5 The Grind

COURSE: late-night-blues

FOCUS: This lesson teaches the grind dance move, focusing on integrating rotation, weight shift, and pelvic tilt into a relaxed, late-night blues style for partner connection.

TIP & TRICKS:

• Rotate the pelvis so the right hip bone comes forward while the left goes back, and vice versa.
• Step into the leg as the hip bone moves forward to shift weight naturally.
• Roll through the foot when stepping to create energy flow from the ground up through the body.
• Keep the upper body facing forward to maintain connection with your partner.
• Practice the grind in two counts to match the slow drag timing, starting on the spot before adding movement.

REMEMBER:

• The grind involves three simultaneous elements: rotation, weight shift, and tilt of the pelvis.
• Allow the knees to bend naturally to support the hip movement and ensure comfort.
• Maintain a relaxed, soft style with energy flowing through the chest for partner connection.
• Experiment with traveling directions (forward, back, sides) while keeping the hip action independent.
• Adjust arm placement and body connection to find what feels comfortable for the grind movement.