I try to hold them still but when i see myself on video all I see is my huge butt rolling around! I get embarrassed because people mention it to me and now I have a complex. How do I stop it? Im not trying to do it, its the natural way my body moves, its driving me crazy. Last weekend I was dancing and as soon as I sat down this Cuban guy said "girl your a$$ was going.. ta ta ta- ta ta... I was so embarrassed I told him I dont like it. He said no, no, no... it was beautiful! then i didnt want to leave my seat for the rest of the night. Is it a tight core that will control it? I know I dont have any core strength at all.
Im moving my hips too much
- Thread starter akbernier
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Salsamakossa
Changui
Sorry, but it would seem to me that this thread is no good without a pic for others to judge...lol.
On a serious note, if people complement you on it, then maybe it is not a bad thing.
On a serious note, if people complement you on it, then maybe it is not a bad thing.
akbernier said:
akbernier said:
I wish mine were moving more...
Anyway, Susana Montero gave a Body Movement Workshop last weekend and she said it's not so much about how much your hips move but more how your whole body movement is balanced. So if you naturally have a lot of hip movement you might want to balance it out with bigger upper body movements. If you have small hip movement, make smaller upper body movements.
She said don't try to focus on controlling your hips so much (they move naturally anyway) but rather try to work on your rib cage and shoulder movements to make the whole body movement look natural. Hope it helps a little
azzey
Son Montuno
I don't know what style of Salsa you're doing but body movement is a good thing to have. Your hips will naturally move due to transfer of weight and bending/straightening your knees when you step.
Ask a teacher if they think the movement is over-the-top or unnatural.
Are you adding in additional transfers of weight other than the 123 567.
You could try to reduce the knee movement but that might lead to an unnatural look and make it harder to dance. Like Jolinia said, the best way is to compensate using the rest of the body.
You might want to watch top dancers with similar body characteristics and see what they do.
e.g. A favourite of mine is Amando Estilo, she really knows how to move those hips!
youtube.com/watch?v=ulrB5Ei_TgA
See this clip.
Ask a teacher if they think the movement is over-the-top or unnatural.
Are you adding in additional transfers of weight other than the 123 567.
You could try to reduce the knee movement but that might lead to an unnatural look and make it harder to dance. Like Jolinia said, the best way is to compensate using the rest of the body.
You might want to watch top dancers with similar body characteristics and see what they do.
e.g. A favourite of mine is Amando Estilo, she really knows how to move those hips!
youtube.com/watch?v=ulrB5Ei_TgA
See this clip.
Sounds to me like you've got it going on 
If you're hips naturally move that way, then to stop them would be a crime
Sometimes I see girls who are 'forcing' an exaggerated hip action which doesn't look good (IMO) but you're describing your natural hip action and it's something to be proud of. You go girl!!
If you're hips naturally move that way, then to stop them would be a crime
Sometimes I see girls who are 'forcing' an exaggerated hip action which doesn't look good (IMO) but you're describing your natural hip action and it's something to be proud of. You go girl!! 
sagitta
Changui
Jambo said:Sounds to me like you've got it going on
If you're hips naturally move that way, then to stop them would be a crime
I'll second this. If it is natural without you forcing it consciously or unconsciously it is all good. I'll also second some other comments about balance. perhaps your upper body is a little stiffer and needs to be loosened while your lower body is naturally flexible and looser. So working on your upper body to introduce greater natural motion while dancing might help.
I do see some people who don't ahve their whole body in the dancing. It is a little odd to see the lower body gyrating while teh upper body is stiff as a stick. I recollect noticing a couple guys on Tuesday night as the music wasn't doing it for me - so I was observing.
sagitta said:
This is very true. A relaxed upper body is very important: if the tension flows through the whole body, the movements won't concentrate on a few spots. The optimal hip movement (for a man) should be rotation in place, not a movement side to side. A side-to-side hip movement is the sign of a stiff upper body and/or inadequate core stability.
Big10
Son
This thread sounds like a different version of the question, "Do these pants make my butt look big?" :? Of course, the obvious answer is that if your butt is big, the style of pants won't change that....
Similarly, if your butt is big, the way you dance won't change that. My impression is the same as everybody else's -- be PROUD that you're getting compliments on the way you move, since apparently you dance very well.
If you have issues with the size of your butt and want it to look smaller, then it has to be smaller. That's not a dance question, and I don't think there is a magic solution available through distorting your dance technique. That's an issue for somewhere off the dance floor, and you'll have to consult with a doctor or dietician or personal trainer for that. When you are on the dance floor, though, then keep doing what you're doing, and graciously accept the compliments, because not everybody gets them!
