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Cuban Action
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To Cuba! In the Gulf of Mexico. |
Information from other
sources:
1. From
"ballroombliss" Cuban Style (Basic in Rumba, cha-cha,
... )
Brief Introduction
This movement is extremely important, as it primarily gives one a
good, strong, neat, and positive foothold for every step. Apart
from this it looks good, gives a better feel of expression, good
exercise for toning up of various muscles in the whole body,
better sense of balance, rhythm and timing with music, and it's
easier to create illusions of various kinds, including
sensuality.
All dances are movements. Latin American dances need small floor space. These are almost spot dances as compared with the Ballroom dances. Thus to get the feel of movement, more of the body part need to move. This is where the Cuban Action becomes necessary as it helps in the whole body taking part in a systematic, rhythmic and sequential manner. These movements are used only sparingly in Paso Doble and Samba.
Learning of a dance movement is a mental exercise, which is just as rigorous as the physical part. And both go together. To be able to learn fast and thoroughly, it is necessary to think over the movements as a part of our daily lives and that we keep doing these movements quite regularly, but the underlying fact is that it is done subconsciously.
Once you have identified the movement that you have already done, or may still be doing, then the next step is to feel consciously what all is happening when performing these activities. Thus one is able to relate dance movements with the normal activities done in our normal routines. So then starts the rediscovery of ones self, which is another source of joy and the major reason for dances.
Exercise 1 (Cycling and Cuban Movement)
More or less every one rides a bicycle one time or the other. At
least once you have had to move up a slope, when you were tired
and had to exert at the paddles, and you did not wish to get down
from the bicycle. And at the same time you wish to do the same
effortlessly.
Now lets picture what has happened subconsciously.
Assuming that you are moving up a slope, the right foot is down, and the left foot is up.
Exercise 2 (Climbing up the stairs and Cuban Movement)
Imagine one need to climb the steps quickly, quietly, stealthy
and effortlessly.
Assume you are presently standing on the right foot and left foot is entirely free for the next move. The hip is relaxed and more to the right.
Exercise 3 (Cuban Action and General Dancing)
This movement is not invented by the Cubans. If observed
carefully, you would notice such movements however subtle, is
used in various dances all over the world. Many very old
traditional and tribal dances have it too.
Exercise 4 (Cuban Action and the Woman)
Every one, almost every one does it, but noticing it is quite
difficult. However when one observes a woman wearing a frock, or
its like, the material that flares, then you would see the
swirling and undulating pattern of her dress, which becomes very
evident. What everyone notices and appreciates, may be
subconsciously, is the smooth, rhythmic, unbroken flow of
movement. Here the woman would be using the Cuban Action, mostly
subconsciously.
Exercise 5 (Cuban Action and regular use)
1. Extinguishing the cigarette butt with the foot.
2. Standing for long on one foot may be in a queue. The hip is
relaxed, and the other foot is relaxed with the ball of the foot
touching the ground. But keeping a firm grip on the floor with
both the feet to avoid stumbling incase there is an accidental
push.
3. Squashing a pest scampering about.
4. Etc.
Exercise 6.
Stand on both the feet. Every part of each foot is touching each
other, wherever possible without discomfort. Next move the hips
form side to side in a relaxed manner.
To perform this, transfer the body weight onto the right foot. The hip then relaxed will move to the right, and the left side will move down. The left knee is bent forward, and the left heel lifted as high as possible. Also when performing this action the thighs and part of the knees rub against each other, and don't let them separate.
Do this 10 times.
Next repeat the above again. But this time exert pressure on the free foot before shifting the body weight onto it. Pressure acts through the ball of the foot. This action is something like feeling the floor and testing it to check if it could take ones weight; alternately its similar to an action of stepping on a cigarette butt to extinguish it.
Do this 10 times.
Next repeat the same as above with a slight difference. Here keep the foot carrying the body weight flat, assume it to be the right foot, and the hip moved to the right side. Next is to slightly shift the body weight to the left, such that the full body weight is taken on the left ball of the foot. Now lift the right foot off the floor; but when doing so the left knee is bent, and the left heel is lifted as high as possible and keeping the hip tight to the right with the right foot remaining flat and parallel to the floor. Next part is to slowly do the following actions simultaneously i.e. lowering of the left heel, straightening the left knee and simultaneously bend the right knee and lower the right toes. Once this transfer is achieved relax the hip, so it moves further to the left and the right side drops down. The hip movements are due to the pressing down of the foot, and it should not be done as a conscious effort.
