Snake
in Madrid 🇪🇸
A full-body undulation that travels through the entire body from head to toe (or toe to head), like a snake slithering vertically.
Why it matters
The snake is a statement piece. It's the body wave for moments that demand maximum visual impact — climactic musical moments, performance highlights, or those rare social dance moments where the music demands something epic. It also represents mastery of body control: if you can execute a clean snake, every other body wave variant is easy by comparison because you've achieved segmental control through the entire kinetic chain.
The snake is a body wave amplified to its maximum expression — involving the entire body from head through neck, shoulders, chest, ribcage, abdomen, hips, and even knees and feet. Where a standard body wave might involve torso segments only, the snake uses the whole body as one continuous wave medium. The movement is dramatic, serpentine, and highly visible. It requires not just torso isolation but full-body segmental control.
Beginner
You need solid body wave technique before attempting the snake. The snake adds head and lower body: start from the head (push chin forward), let the wave travel through neck, shoulders, chest, ribcage, abs, hips, and let the knees absorb the final energy. Each segment moves in sequence — head first, everything else follows like dominos. Start at quarter speed, focusing on one segment passing to the next without skipping.
Intermediate
Smooth the transitions. The most common problem areas: neck-to-shoulder (tends to be jerky), ribcage-to-hip (tends to skip the abs), and hip-to-knees (tends to be disconnected). Practice each transition zone independently. Then put the whole sequence together. Add the snake to partner work: in body contact, a full-body snake creates a wave that your partner can feel from your chest all the way through to your hips.
Advanced
Reverse snake (feet to head). Lateral snake (side-to-side full-body wave). Snake that spirals (undulation plus rotation). Chained snakes — continuous snake that cycles without a clear beginning or end. Snake at variable speeds within one execution (slow top, fast middle, freeze at bottom). In partner work, synchronized snakes (both partners waving simultaneously) create one of the most visually stunning movements possible in social dance.
Practice drill
Stand profile to a mirror. Initiate from the head: chin forward (count 1), shoulders follow (count 2), chest (count 3), ribcage (count 4), abs (count 5), hips (count 6), knees absorb (count 7), neutral (count 8). Yes, that's an entire 8-count for one snake. Once smooth at this speed, compress: one snake per 4-count. Then per 2-count. The compression forces faster sequential movement while maintaining the wave quality. Three minutes.
Snake in Madrid
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