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Skip-Jump

Being light-footed, as if one is floating on air

This is a hop from one foot and landing on the same foot and at them same time the other foot is kept clean off the floor. This is the skip. This is immediately followed by a jump, in which case the hop is taken from one foot and to land on the other foot.

Thus if we are to hop from the left foot then keep the right foot in off the floor, hop from the left foot and land back on the same foot. Immediately hop from the left foot again and this time land on the right foot. Repeat the same exercise with the right foot.

The primary aim of this exercise is to understand the part weight on a foot, tilt/sway and push.

Part weight
So when skipping the foot that is kept in the air may be lightly placed on the floor instead, and without taking weight on it the skip is performed. When the body is rising due to the hop, give very slight pressure with the foot kept lightly on the floor. Thus it appears that the left foot is on the ground before the hop, then the right foot comes down and the left foot rises off the floor, and later the left foot comes down again and the right foot is lifted off the floor.
The only difference being that through out this process the left foot is carrying the complete body weight, although the right foot is placed on the floor.

In the above case the right foot is taking part weight of the body. Thus in a movement the part weight is alternately taken by the left foot and then the right. This happens between two steps that take the full body weight. But when dancing this part weight becomes more prominent and is noticed, as it is different. This remains on the mind of the people, thus the illusion of floating in the air, or the idea of being light footed is created.

Tilt
To perform the skip operation the upper body needs to be kept tilted to the side of the foot carrying the body weight; such that when the hop is executed one can land back on the same foot without losing the balance. Or else the need to keep the other foot on the ground will arise. To maintain the rhythm and continuity in a relaxed manner the body needs to be kept erect.

Push
All movements in the dance occur due to the push, and not pull. This needs to be understood very consciously. The hop that occurs here will give a better understanding of the push that is required for every movement.

Children play this game! So do we?

In Day to Day Life
Such a movement is what happens in real life, as in the game shown in the picture above; or when walking when there is a plaster on one fractured foot, or when there is a terrible pain in one foot. This is especially noticeable when ascending or descending the stairs.

When on the giant wheel, the better part of fun is when coming down. In such a case the floor is moving thus we feel weightlessness, that give a thrill and the churning in the stomach. However on the ground the floor is not moving, thus we jump off the floor to get the same effect. Exactly same thing occurs in an elevator.

However when watching a professional dancer we see no jump. This energy is dissipated in the lateral movements and the rise and fall. Disguising a jump to appear, as smooth movements require skills that are only possible with regular exercising very consciously.

Exercise 1
Take the starting position by standing on one foot and the other foot is just off the floor. Lets assume the stationary foot, the foot, on which one stands, is the left foot for the purpose of this exercise.
In this exercise all the movements would be at the same spot. So bend the left knee and push off the floor such that both the feet are off the floor. As one lands on the left foot the knees will bend to absorb the shock, and the immediate reaction would be to straighten up. As the left knee is straightening, push off again from the left foot and both the feet would be off the floor. This time land on the right foot. As one lands on the right foot, bend the knee to absorb the shock of landing. The immediate reaction would be to straighten up. Use this up ward movement to continue this exercise from the right foot.

The counts for this exercise would be "skip, jump". Practise this exercise till the movement comes in rhythm and as effortlessly as possible.

Variation 2
This is similar to above but with slight changes. The change being that we add movements. Skip and jump to the right when weight is on the left foot and to the other side when weight is on the left foot.

Note that when the skipping cover more distance, and when jumping cover almost half the "skipping distance". The reason is that for the Dance-Sport we need movements. So we cover larger distances where ever possible. But for the jump we take smaller step, as immediately after this we need to change the direction of movement.

So here for this exercise the counts could be "big, small", instead of "skip, jump".

Variation 3
Exactly same as above except that prior to the skip, stretch the free whole of the free leg, with the toes pointing in the direction to the movement to occur. Then execute the skip such that the stationary foot is moved towards the free foot and when landing the feet are together.

The counts here would be "1", "2", "3", "4", and it is to be executed very slowly. For "1" stretch the free foot to the side and simultaneously bend the knee of the stationary foot. For "2" execute the skip. For "3" execute the jump. And for the last "4" simply flex and straighten the knee of the foot carrying the body weight after the jump.

Variation 4
The counts of "1,2,3,4" to be replaced by "1, &, 2, &" when moving in one direction, and when moving in the reverse direction "3, &, 4, &". This will is to assist in all dances. It is particularly helpful in Jive.

For adapting the same for Cha Cha Cha the counts would be "4, &, 1, &" and "2, &, 3, &".

When performing this exercise at faster pace, the second last count is extended to compensate the last count. For example "two ooh..." or "four rrrr...". Also the flexing and straightening of the knees is not done on the last count. After the jump is executed, and the landing foot's knee bends. This bending is done a little more to compensate the last count and to be in readiness for the skip with bent knee for the push off.

Variation 5
This is exactly same as exercise 1 given above. Place a matchbox between the feet. Now lightly place the big toe of the free foot on the matchbox, and execute the skip. The delicate matchbox should not get crushed and one should keep a slight controlled pressure on it through out the skip operation.

Variation 6
This is same as Variation 3. Here we would require two matchboxes separated by a slight distance. The extended free foot's toe is lightly rested on the matchbox, and the skip is executed. The matchbox should remain in place as if it were nailed to the floor firmly.

Variation 7
The same exercise needs to be practised forward and backwards too. Also it needs to be practised with a dancing partner.