Friday, March 06, 2009

Jive - Basic Movement

As we have switched Ballroom dances this week, it is only fair that we switch Latin Dances too!

The Jive is a great dance for getting your toes tapping and is most commonly done to 1940's or 50's and Classic Rock and Roll style music. It is a high energy dance that encourages quick footwork and gives a good aerobic exercise while still being a lot of fun.

Jive has a close relationship to Swing and Lindy-Hop, having originated from the same places, and therefore many of the basic steps are similar. As aficionados of either discipline may tell you, however, stylistically they are quite different. Where Swing and Lindy are usually done with bent knees and a slightly crouched posture with many of the movements having a natural relaxed feel in terms of placement, Jive is much more upright and slightly lighter on the feet with a more precise general placement.


Leaders'/Men's Footwork


The basic movement starts with a "Rock Step" which is simply two steps that rock you back onto your Left foot and then return your weight to the Right foot. So, to start, you will take your Left foot and take a step backwards and slightly across (so that it is directly behind your Right foot), making sure that you put your heel down and transfer the weight. (Count 1) Replace your Right foot where it was. (Count 2)


You then have the Jive Chasse - which is similar to the Cha Cha Chasse, but which has slight variations in technique: in Jive you have more of a bend in your knees and the hip movement is less important than in Cha Cha but it is replaced by a sort of pendulum movement (described in the Notes to Leaders and Followers below), you also have different footwork - your heels dont touch the groubd for the firts two of the three steps.

Begin by stepping side onto the ball of your Left foot(Count 3),

bring your Right foot together with the Left (without putting your heel down) - Count +,

then take another step to the side with your Left foot allowing the heel to settle to the floor (Count 4).


Reverse right away to go back towards the Right with another chasse. Step side onto the ball of your Right foot (Count 5),

bring your Left foot together without putting the heel down (Count +),

and step side again with your Right foot (Count 6).


Repeat starting again at the beginning with your Rock Step. (Each basic has one rock step and two chasses - one in each direction. Some teachers may begin with the first of the two chasses - also called a "triple step" - but the sequence repeats in the same manner regardless of where it was started.)


Follower's/Lady's Footwork


Just like the Men's Footwork, the basic movement for the Lady starts with a "Rock Step" - this is the first time that you are going to be dancing in hold with your partner and yet are going in the opposite direction. To start, you take your Right foot and take a step backwards and slightly across (so that it is directly behind your Left foot), making sure that you put your heel down and transfer the weight. (Count 1) Replace your Left foot where it was. (Count 2)


You then have the Jive Chasse - which is similar to the Cha Cha Chasse, but with slight variations in technique: in Jive you have more of a bend in your knees and the hip movement is less important than in Cha Cha but this movement is replaced by a sort of pendulum movement (described in the Notes to Leaders and Followers below). You also have different footwork; your heels dont lower on the first two steps of your chasse.

Begin by stepping side onto the ball of your Right foot (Count 3),

bring your Left foot together with the Right (without putting your heel down) - Count +,

then take another step to the side with your Right foot (Count 4).


Reverse right away to go back towards the Left with another chasse. Step side onto the ball of your Left foot (Count 5),

bring your Right foot together without lowering the heel (Count +),

and step side again with your Left foot (Count 6).


Repeat starting again at the beginning with your Rock Step. One Basic Movement is comprised of these three sections - a Rock Step, a Chasse to the Right and a Chasse to the Left. Other teachers may choose to teach it beginning on the Chasses instead of the Rock Step.


Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:


- Pendulum Movement: Instead of concentrating on hip movement and straight legs as is necessary in the Cha Cha, the Jive requires a swinging, pendulum style movement throughout. If you imagine your head as the top of the pendulum and your feet are the bottom, you will be able to picture that your feet should move more than your head. On all the steps in the Basic, but especially the Chasses, your head should remain generally neutral and your feet should sway out from underneath from side to side.

- As Jive is quite fast, it is imperative that you take small steps or you will never be able to complete the movements in the time required.

- This is the first time in a Latin dance so far that you and your partner will be going in different directions at the same time and not mirroring each other while in hold. The Rock Step is a back step for both partners. Therefore, taking small steps and leaving your head weight where it was are integral to being able to maintain a connection. If you move your body weight completely back onto your back foot as you step, you will not be able to stay in hold or you will pull your partner with you.

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