A beautiful and dramatic pattern for the Bolero, the Aida is a step that displays both partners. The Bolero uses both smooth dance moves and Cuban Motion. See the Video on the Bolero Aida and read the text description below.

Gentleman's Footwork - To begin, the Gentleman lowers and softens into his knees. Then he begins by stepping to the side with his left foot (slow). He steps back with his right foot for the first quick, and he lowers his body on this beat. On the second quick he steps forward on his left, staying low. This is the first half of the basic Bolero step.

Now he begins going into his cross over. On his right foot he steps to the side for slow and leads his partner into a cross over break.

His first quick will be on his left foot. He replaces his weight back onto his right foot. He is facing his partner on slow (left foot), with his right arm over his own head. Keeping ahold of his partner's hand, he steps across with his right foot (slow), steps back on his left and swivels (quick), and continues stepping back on his right. He should be side by side with his partner. He does a rock step in place (quick, quick). This is where he would use his Cuban Motion for he rock. Then a slow turn for his partner and he will end facing her, right foot pointing to the side. He will be hand to hand with his partner. He then does an underarm turn to finish.

Lady's Footwork - To begin, the Lady lowers and softens into her knees. Lady begins with her right foot stepping side (slow). She rocks step with left foot (first quick), and she lowers her body on this beat. She replaces her weight onto her right foot, staying low for the second quick. This is the first half of the basic Bolero step.

The Gentleman will then lead her into into a cross over break on her left (slow). She rock steps forward on her right (quick), on the second quick, she replaces her wight back. Then she steps side on her right foot for slow, facing her partner, her left arm up and over her own head. The Gentleman leads the next cross over, she is on her left foot (quick). She turns to the left to step back on her right for the second quick and will finish by stepping back on her left for slow, her right foot pointed out in front of her.

She will do a rock step in place (quick, quick) using her Cuban Motion. On slow she turns on her right foot and faces her partner, pointing her left foot to the side. She is hand to hand with the Gentleman. He will lead an underarm turn to finish the pattern.