Now do this exercise as much as possible, very regularly, till it comes naturally and you are truly satisfied.
Exercise 7
This is same as above explained in a concise manner.
The hips should move softly, and not due to conscious swing. To achieve this every step is taken with pressure on the ball of the stepping foot and the knees flexed. As the weight of the body is taken on to the foot the heel lowers, and the knee straightens and the heel of the other foot is released (the toes of the other foot remain touching the floor), and the hip sways in the direction of the stepping foot.
Exercise 8 (The main Movement)
When learning on ones own it is imperative to move step by step,
and to assimilate information very thoroughly.
Before going any further some more parts are necessary to be understood, like, keeping the body straight and standing on the ball, all the movements are because of a push and where to look.
Keeping the body straight.
Lie on the flat, hard floor on the back, very relaxed with the
feet together and the arms close to the side of the body. Pull
the shoulders slightly back so that the back is raised less than
half a cm of the floor. Now the body weight would be on the
buttocks and the back of the two shoulders. The head and the feet
should be lightly resting on the floor. In this position,
experiment to find a posture that is comfortable. Next is to get
the feel of this position. This is very important as you will
need to continuously maintain the feel of this position, even
when standing, doing exercises or dancing.
On the ball
Stand on both the feet, keeping the body straight, facing and
about a foot away from the wall. Next is to squat by
bending/flexing the knees and the ankle to raise the heel, and
sitting on the heels of your feet, keeping the knees together.
The wall can be used for support if necessary. Now in this
position, without raising the body, try to lift the heels higher.
This can be achieved by raising the knees higher. In this
position the weight should act on the inside edge of both feet
(On the big toe side). Staying down in this sitting position
experiment lightly to make the position comfortable. Next is to
get the feel of this position, and understand how high the heel
is lifted without seeing it. The feel is more important
Now it is important to remember to keep the heel this high, whenever going in to take a step in any direction, using the Cuban Action.
Movements because of a push
When moving forward the push comes from the ball of the back
foot, and when moving back the push comes from the ball of the
front foot. Accept this as a general rule.
To understand this here is a small exercise. Stand on the right foot, and jump in any direction and be sure to land on the same foot, keeping the other foot well off the floor. Now the movement has occurred due to a push. So this feel should consciously be there when landing on the other foot.
Later you will realize that this push also helps the hip to sway.
Where to Look
Look at eye level straight ahead at a point. And through out the
exercise, never remove the eyes from that point. This will help
one in understanding and maintaining a better balance.
Resuming the Exercise 8:
Draw a straight line. Stand on it with the left foot in the front
of the right foot. The line should pass from the centre of both
the feet and a gap of a foot between the heel of the front foot
and the toe of the back foot. Imagine the tips of your shoes are
nailed firmly into the floor. In this position the hip and the
upper body is approximately turned at 45 degrees to the right and
the weight is on both the feet, they are flat on the floor and
the knees are not flexed, so the weight is on both the feet.
Remember to keep the body straight trough out the exercise.
Without altering the body and hip position as mentioned above take the full body weight on the front foot, keeping the knees stiff and releasing the heel of the back foot. Next relax the right knee by flexing it and the right heel starts to rise higher. A slight push is given from the right ball. This results in the rotation of the hip; it turning left to be square to the front. Next relax the hip and let it settle. Thus the hip will sway further to the left and sag on the right side.
Next transfer the weight on to the right foot, letting the heel lower and straightening the right knee. The left knee is straight and the heel may leave the floor. The body and the hip remain square to the front. Now flex the left knee to relax and simultaneously slightly push with the ball of the left foot This will rotate the hip and body to the right at about 45 degrees. Then let the hip relax , the result is the hip swaying to the right and slightly sagging to the left.
Repeat this exercise 10 times.
Having got the feel of this movement lets see the next part.
Repeat every thing exactly as above with the following changes.
Move the body weight forward on to the front foot. Now the back heel is not lifted and the knee remains straight. Continue to move further forward till the front heel is lifted. At this stage 90 % of the body weight is on the front ball and 10 % on the back foot. The heel of the front foot is raised as high as possible. This becomes the first position. Now lower the front heel and simultaneously straightening the front knee. The back knee is flexed and the heel lifted off the ground to relaxed position.
