Beginner
Hip Isolation
Beginner Level
The foundation — what every new dancer needs to know
Moving your hips independently from the rest of your body — the engine of bachata's signature look.
Beginner focus
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Try to move ONLY your hips to the right without your shoulders moving. Start with side-to-side, then front-to-back, then circles.
Tips
- •Belly dance tutorials are surprisingly useful for hip isolation in bachata
Common mistakes
- •Moving the whole torso instead of isolating
- •Straight legs lock the hips
- •Over-exaggerating to the point of losing balance
Practice drill
Place your hands on your hip bones. Draw the biggest circle you can with your hips while keeping your shoulders completely still. 10 circles each direction, daily for 2 weeks.