Unit 3: Selected Ballroom Dances

SELECTED FIGURES

There are several interpretation of Bolero movements. We will only learn three.

1. Basic Movement

Elevation and Lowering

The movement begins with knees flexed, and the dancers rise gradually throughout the slow
count. The first quick is up as the step is taken, resulting in a small step. Immediately
thereafter the supporting knee is flexed and the free foot extended, so that the second quickly
step is taken as longer step, arriving on a flexed knee. The sequence is then repeated from the
second half of the Basic.

Foot Rise and Footwork

With foot rise, the footwork is as follows:

 LF side: Ball-heel-toe
 RF back (small step): Toe- heel
 LF forward: Ball- flat
 RF side: Ball- heel- toe
 LF Forward (small step): Toe- heel
 RF Back_ Ball- heel (releasing heel of front foot)

Hip Motion

It is only executed with man and lady in closed facing or open (non- contact) position. When
used, is similar to that of Rumba, where each step is followed by a setting of the hip in the
direction of the supporting leg. But unlike Rumba, the hip motion is taken concurrently with the
elevation and lowering.