(Bachata) All 4 essential bachata basic hip mechanics, fully conquered! Spain's sharp little fairy Alba breaks it down 💯💯💯

“When you use the central hip, you end up drawing a spiral. But don't think "infinity." If you think that way, your body actually stops lining up.”

CONTEXTExplaining sensual (counter) hip movement, with the advice not to force the infinity shape in your head

“It's all the same basic system. Instead of moving side to side or moving sensual, you can also draw a circle with your hips. Anywhere you like.”

CONTEXTIntroducing the circular hip — the basic step stays the same, only the type of hip changes

“When you shift your weight, try taking a curved path instead of a flat, straight line. Going from point A to point B, you don't go straight — you go on a curve.”

Comparing straight and curved paths while explaining weight change

“Your torso shouldn't wobble. It's not blocked, it's stable. And to get there, you have to use contraction.”

Explaining contraction as the way to move your hips while keeping the upper body still

“You're covering more distance, so you have to make your steps smaller. Otherwise you won't get there in time. About shoulder-width, that's it.”

CONTEXTExplaining how to adjust step size when traveling forward and back with the hips

“When you're happy dancing bachata, your mouth makes a 'U' shape, right? Your hips should draw that same 'U'.”

Teaching the up-down level movement of the hips as a U-curve, like a smiling mouth

“There are different parts inside a song — slow sounds, fast sounds. When it's fast, go traditional or majao; when it's smooth, try sensual or circular.”

Choosing a hip mechanism based on the tempo of the music

“You need to really know how to move your hips — in a way that doesn't affect your partner. That's how I can be dancing with a partner and still go boom boom boom, tak tak tak, tiki tiki all on my own.”

Showing how your own hip movement shouldn't travel to your partner when lead and follow are dancing close