The key to having a flavorful basic.. do you care?

[1 Improbable Salsero]

My basic got way more fun when I learned to add upper body motion. It is surprisingly rare to see in my area, most leads can't/don't/won't. I have said many times that with the right partner you could do the basic step the whole dance and have a great time, because it adds so much to the connection.

 

[Offbeat]

My basic got way more fun when I learned to add upper body motion. It is surprisingly rare to see in my area, most leads can't/don't/won't. I have said many times that with the right partner you could do the basic step the whole dance and have a great time, because it adds so much to the connection.

Basic is the harbinger of connection in a dance. If you don't feel right connection when dancing basic, you probably won't find it in the rest of the dance.

 

[Smiley79]

When I do the basic steps, I will use a lot of cross over steps (alternate both front and back for both legs) for front and side basics. I will occasional drops (my center of gravity) by getting to where I shoud be early so I can drop my body on the pause (2/6).

I can only add upper body motion when not connected to the follow (to avoid mixed signals).

Styling the legs I might occasionally turn the leg(s) in ward or outward.

 

[TikiTaka]

This is why i like merengue, it's all about the flavour

Many casineros and salseros seem to have disregarded it on the otherhand and focus a lot more on learning moves.

 

[Groove On]

I'm curious to know how people approach their basic and whether they actively look to add more dynamics/flavor to it?

Typically we think of the"the basic" as a list of moves (aka a syllabus) but my approach is to think of "the basic" as a rhythm first - a rhythm that I keep while moving in any direction. I think this is a more organic approach to "the basic" and let's me explore/play instead of "memorizing" a dance. I also found that my "basic practice" becomes more fluid in actual dancing.

1. Examples of fundamental rhythms (pick one):
- Quick Quick Slow
- Cha Cha (2 3 4&1)
- Merengue (1 2)
- Samba (1 a2)
- Swing (1 2 triple, triple)

2. Examples of "directions" (I should be able to fluently keep the rhythm while moving in any of these "directions"):
1. In Place
2. Returning to Center (8 directions)
3. Walking (8 directions)
4. Box and Circle

Notes:
- and there are adjustments when applied to Son/Salsa Cubana, Swing (6/8 counts) and Tango/Kizomba.

 

[Groove On]

... oops forgot one "direction" - Turning

 

[Offbeat]

Typically we think of the"the basic" as a list of moves (aka a syllabus) but my approach is to think of "the basic" as a rhythm first - a rhythm that I keep while moving in any direction. I think this is a more organic approach to "the basic" and let's me explore/play instead of "memorizing" a dance. I also found that my "basic practice" becomes more fluid in actual dancing.

1. Examples of fundamental rhythms (pick one):
- Quick Quick Slow
- Cha Cha (2 3 4&1)
- Merengue (1 2)
- Samba (1 a2)
- Swing (1 2 triple, triple)

2. Examples of "directions" (I should be able to fluently keep the rhythm while moving in any of these "directions"):
1. In Place
2. Returning to Center (8 directions)
3. Walking (8 directions)
4. Box and Circle

Notes:
- and there are adjustments when applied to Son/Salsa Cubana, Swing (6/8 counts) and Tango/Kizomba.

I like this approach. Good dancers usually apply it. It would be very interesting to teach things like these than counts and patterns.

Some dances are better at teaching it than others.

I would keep Tango and Kizomba very separate, than saying Tango/Kizomba. Tango is like masters level advance abstract math to elementary school level arithmetic that Kizomba is music wise and dance wise.

 

[1derpalm]

I definitely define "The Basic" as your standar forward and back step. Not the fundimentals

 

[terence]

I'm curious to know how people approach their basic and whether they actively look to add more dynamics/flavor to it?

Something typical I see among highly skilled Cuban dancers doing their basic is something like this:

Linear dancers on the other hand, from what I see, tend not to add as much movement and are more toned down:

Then there's this way:

Or maybe this way:

How do you approach your basic step. Do you care about making it look a certain way? Or is it just about feeling the music?

Personally, I tend to step my basics differently depending on whether I dance Cuban or Linear. When dancing to Timba, I attempt to dance more like in the 1st video. With Linear, it gets interesting because there is so much variety and no universally agreed upon way for the basic to look. Do you have your own style? If so, what elements do you use to improve it... foot flourishes... arm movements... torso movements... enquiring minds want to know.

The 'Kick' that Oliver uses is old school Mambo.. never cared for it

 

[David]

My approach to the basic step involves dancing with a partner. I am giving and receiving information. I am trying to be in sync with the beat and some of the underlying rhythms. But this is something that is part of what I'm doing with my partner too.

All the videos we have people demonstrating how they dance the basic step by themselves. It's kind of funny in a way. but I'm not where they are and I don't know exactly what their goal is in each video.

 

[Offbeat]

The 'Kick' that Oliver uses is old school Mambo.. never cared for it

Didn’t watch the video, but I assume it is a styling or embellishment element.

 

[jose armando]

I think the key is to practice in front of a mirror and repeat a lot!

 

[Offbeat]

To reply to the original question headlining the thread, the answer is yes.

Most serious dancers I know do care about it. By serious I don’t mean pros and celebrities or performers. I mean social dancers who are serious about the art. Whether they be trained or untrained. I witnessed both types trying to perfect it in front of a mirror.

There is nothing more attractive than someone that can move in a basic step with eye catching flavor. It is also not easy to obtain and requires a hell lot of practice.

 

[vit]

There is nothing more attractive than someone that can move in a basic step with eye catching flavor. It is also not easy to obtain and requires a hell lot of practice.

Which confirms that main point of social dancing is being attractive to other people ...

 

[1derpalm]

Which confirms that main point of social dancing is being attractive to other people ...

Um.. WRONG! Its to make sure you always over style regardless of of your partner is trying to do next with you on a specific beat and to mug for the camera or recording device like your a performer whether they want to or not.

 

[terence]

Didn’t watch the video, but I assume it is a styling or embellishment element.

Yep

 

[LarsM]

Which confirms that main point of social dancing is being attractive to other people ...

I assume this was half in jest, but if you can't move flavorfully in the basic step, there's no way you'll be able to accentuate the music in any meaningful way while partnering either. Which, I assume, we all care about. A flavorful basic requires you to be good at most of the things that are hard in dancing after all - endless hours of stretching/mobility work, body movement/basic movement, isolations etc.

 

[vit]

So can you see all of that also in kiz or BS dancers

 

[TikiTaka]

So can you see all of that also in kiz or BS dancers

Some girls sure, guys seldom. Those that are into more traditional bachata songs tend to do less partnerwork and more focus on flavourful steps.

 

[Chris_Yannick]

I have said many times that with the right partner you could do the basic step the whole dance and have a great time, because it adds so much to the connection.

Yes even when connected it can be enjoyable to only do basics. Of course if the basic is the jerky type it will feel uncomfortable but someone with a dynamic basic step can make even spinless dances interesting.