Next keeping the front knee stiff, and the hip and the body position firm, move the body backwards. Such that the weight is taken on the ball of the firm back leg; keeping the knee just as bent and heel just as high as it was when the weight was on the front foot. Next part is to straighten the back knee and to lower the heel with pressure. And simultaneously relax the front knee and push lightly with the ball of the front foot, to get the rotation of the hip.
Next is to move forward. This time take the body weight directly on the ball of the front foot and repeat the exercise.
Counts
The counts are when the body weight is fully settled on one foot.
However with the other foot slight pressure is exerted that acts
through the toes. The various operations occurring prior to the
transfer of the body weight occurs between the beats.
Exercise 9
Stand with both the feet together, all the parts of each leg
touching each other where ever possible. Now start mark time on
the spot, as done in marching. Do this 20 times.
Next repeat the same as above with the following: when bend/lifting the right knee, it is lifted up and forward, the right toe pointing down and the part of the right leg below the knee, loosely hanging down. As far as possible the toes should move in vertical direction only, although the knee when lifted will tend to move forward and up. Repeat this for next 20 counts.
Next repeat all of above and be sure to have only one foot on the ground. As soon as one foot lowers the other moves up instantly. Repeat this exercise 20 times.
Next repeat all of above with toes touching the floor first, and immediately start exerting pressure so that control is exercised till the lowering of the heel. Continuously try to delay the lowering of the heel. Repeat this exercise 20 times.
The last part is to repeat all of above with the additions; when lowering the foot, land on the ball of the foot with pressure to make a sharp stepping sound, and at the same time keeping the heel as high as possible and the other foot immediately is lifted fully off the floor. Next sound is made when the raised heel (of the foot on the floor) is lowered with pressure, making the second sharp stepping sound. Repeat this with the other foot.
Care should be taken to avoid personal injury, the sound should be sharp "clicks", and to get more and more time interval between all the taps.
The sharp "click"sound is very important, as it can happen only if the ball is moving vertically. This means that the foot is properly positioned under the body; this gives a good foothold, and one can move about as steady as a "huge boulder", and the chances of slipping on the floor would be a rare occurrence.
Exercise 10
Next is to repeat all the moves given above in pairs, i.e. a man
and a lady. The only difference is that both the partners'
shoulders should remain square, the heads are kept turned to left
and the feet remain pointing straight in front of them, through
out the exercise.
When the weight is taken on the right foot, the hip rotates clockwise. And the partners hip rotates counter clockwise. Since the partners are holding each other, equal and opposite force is exerted by each of them acting through both their hands, thus preventing the shoulders from turning.
When the exercise requires forward and backward movements, then additional body movement is required. This additional movement occurs after the hip is relaxed to the side of the foot bearing the weight of the body. Prior to the forward movement the shoulders are moved forward by bending slightly from the hip. This results in a slight push with both the hands. Similarly for the backward movement the hip is moved slightly back. This again should result in a slight push with both the hands.
Note:
When practicing in pairs the exercise feels different as
compared to when practicing alone. If the feeling is of enhanced
movement then you are on the right track. Else you need to review
this page more carefully.
Exercise 11
If the partner is nor available then you could practice
against a firm wall. You will need to stand about 6 inches away
from the wall , and bracing both the hands on the wall and never
remove it from there. Continuously keep exerting
"pushing" pressure through one hand, and it alternates
as you change weight form foot to foot.
Exercise 12
Is doing the Cuban movement, with holding a light chair
that is moved very little. Also the arms are held parallel to the
ground. This will develop the shoulders for the hold, back for
the posture, and will help in keeping the body weight forward on
the ball of the feet
Head turn can be added here for the enhancement and to see all around. Head is turned to wards the side where the body weight is settling. When shifting the body weight to one side the head starts turning slowly and slightly later, till one is facing the front, and after that the head is turns with force to reach the other end before completing the settling of body weight on the other foot. The sight line should remain horizontal and at eye-level through out the exercise.
The head is turned often in an exercise, but in a dance the frequency is lesser and not so rigorous.
Information from other
sources:
1. From "ballroombliss"
Cuban Style (Basic in Rumba, cha-cha, ... )
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