Need help with a dance move in jive...?

Question

In Jive I need to do a step where I am...flicking? I start out standing on my right foot and flicking forward, then to the left, then steping crossed behind the right foot, then having the right foot close them, and then the left foot stepping to the left, so I am standing on it. After that there are 2 more times when I flick, and I am having trouble with it. My instructer says to bend into the standing knee to stay balanced, but I still fall over during the 3rd flick. Any helpful tips?

I cant go slower, I have a state competition in 8 days and Jive goes at full speed.

Answer 1

I'd suggest to do as many flicking and kicking drills as you can, without wearing yourself out before the comp.
Try this (first slowly, then to music):
4 flicks on the right
4 flicks on the left
2 R
2 L
2 R
2 L
1 R
1 L
1 R
1 L
repeat.
This exercise will help you to utilize your abs, there is no way one can do it to music without using abs.
Besides that, make sure you're coming out of the cross-behind combo (before those last two flicks) in full and complete balance. Make sure you finish this move and arrive fully on your supporting leg. If you're not in perfect balance after it you'll fall on the next flick. I think you're falling *before* you have a chance to use the bending of your knee. Actually, thinking of bending the knee never helped my balance. What helps me is to suck in my stomack at the end of the Padaburre (I think that's the name of cross-behind combo you're referring to) if it is followed by flicks and also utilize the swing action; you know what I'm taking about right? While the hips continue in the direction of the last step, the rib cage is already shifting in the opposite direction.
Pay close attention to technique when practicing (but forget about it when performing). There are slightly different approaches, but my teacher tells me you keep the flicking foot slightly turned out at the thigh, that magically helps me. Make sure you're in correct Jive posture. If you're standing too straight then all the kicks and flicks are much harder.
I hope I helped, good luck with the comp.

Answer 2

It sounds like you're trying too hard. Your instructor's right, of course, that you have to have your weight-bearing knee flexed a little. My guess is that you're overdoing it. As a matter of fact, I'd almost bet by the time you get to jive, you'll be too tired to mess up, and you'll nail it.

Answer 3

Practice makes perfect. Maybe trying it a little faster or a little slower. Im just guessing but maybe between the second and the three the transition is different or something. Going slower will help.