A common hurdle with the Torso Twist is keeping the hips released and stable. Its an isolated movement only in the upper torso area, so the hips should not be moving sympathetically underneath. The lack of the big lift in the chest pushes the hips forward and also collapses the chest a little. This is also due to pushing further back in order to make the movement deeper, but this can compromise the integrity of the movement. Sweeping the "upper back" inside the barrel is as low as the shoulder blades (which would cause rounding of the back), but the shoulder ridge, where if a friend rested their arm on your shoulders, that's more the area you want to brush against the barrel.

Hope that helps!

*;}

Ha ha! Ed Grimley! Well, I was considering a pointy hairdo like his actually. ;}

Sounds like you need to add a little bit of both versions to the mix. Just a little bit more chest lift when coming around to the back and keeping the posture in place for the rest of the body.

"Think Ed Grimley does Tribal. "

GAAAAHHHHH!!! I think that just broke my brain.

> Think Ed Grimley does Tribal.

HA! Thanks for this discussion - I think I've found some new ways to think about practicing this move. I've always struggled with this isolation.

Yes, thanks for this discussion. This move is deceptively hard! And what's ironic is that all newbies when they see it, want to do it sooo bad. I must admit it's one of my favorite moves and I will forever have Jill Parker and Carolena performing a duet etched in my brain and this move on the FCBD Live. I must've watched that tape a million times!

Hmm.. that's what I thought at first, too, but Vol 4 Advanced Wksp describes Torso Twist as follows:

This is a counterclockwise turn with a torso rotation. It uses the same foot pattern as the Circle Step, but in the opposite direction. Starting with both feet facing forward, shift the weight to the left foot. Pick up the right foot and place it perpendicular to the left foot so that the toes of the left foot are pointing at the arch of the right foot and the toes of the right foot are facing the left wall of your box. Pivot on the ball of the left foot until both feet are parallel again.

As you pick up the right foot, lift the right elbow and shift the weight of the torso to the left. As the feet become parallel, the torso shifts to the back and the arms are neutral. Stay in place to finish the torso rotation to the right and front. Before starting the turn again.

Arms: As the body’s weight shifts to the left, turn the right elbow up to the ceiling. As the body’s weight shifts to the back, both elbows are neutral. As the body’s weight shifts to the right, raise the left elbow, and as the body shifts to the front the elbows are neutral again.
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Is that move still used, but called something different now? Whatever that move is, does it have a cue, and if so what is it?