Basic on the Spot

The basic on the spot is the first step pattern every zouk dancer learns. It’s deceptive in its simplicity. It is at its core simply three steps on the spot, but the timing is what makes it tricky. If you understand what we spoke of in SteppingSteppingThe basics of weight transfer and foot placement — how to step with intention and control., this will be much clearer.

The first step in at the beginning, in the Red PhaseRed PhaseThe first 'boom chick chick' in the music, and every subsequent odd phase. Part of Music & Rhythm, even though we are intending to project our weight on top of the Red FootRed FootLead's left and follow's right - the first foot that moves in the boom of the first half basic. Part of Stepping, the weight is still on the Blue FootBlue FootLead's right and follow's left - the first foot that moves in the boom of the second half basic. Part of Stepping, as is discussed in the stepping section. At the moment the first beat hits, we are actually pushing the ground with our Blue FootBlue FootLead's right and follow's left - the first foot that moves in the boom of the second half basic. Part of Stepping.

We take the entire full beat to move from the weight on the Blue FootBlue FootLead's right and follow's left - the first foot that moves in the boom of the second half basic. Part of Stepping, to the weight on the Red FootRed FootLead's left and follow's right - the first foot that moves in the boom of the first half basic. Part of Stepping, and finally back again to the weight on the Blue FootBlue FootLead's right and follow's left - the first foot that moves in the boom of the second half basic. Part of Stepping - which would normally be the control step.

After weight arrives back on the Blue FootBlue FootLead's right and follow's left - the first foot that moves in the boom of the second half basic. Part of Stepping, we do one quick weight shift back to the Red FootRed FootLead's left and follow's right - the first foot that moves in the boom of the first half basic. Part of Stepping, and start the process again with opposite feet.

This is important as it follows the theme of stepping for nearly the entirety of zouk and allows you to get proper hip movement, which we’ll discuss below.

Scrub through this interactive visualiser to see hip movement and timing in action.

Hip Movement

You can have hip movement in the basic. It’s not required but most people find it nice. This is done by essentially doing a figure eight with your hips. In the above visualiser, you can deselect the chest to see the isolated hip movements.

Because we have two full weight transfers during every boom phase as discussed above, we have that entire time to milk out a nice round hip movement. If you actually transfer your weight literally on the boom step, you won’t have time to do this and it will feel clunky.