Move · Videos · Dance · 13 min

Learn to Jive: Basic, Change of Places, American Spin and Mooch

Learn to Jive: Basic, Change of Places, American Spin and Mooch — video by Egils Smagris Play · 13:10

Video by Egils Smagris on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Former Latvian ballroom champion Egils Smagris runs a beginners' jive workshop: rock step and chassé, an easy hip-level hold, a bouncy on-the-spot exercise, change of places, the American spin and the mooch, then a routine to music. The turns are best with a partner.

  • 13 min
  • Beginner
  • Moderate impact
  • No equipment
  • Ballroom

Good forDancing for fun

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Step by step 10

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  1. Rock step back and replace, then the chassé: side-close-side, man on the left foot, lady on the right. 0:21
  2. Easy beginner hold at hip level, then the basic: rock, rock, triple step, triple step. 0:50
  3. On-the-spot exercise: walk in place ball to heel, then small jumps in place. 1:30
  4. Change of places right to left: the lady turns right under the arm on the triple step, then back. 2:48
  5. Man adds a 90° turn on the second rock; keep the second triple heading towards your partner. 3:51
  6. Joined hands: after the turn lower the hands with light contact rather than grabbing. 5:53
  7. American spin: a high-five exercise first, then the spin itself on the triple step. 7:36
  8. Link a basic, change of places, the American spin and the change back. 8:32
  9. Mooch: rock, rock, kick-close, kick-close, side by side with a hand on your partner's back. 9:54
  10. Full routine to music: mooch, basic, change of places, American spin, change of places. 11:38

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Rock step back and replace, then triple step side-close-side
  • On the second triple step move towards your partner, not too far to the side
  • After a turn lower the joined hands with light contact instead of grabbing

What it works

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Joints it uses 1 take load

  • Knees takes loadbouncy triple steps, kicks, spins and turns
  • Hips movesrock steps, kick-close in the mooch
  • Ankles & feet movesball-heel steps, quick triples, rocks

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Egils Smagris; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety