Jive Chasse Technique: Feet, Hips and Body Rhythm

footwork hip action jive latin technique

The short answer: a good Jive Chasse is danced into the floor with small steps, not high knees. The footwork is ball, ball-flat, counted 3-a-4 (quick-a-quick), which in beat value is three quarters of a beat, a quarter of a beat, then a whole beat. The hips use a contra action, going opposite to the moving foot, and the heel lowers on every whole beat. Get that weight control right and the music stops feeling too fast.

Why does Jive feel so fast?

Most dancers blame the tempo. When people tell me the music is too fast, I say it's not: you're too slow. The real problem is weight control.

The faster the tempo, the smaller your steps need to be. Big steps and high knees make it very hard to keep up, and they make your Jive look like a galloping pony. Your body will always counterbalance to stop you falling, so the question is whether it counterbalances beautifully or badly, for example by leading with the head or tapping the feet out to the side.

How is Jive different from the other Latin dances?

Jive's character comes from rock and roll, jitterbug, lindy hop and East Coast and West Coast swing, so the body moves differently. The upper body still moves, but with much less rib cage motion than the other Latin dances. The hips don't circle or make a figure of eight like Rumba. They swing like a pendulum.

What is beat value in a Jive Chasse?

Beat value is how much of a beat each step uses. Divide one beat into four quarters. A step on "1" uses the whole beat, and the "a" is worth a quarter of a beat. So the basic, counted 1, 2, 3-a-4, 5-a-6, has the beat values one, one, three quarters, a quarter, one, three quarters, a quarter, one. That's why the chasse feels quicker than the Link.

How do you dance a Jive Chasse, step by step?

In the video I use the Link and Fallaway Rock, but the same technique works for the Basic in Place or anything with a chasse to the left and right.

Footwork: Link back ball-flat and rock forward ball-flat, then chasse to the side ball, ball-flat, and repeat to the other side.
Dance into the floor: keep the steps small and the knees low.
Count it: 1, 2, 3-a-4, 5-a-6, or quick, quick, quick-a-quick, quick-a-quick, with the beat values above.
Contra hip action: as the foot moves to the side, the hip goes slightly the opposite way. The swing passes through neutral, and the hip swings back to normal as the ball-flat completes the weight change.
Heel rule: on every whole beat the heel goes down. On the split beats, stay on the ball of the foot with the heel just off the floor, not up on the toes.
Expert layer, rib cage: while the hip goes opposite the moving foot, the rib cage goes slightly with it, so your sides work. Keep it small.
Expert layer, knees: Jive steps veer in, so the knee is slightly in on the side step. Don't exaggerate it.

Common mistakes

Lifting the knees too high, so the Jive looks like a galloping pony.
Taking big steps that can't keep up with the tempo.
Counterbalancing with the head or by tapping the feet out to the side.
Forgetting to lower the heel on the whole beat because of the speed.
Using too much rib cage motion, as you would in the other Latin dances.

Try this in your next practice

Without music, dance the Link and two chasses with footwork only, saying the beat values out loud. Then add the contra hip action and make sure the heel lowers on every whole beat. When it feels in control, put the music on. And have fun with it: if you look ridiculous at first, laugh at yourself.

Frequently asked questions

How do you count a Jive Chasse?

The basic is counted 1, 2, 3-a-4, 5-a-6, or quick, quick, quick-a-quick, quick-a-quick. Each chasse is three quarters of a beat, a quarter of a beat, then a whole beat.

How fast is Jive music?

WDSF competition rules set Jive at 42 to 44 bars a minute.

What is the difference between a Link and a Fallaway Rock?

A Link goes straight back. A Fallaway Rock has an eighth of a turn under the body, and you normally use it when you're going into Promenade.

Why does my Jive look like a galloping pony?

You're lifting your knees too high and taking steps that are too big for the tempo. Keep the steps small and dance into the floor.

Will this help my leading and following?

Yes. When you develop this kind of weight control, men can lead properly and ladies can follow, instead of getting stuck in a game of drag and pull.

Related lessons

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.

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