Shimmy (Body Movement) in Salsa On2: definition, module and class

Taught in

Shimmy, a module of Bodymovement Mastery

From the module notes

Shimmy 🔥💃

Controlled. Fast. All shoulder, nothing else.

What It Actually Is 🎯

The Shimmy is a shoulder isolation, not a chest or ribcage movement. Shoulders travel front and back independently while the rest of your body stays perfectly still.

Check from the side in a mirror: your shoulder should travel behind your hip bone on the back motion and in front of it on the forward motion. That's your range. ✅

Build It Progressively 💡

One shoulder, full range, front and back
Reduce the range, speed up slightly
Switch to the other shoulder
Opposite shoulders simultaneously, one forward, one back
Alternate continuously until smooth and fast

Don't jump to step 4 before step 3 is solid.

Hands, Small and Complementary 👀

Let hands follow your shoulders naturally. Minimal movement. Large, chaotic arm motions kill the clean isolation. Small and controlled is the goal.

Apply It Musically 🎵

Side step + Shimmy → high-energy moments
Conga beat syncopation (8-and, 4-and) → layer Shimmy onto your basic step

Level Up, Syncopation Shimmy 🌀

From Franklin Diaz: 8-and-1, 2-and-3, 4-and-5, 6-and-7 syncopated shimmy starting with the right shoulder. At the same time, flare the same leg as your shoulder on 1, 3, 5, 7.

🤝 The Shimmy is a crowd-pleaser. Practice it in a real song, find the moments where the music peaks, and let it rip. Then bring it to the social floor and see how it lands.

Related moves

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From the module notes

Shimmy 🔥💃

Controlled. Fast. All shoulder, nothing else.

What It Actually Is 🎯

The Shimmy is a shoulder isolation, not a chest or ribcage movement. Shoulders travel front and back independently while the rest of your body stays perfectly still.

Check from the side in a mirror: your shoulder should travel behind your hip bone on the back motion and in front of it on the forward motion. That's your range. ✅

Build It Progressively 💡

One shoulder, full range, front and back
Reduce the range, speed up slightly
Switch to the other shoulder
Opposite shoulders simultaneously, one forward, one back
Alternate continuously until smooth and fast

Don't jump to step 4 before step 3 is solid.

Hands, Small and Complementary 👀

Let hands follow your shoulders naturally. Minimal movement. Large, chaotic arm motions kill the clean isolation. Small and controlled is the goal.

Apply It Musically 🎵

Side step + Shimmy → high-energy moments
Conga beat syncopation (8-and, 4-and) → layer Shimmy onto your basic step

Level Up, Syncopation Shimmy 🌀

From Franklin Diaz: 8-and-1, 2-and-3, 4-and-5, 6-and-7 syncopated shimmy starting with the right shoulder. At the same time, flare the same leg as your shoulder on 1, 3, 5, 7.

🤝 The Shimmy is a crowd-pleaser. Practice it in a real song, find the moments where the music peaks, and let it rip. Then bring it to the social floor and see how it lands.