Similarly, if your butt is big, the way you dance won't change that. My impression is the same as everybody else's -- be PROUD that you're getting compliments on the way you move, since apparently you dance very well.
If you have issues with the size of your butt and want it to look smaller, then it has to be smaller. That's not a dance question, and I don't think there is a magic solution available through distorting your dance technique. That's an issue for somewhere off the dance floor, and you'll have to consult with a doctor or dietician or personal trainer for that. When you are on the dance floor, though, then keep doing what you're doing, and graciously accept the compliments, because not everybody gets them!
Great responses from everyone!
Must share this story.
By far, the best and most acclaimed GROOVER at our scene is this voluptuous woman. The way she moves is just INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!
Beyond words.
She is a GREAT instructor and VERY technical. You know what she told me. When she first started, the instructor and everyone wanted to force her to dance like EVERYONE else. She kept her own style and now everyone appreciates or aspires to it.
So listen to instructors but ALWAYS dance for yourself allowing yourself to shine.
My question to you. HOW DO YOU ENJOY TO DANCE TO EXPRESS YOURSELF AND HAVE FUN!
*technique wise, core tension/posture is key and something I am working on.
Must share this story.
By far, the best and most acclaimed GROOVER at our scene is this voluptuous woman. The way she moves is just INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!
Beyond words.
She is a GREAT instructor and VERY technical. You know what she told me. When she first started, the instructor and everyone wanted to force her to dance like EVERYONE else. She kept her own style and now everyone appreciates or aspires to it.
So listen to instructors but ALWAYS dance for yourself allowing yourself to shine.
My question to you. HOW DO YOU ENJOY TO DANCE TO EXPRESS YOURSELF AND HAVE FUN!
*technique wise, core tension/posture is key and something I am working on.
Big10 said:If you have issues with the size of your butt and want it to look smaller, then it has to be smaller. That's not a dance question, and I don't think there is a magic solution available through distorting your dance technique. That's an issue for somewhere off the dance floor, and you'll have to consult with a doctor or dietician or personal trainer for that. When you are on the dance floor, though, then keep doing what you're doing, and graciously accept the compliments, because not everybody gets them!
My issue isnt with the size of my butt. My butt is big whether I weigh 200lbs or 125.. My issue is with how to control my body movement.
akbernier said:Big10 said:If you have issues with the size of your butt and want it to look smaller, then it has to be smaller. That's not a dance question, and I don't think there is a magic solution available through distorting your dance technique. That's an issue for somewhere off the dance floor, and you'll have to consult with a doctor or dietician or personal trainer for that. When you are on the dance floor, though, then keep doing what you're doing, and graciously accept the compliments, because not everybody gets them!
My issue isnt with the size of my butt. My butt is big whether I weigh 200lbs or 125.. My issue is with how to control my body movement.
Hey akbernier, just to clarify if case of misunderstanding, I am sure that Big10 did not mean offense or anything. Big10 is a great poster, very knowledgeable and helpful so was just trying to help.
Always hard to understand tones in writing but everyone are friends here and trying to help
Big10
Son
It's difficult to make an assessment of your body movement without actually seeing it. All we know is that your body movement feels "natural" to you, and that you've gotten compliments on your movement -- so, whatever you're currently doing would seem to be sufficient "control," in my opinion. Indeed, many women pay lots of money for lessons to get them to a point where their body movement feels effortless and yet earns compliments at the same time. Your current position is envious.akbernier said:Big10 said:If you have issues with the size of your butt and want it to look smaller, then it has to be smaller. That's not a dance question, and I don't think there is a magic solution available through distorting your dance technique. That's an issue for somewhere off the dance floor, and you'll have to consult with a doctor or dietician or personal trainer for that. When you are on the dance floor, though, then keep doing what you're doing, and graciously accept the compliments, because not everybody gets them!
My issue isnt with the size of my butt. My butt is big whether I weigh 200lbs or 125.. My issue is with how to control my body movement.
However, I understood your question to be that you wanted to know how to alter your otherwise "natural" body movement in a way that would make your butt look smaller. My opinion is that it's simply not possible for any change in dance movement to make a significant impact on how large or small any body part appears (including your butt).
On the other hand, if your question is truly about body control and nothing else, then that control is improved by strengthening the necessary muscles (such as your abs) and constant repetition/practice of the precise final movements you want to achieve.
azzey
Son Montuno
Big10 said:
Best thing to do is to regularly practice your basic step in-front of a mirror to both get the desired look and also become accustomed to how you look in reality rather than worrying about what other people might think.
If you can enjoy the music and get comfortable with shaking it like a polaroid that is half the battle.
Also maybe think about taking a private lesson to work on basic movement.