One class at a time. Practise it before you open the next: there is a lot in each one, and practice is what changes your dancing.
- I. The Foundations5 lessons
01The Perfect Basic I: Upper BodyPart 1 of the basic covers the upper body: stomach, core, shoulders, elbows and hands, then drills to music.20 min
02The Perfect Basic II: Weight, Knees and HipsLower body for the basic: weight transfer, quiet toe-to-heel steps, three knee levels, and small hip movement that keeps the energy going.19 min
03Travel, Turn, TapTravel with the basic in any direction, learn turn and pivot technique, add simple taps, and mix a few resources well.35 min
04Hipwork I: The Contra HipContrahip basic on the spot, then four variations: still upper body, rotation, falling, and a fusion with a changed fall timing.20 min
05Hipwork II: The Mambo HipFour mambo hip variations (basic, diagonals, patín, traditional) plus a hip circle extra with knee accent, practised to music.18 min
- II. Body Movement3 lessons
06Body Movement I: Three LevelsThree levels of body movement: hip circles, pendulum and lateral wave, and cambré, linked by a ball of energy.36 min
07Body Movement II: Linking MovementsChest roll, hip compensation and three ways to link body movements, keeping the ball of energy travelling without teleporting.20 min
08Body Movement III: The Lateral PlaneLateral plane body movement: waves, contractions, cambré, hip flexion and direction changes, plus how to switch between lateral and frontal planes.20 min
- III. Musicality & Resources4 lessons
09Requinto: Footwork for the GuitarSeven footwork resources for dancing the requinto, practised one by one, then mixed and improvised to music.24 min
10Cha-Cha Timings: Where the "And" FallsLearn where the contra time "and" falls in cha cha in one, two, three and four, with variations.14 min
11Slide Resources I: Basic, Mambo Hips, Traditional, ReboundFour slide resources (patines), the foot sliding along the floor: different ways to interpret a güira, a requinto or any element of the song instead of reaching for the same step every time. They are joined in a block of eights and danced to music.16 min
12Slide Resources II: Same Spot, Shuffle, Snake, PachangaFour more slide resources (patines): same spot, shuffle, snake and pachanga, plus a bonus step for home. This is part two: practise part one until it feels natural before starting here.18 min
- IV. Choreography3 lessons
13Choreography I: Las Puertas del CieloThe first choreography and the start of the last block, to Las Puertas del Cielo by Manny Cruz and Anthony Santos. Four blocks of eights, each in a different style, so everything from the course comes together: travelling steps, sensual, traditional with footwork, and simple footwork resources.39 min
14Choreography II: Nuestro AmorThe second choreography, to Nuestro Amor by Romeo Santos and Alex Bueno: shorter than the last one but harder, and built on musicality. Every sound in the song gets its own movement: the hits, the requinto, the güira, the singer's shout and the bongo rolls.39 min
15Choreography III: Miradita AsesinaThe last choreography of the course, to Miradita Asesina by Tony Lozano: contra hip and mambo hip, three hits on the music, a hip step, a turn in two and a free ending.23 min
With Ángel García