Q&A: Dance Confidence, Less Tension, CBM and Pivots

The short answer: confidence in dancing comes from competency and experience, so get on the floor in front of people as often as you can. Relax your shoulders by building a posture that holds you up, rather than engaging and gripping with your muscles. In Slow Foxtrot, CBM happens on step 1 of a figure to start the turn, and a pivot is a turn held in CBMP, then released on the following step.

How do you build confidence as a dancer?

You already have confidence. It's just not directed in the right direction. What you need is competency and experience: the better you do something, the more confident you are in it, and the more you get on the floor in front of people, the easier it gets. Confidence is linked to courage, and courage only grows by facing challenges that scare you and excite you at the same time. A medal test, a competition, or simply turning up to class when you don't feel like it all count.

I learned this through public speaking as a teenager. I was nervous speaking in front of one person, then ten, then a hundred, and each one became normal. I still get the same butterflies in front of a big crowd. The only difference is competency, because I practised my craft and kept getting experience.

What is CBM in Slow Foxtrot?

CBM stands for Contra Body Movement: contra meaning opposite, body movement meaning a body action. The opposite side of the body turns towards the moving foot, and it's generally used to initiate turn. It exists in all the Ballroom dances, including Tango.

In a Feather Step, CBM happens on step 1 only. Step 2 is a side lead, and step 3 is in CBMP, which is a foot position, not a body action. When you then come forward on the left foot, you use CBM again to start turning to the left. In the Feather itself you're not really turning; you're preparing to step outside your partner. In a Waltz Natural Turn, CBM is on step 1 and body swing does the rest.

What is a pivot in Ballroom dancing?

A pivot is a turn held in CBMP, contra body movement position, where two tracks become one. For the man, step 4 of a Spin Turn is a good example: back on the left foot, the toe turns in, the turn is held, then it's released as you take the following step. You can't keep rotating on the spot in Ballroom, so you always let the pivot go on the next step. The lady does a pivot action, a momentary CBMP: forward on the right foot in one track around the man, then she releases it and steps side to slightly back.

Pivots, spins and turns are three different categories. A pivot doesn't involve spotting the way a spin does.

What questions do I answer in this Q&A?

1. Confidence in the studio (1:16): build competency and experience, and act in spite of what you feel.
2. Relaxing the shoulders (5:15): don't engage and grip. Build a strong base in the pelvis and core so the arms can relax and still keep their structure. Tension tires, relaxation renews.
3. Amateur to professional (8:58): set the goal, work backwards from it, do your exams and earn your way up the grades through competition.
4. Slow Foxtrot CBM (12:16): CBM on step 1 to initiate turn, then step, swing, sway.
5. Momentum and spins (16:20): in Foxtrot you accelerate and decelerate rather than stopping, like changing gears in a car. It all comes down to controlling the weight from one foot to the other.
6. Pivots (20:44): a turn held in CBMP and released on the following step. Practise your Natural Spin Turn.

Common mistakes

• Gripping your partner with your arms and shoulders, like you'd grip a chair to lift it. You should never hold so hard that you leave a bruise.
• Trying to use CBM on every step. You'd end up going in a circle, chasing your tail.
• Lowering the heel too early when moving backwards. The weight collapses and the movement stops dead, or you fall backwards.
• Chasing more spins and harder choreography before your basics are good. Spins don't make you a good dancer.
• Gentlemen, moving diagonally away from the lady in a Spin Turn instead of bringing her in line with you.

Try this in your next practice

Pick one basic, like a backward walk or a Feather Step, and work only on the quality of the movement. Going back, keep the heel up until the moving foot passes, then lower. In the Feather, use CBM on step 1 only, then step, swing, sway. And next time you feel shy in the studio, act in spite of what you feel and go for it.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to pass an exam to become a professional dancer?

There are two kinds of professional. To teach and run your own studio you don't need competition experience, but I recommend doing your teaching exams first. To compete, there was no exam to pass when I moved from amateur to the professional ranks, though it differs between countries. You still want to be ready, which means working your way up the grades in your own country and winning your grade before moving up.

Does Tango have CBM?

Yes. All the Ballroom dances have CBM, including Tango. Swing is a different thing altogether, and Tango doesn't have swing.

What's the difference between CBM and CBMP?

CBM is a body action, where the opposite side of the body turns towards the moving foot. CBMP is a foot position, where two tracks become one.

How many spins should I do in a row?

One or two is plenty. Doing four or six in a row doesn't make you a better dancer. Work on your spinning technique and spotting, keep practising, and your brain will get used to it.

Why is the Natural Spin Turn so hard?

It's one of the hardest steps in Ballroom dancing. You might learn it in your first year, but it takes years to master, so don't be disheartened.

Related lessons

• Slow Foxtrot Feather Step: step, swing, sway
• How to spin without getting dizzy
• How to hold your frame in Ballroom dancing
• How to overcome fear of dance exams

Vaughan Liddicoat is a 4 time World Professional 10 Dance representative for Australia, an accredited coach and the founder of Ballroom Mastery. He has a passion for dance and wants to help you become the best dancer you can be and have an amazing time doing it.