El Comienzo (2)

"This is your partner."

A nod. Smiles exchanged. He made a sheepishly cute gesture. He's no more than a boy. Tall, but young. Sixteen. She walked up and gave him her right hand, left hand resting on his shoulder.


"Now, let us start with the basic..."

Back, front, side, hips down... *twist a figure of 8
Front, back, side, hips down... *another reversed figure of 8
Repeat, and spot....turn. Back to close position.


Looked, looked again, tried with her partner. Got the steps right.
And again. This time, trying out both the steps and the technique. Back, front...
"Pull your body upright all the time, chest out..."

Nodded. And again, Back, front, side, hips.....down.
"Don't set your weight down on your hips before the beat. Hold it a little longer..."
"Boy, bend your legs a little. And remember the HIPS! This is not the Cha Cha."


And repeat. Underarm turn. Spot....turn... swayed a little...
"Watch your footing... Don't sway, don't stagger..."

And again. Spot... turn... still not a nice, swift turn.
"Keep your balance... I know it's hard on a 2 and a half inch especially when you are new. But try to work on keeping a sure landing of your foot all the time..."

And again and again. Spot... turn... land... hips down.
"Better... Keep this up. " A smile.

She let out a breathe, smiled back.


Teacher is always so patient in teaching them. In Teacher's patience, she could grow at ease of her own pace. And she was grateful for that. Afterall, she was a late beginner at the age of 18, unlike the other children. Moreover, she doesn't have any other basics to start with. She knew Teacher would understand that very well. But again, she wanted to do better, and still, to always improve.


"Now the Hand to Hand..."
"The Fan..."
" The Rhumba Walk..."
"The New York..."


So much to learn. Gotta work hard work hard. She was determined. Flung her hair back, wiped the sweat on her forehead. And again she tried. To be sure of each step, each move in the routine. To polish up her technique. To keep her feet's interaction with the floor. To glide along on point rather than lifting her feet even the slightest. To coordinate with her partner's steps...

And the most important Cuban Motion. Have to execute that well. It's like the soul of a nice Rhumba dance. Essential.


There's so much more to dancing than just steps...
And she knew she gotta work hard at it.