Torsion

Torsion is the twist of the body that communicates movement in Zouk. It’s a fundamental concept that underpins many moves in the dance. It’s foundational and important to understand.

Normally we apply torsion in the same direction as our Contra-Body MovementContra-Body MovementThe natural opposition between upper and lower body - how twisting through the torso creates fluidity in movement.. So if we are stepping with our left foot forward, we will be applying torsion to the left. This can be seen quite clearly in moves like the BonusBonusA weight transfer that creates a pause in the basic, used as a foundation for many exits and variations., however there are many exceptions to this.

Understanding Torsion

Keep your hips pointed in one direction and turn your upper body to another direction. If you feel the strain of torsion in the middle of your torso, you’re doing it right. Like when you wring out a towel, it wants to come undone. We use this idea to communicate turns in zouk. In fact, contra-body movement is in itself a form of torsion, although a small amount.