The Cuban hip is a very distinctive figure eight motion that differentiates Latin dances from all other dance styles. The Pendulum is that moves the hip forward and back. And the bounce is a signature that is a result of bending and straightening of knees.
Talking about the Samba hip, we have to bear in mind that the body (not the hips, nor the feet) does most of the movement. Samba makes use of contractions and compressions of the pelvis to move the legs in its desired way so as to give Samba its characteristic look.
The contractions move the foot back or forward and the compressions recover the foot (almost) back to the starting position.
The hips should be moved softly from side to side in a figure eight motion as a result of
the flexing and the straightening of the knees.
To achieve the perfect Samba hip movement, every step should be taken with pressure on the ball of the foot, while keeping with the knee flexed. As the weight is taken onto the foot, the heel gets lowered and the knee gets straightened, then the heel of the opposite foot should be released as the hips is being moved in the direction of the stepping foot.
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