Chaves y Sylvia

“Focus on your hips, not your whole body. Your left hand is just there to block — only the hips move.”

Explaining how to isolate the hip movement in the basic step

“You do shift your weight, but don't move it too much. At the end of the day, we're moving on a single axis.”

Explaining weight transfer while connecting through the hips in closed position

“The chest doesn't move — only the hips should.”

Emphasizing an anchored upper body and hip isolation during basic step drills

“The follower stands on her center line, the leader on my right line — connect the two lines. But don't press them together.”

Setting up the partner connection and explaining line alignment

“Doing it without arms is for social dancing. Remember, before you use your arms you have to train the body movement first.”

Explaining why he trains body movement alone, without arms, during basic step practice

“Your right hand goes on your partner's hip line with the whole arm, thumb up, the other fingers relaxed. And ladies, your hand always stays on top of the man's — never underneath.”

Detailed coaching on hand placement and contact points in closed position

“The legs aren't the main event of the movement. All they do is push the hips forward.”

CHOA looks back on the basics learned from a bunch of different teachers, then introduces Silvia's philosophy of the basic

“With the arms it gets easier. Remember the weight, breathe as you move, relax, and sit.”

Adding the arms as the next step after body movement training

“Breathe, change position, and now you have to lose the balance. Send it back and come back again.”

Explaining position changes and weight shifts in the basic step

“Now this step you can use in half timing, in normal timing, or even without the step.”

Introducing basic variations and how to play with the timing

“When you use the legs, don't forget to move the hips a little bigger.”

Connecting the leg steps to the hip movement

“The movement itself is exactly the same — the only thing I'm changing is where I am.”

Repeating the same hip motion from a different direction