La Manera (the way of dancing) and the action of taking a step

The couple will start the dance at normal height, feet together and therefore with the legs straight and knees locked back. The man will lead the first indication of movement by relaxing his knees. The slight downward movement is then translated into backwards, sideways or forward movement as required.

On Slow Counts, the foot is placed in position without weight on the first beat and then the foot position held while the body weight is transferred on the second beat. The foot is collected under the body but not automatically at the end of the step. The collection occurs as the foot starts to take the next step. This may seem a fine distinction but it should be remembered that a pause or Corte may separate the end of one step from the beginning of the next.

When a foot is placed in position for a forward step, it is more stylish for the pointing leg to be straight and for the knees to be together. The length of the step is determined to a large extent by the flexing and straightening of the standing knee. The flexing of the standing knee will increase the length of the step while straightening the standing knee will reduce the length of the step. Having determined, in this way, the length of the step, the weight is transferred to complete that step. The step should not be elongated further by driving the foot beyond the position achieved through the use of the standing knee.

When the foot is placed in position for a backward or sideways step, the length of the step is still determined by the flexing and straightening of the standing knee and the foot is pointed with a straight leg, but the knees are not held together.

When the feet complete a close, the legs are straight with the knees locked back. However, the straightening occurs on the step prior to the close. For example, we can look at steps 4‑5 for the man in the Basic Eight:

4. The man places the LF in position using a straight leg and transfers his weight onto the foot, still with the leg straight.

5. The right knee flexes in readiness to place the RF next to the LF. The RF is peeled off the floor heel first and then placed toe, ball, flat next to the LF. The right knee then straightens as the weight is transferred to the RF so that both knees are straight and locked back. A slight forward poise in the body completes the elegant image.

The same principle applies to the last two steps of a Closing Finish (El Cierre).

It should also be noted that on step 1 of Salida, in instances where the man steps OP there is CBM (Contra Body Movement). CBM is a slight curve of the line of travel of the moving foot initiated by a turn in the body. It results in the advancement of the side of the body (shoulder, hips) with the advancement of the opposite foot. In practice, this avoids the dancers’ right hips clashing as the man moves forward on Step 3; the man curving slightly around the woman’s hip and the woman curving slightly to let him. As CBM should be natural by‑product of a smooth action, it is therefore, not generally mentioned separately in the descriptions below.