Contra Body Movement Position [CBMP]

Contra body movement position (CBMP) is a position rather than a movement. CBMP is the foot position achieved when the moving foot is placed on or across the line of the standing foot, in front of or behind it.

The term is slightly verbose in an attempt to make it self-describing and to stress the similarity of the dancer’s feet position with respect to the body as if a step with CBM was performed.

However, the most important usage of this term in ballroom dancing is to describe steps when a foot moves across the standing foot, while the torso moves in the same direction as the moving foot without rotation. CBMP is routinely used in steps taken in promenade position or outside partner step in order to maintain the relative body position of the couple. CBMP and CBM often occur together in turning steps commenced outside partner or in promenade, but in such case the CBMP is required by the commencing position and is not a result of the turn.

In the ballroom tango, most forward steps of the man’s left foot are placed in front of the right foot in CBMP, due to the tango’s characteristic compact hold and movement slightly biased towards the right side of the body. Forward steps of the left foot in tango which commence a reverse (left) turn will also utilize CBM in the body in addition to a CBMP foot position.