Casino Basic Step

Foundations & Timing

a-tiempo, contratiempo

Lead, Follow

a tiempo · contratiempo

Paso básico de casino · Cuban basic

Foundations & Timing

casino

a-tiempo, contratiempo

The Casino basic is built from clear weight changes. Each weighted step establishes a new supporting side from which the next movement can be organized.

Steps remain compact and adapt to available space. Casino is not organized as a rigid forward-and-back pattern on a fixed linear slot.

Small directional and body rotations can emerge from weight changes and shared spatial organization. They are not produced by independently twisting the upper body.

Knees, pelvis, and torso respond to changing support as a connected organization. Hip action develops from loading rather than from artificially pushing the pelvis sideways.

The basic must remain available for transitions into walking, turning, opening, or closing the couple space. Balance and a clear supporting side therefore matter more than large step shapes.

Casino basic organization grows from continuous weight changes. Knees, pelvis, and torso respond to these load changes rather than being moved independently.

Small directional changes of the feet and body center create natural rotation. The body is not forced into a rigid linear slot.

Steps remain compact enough that direction changes, opening and closing, and subsequent Casino figures do not require rebuilding balance.

Practice either a-tiempo or contratiempo first and keep that timing organization stable for several repetitions.

Then introduce a slight circular orientation. Rotation should emerge from the steps rather than being added as a separate body twist.

Does every weight change remain complete even while your body direction changes slightly?

Despite the elastic and rotational quality, it remains clear which foot carries weight.

Pelvis and torso respond to foot and weight organization; isolated upper-body twisting is unnecessary.

The basic can continue into opening, closing, walking, or turning without a balance correction.

A basic organized around counter-time emphasis, placing directional changes so the movement responds more strongly to the offbeat structure.

Alternating backward break with a slight lateral opening, commonly used as a relaxed basic variation in social salsa.

Open-position Casino basic in which both dancers alternately move away from and back toward one another while maintaining an elastic hand connection.

Salsa rhythm marked almost in place to train timing, foot pressure, and body movement without substantial travel.

Salsa basic rhythm executed with lateral weight changes, developing width, hip response, and side-to-side spatial awareness.

An added or anticipated weight transfer between primary counts, increasing rhythmic density within the regular salsa pulse.

An unweighted floor touch used as a rhythmic addition, embellishment, or preparation for a subsequent weight transfer.

Continuous walking steps within salsa timing, keeping each weight transfer distinct while shaping a deliberate pathway through space.

Six weight changes across eight counts with directional breaks on 1 and 5; counts 4 and 8 carry no regular step.