_d.png "Independence Day 2025")
Ahead of a weekend session, we try out a sensual couple-centric dance form from Angola that-s all the rage among Mumbaikars
Lobo (right) tells us that the posture is crucial. Relax your body and make sure your shoulders arent arched. Stand upright and dont slouch or bend your knee too much as that looks sloppy. Take small steps which are in proportion to your structure and axi
It takes months to know what to do with your hands while practising solo. Hold them close to your body so that they aren-t flailing around. Form loose fists as if you-re holding drumsticks and move them in a way that adds fluidity to your movement.
Up next is a seemingly simple side-to-side step, where we have to make sure we slide our feet and transfer the weight of the body from the stationary foot to the other-starting with the right one for women, and left for men. Large steps are not recommended and you shouldn-t raise your foot too high or else you end up looking like you-re hopping.
You need to connect with your partner using the forearms. The person leading should wrap their arm lightly around your back, and not the waist. The follower needs to keep their hand on the shoulder and not slide onto the shoulder blade.
The third step, where you take two steps backward and then forward for women, before we pair up, doesn-t require deft footwork. But you do have to focus on putting your full weight on the foot you-re moving, while also making sure you-re in sync with your partner. We learn that looking down to track our partner-s footwork will only end up injuring ours as we need to read the body language of our partner, who was leading in this instance. We get a hang of it, and even learn to improvise.
This transitional move has the follower facing away from the leader, as both your hands meet on the follower-s tummy. It-s a combination of the first three basic steps, but in reverse. There has to be a certain amount of tension where your hands clasp together, but avoid squeezing your partner-s hand or it will limit their movement. The follower has to be willing to be led. It-s crucial that the person leading gives the partner some space.
The last step we learn is the women-s saida, which is a walk in dance form. While the steps are simple enough, it-s the woman-centric movement called jinga that we struggle to grasp. In it, you move just your bottom while keeping the rest of the body in place. "This is a sensual, yet comfortable aspect of the dance. It-s not sexy," says Lobo. We-ll be back to tackle this move.
ON May 25 & 26, 6 pm
AT Soul Club, 24th Road, Bandra West.
CALL 9820847636
COST Rs 800 onwards
Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
