the lady into an Alemana style turn (234&1) and over the next measure you lead the lady (who is walking forward) behind you and towards your left side, ending facing the same way you are and taking her LH in your LH (234&1). That's the position for the main part of the figure. Now you do the "towel" style action that gives the figure its name -- it's supposed to look like the man is using that lady like a towel to dry his back.

I'm not sure what the "in" and "out" terms are supposed to mean, but by their position in the step description I'd guess they refer to the towel style action. With the lady on the man's LS the left arms are slightly lowered and the right arms slightly raised to make a comfortable position. Then the man steps back OP, lady forward OP on 2, they replace weight on 3, then cha cha cha to the side for 4&1. Now the lady is on the man's RS and the arm positions have switched so the right arms are slightly lowered and the left arms slightly raised. The man steps back OP, lady forward OP on 2, they replace weight on 3, and cha cha cha to the side again to end with the lady once again on the man's LS, arms positioned as the first time (4&1).

I'm a little unsure of the ending, but it starts as before, switching sides 234&1 but on the 1 count the lady is lead a bit more forward and into a spiral turn. I think your "spin girl anti-clockwise" on the next to last 41 is this spiral turn. The final 234&1 is supposed to be like a back half basic for the man (but with the chasse going forward) and the second half of the Spiral for the lady. I think this basically means she's got some more turn to make and she's going to keep going in a generally forward direction which is why the man's chasse has to go forward to follow her. This last measure is danced solo with the couple regaining hold at the end in an open facing position.

I hope this description is helpful. It's often hard to describe moves in words, but we try. If you can get someone to demonstrate it for you or help lead you through it though, that should help even more.

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