"Dancing Tid-bits" Issue #81, Thursday, December 20, 2001


Dancing Tid-bits
Transfer vs Replace

Sometimes I like to be a little picky or you might say discussion for the sake of discussion, maybe relevant, maybe not.

If you are preparing for a Certification Examination in Latin, you might be interested in getting your hand on the ISTD, Questions and Answer booklet on Latin Associate examination (Rumba).

Quote:

Q; Give the feet position of step 1 - 3 of the Basic Movement of Man.

A; 1. LF fwd, 2. "Replace" weight to RF, 3. LF to side and slightly back...Unquote

It sounds OK or doesn't it? Well, it all depends. If you have kept up with the developments of technique and terms, now there is a difference (maybe there always was) in word, "Transfer" vs "Replace" as it applies to weight changes.

Let me simply quote from the new ISTD manual, the definition of these two terms:

QUOTE..Transfer or Replace: The word "transfer" denotes a step which has remained with pressure on the floor at the end of the preceding step (example: Steps 2 and 5 of the Closed Basic Movement). The word "replace" denotes a step where pressure is released from the floor at the end of the preceding step, (example Lady's step 6 of Three Threes)...UNQUOTE

Now we know that there is consensus that the 1st step in Rumba and Cha Cha Basic is like a Check and some weight (or pressure) is retained on the back foot. Therefore the step 2 becomes a "transfer" of weight rather than replace and the technique manual on Rumba takes that into consideration.

Jive Rock: as opposed to Rumba and Cha Cha the Jive Rock involves a full commitment of weight with release of pressure from the floor of the free foot. So, the Jive Rock is (Man) 1. LF back in fallaway 2. Replace weight to RF in PP.

I don't want to take this discussion any further because it gets more entangled and confusing. As I am dancing, I wouldn't analyze whether it is transfer or replace; just be natural and analyze later,

Merry Christmas from Max and bye bye.

Questions and comments to Dancemax@aol.com, thank you.


This article is part of and should be seen in the frame context of Dancesport UK, Tid-bits