The upper half of the body(waist up) keeps the beat by bowing forward with a straight back and a slight bend in both knees, similar to 1b. At the first bow the arms extend to the sides(1a and 1b). At the second bow, the arms cross in front (1c and 1d). The body straightens up in between the change of arms from one position to the other. You continue in this way for the basic ska step done on the spot.
(2a and 2b) You can start out by facing your partner with a slight inclination forward of the upper half of the body and a slight bend in both knees. The arms are bent at the elbows and parallel to the ground. The movement commences with the man breaking to his right (2a), throwing back his right shoulder, arm and leg at the same time throwing his hips forward (the woman doing the reverse). From there you return to the opening position, facing your partner again. The man then breaks in the opposite direction (2b) throwing back his left shoulder, arm and leg (the woman doing the reverse). The Ska Beat in this step is kept on all three movements - the break to the right, the coming together, and the break to the left. You will find if you are keeping the beat correctly, the heavy drum beat is only on movements to the right and left.
(3a and 3b) The most energetic of all Ska Steps is the rowing. A similar action to rowing a boat, it is done either facing your partner or beside your partner. The first step is to reach out with the arms (3a) keeping both back and legs perfectly straight to form an angle at the waist. Then pull back (3b) throwing backwards the upper half of the body (from the knees up). The Ska Beat is maintained first with the forward movement in 3a and then again with the backward movement in 3b. The weight of the body is shifted alternately from the right to the left on each pull back action. If done properly, the heavy ska beat is on the pull back action.
(4a and 4b) This dance step is similar to the action of skiing and is done rapidly to the beat of the guitar. You start out by leaning forward at the waist with the hands in front and straight legs (4a). In the second position (4b), the hands are brought down to the sides and at the same time the knees are bent. Both 4a and 4b are repeated simultaneously to the fast ska beat of the guitar.
This step is usually done when the musical excitement is at its peak and "the spirit has really got you". Facing your partner, you start jumping as follows:First, you land on both feet with both knees bent (5a) then you straighten your legs extending both arms and right legs to the sides (partner doing the reverse)(5b). Returning to the 5a postion again, you then straighten your legs extending both arms and your left leg (partner doing the reverse) (5c). For variation, Step 5d may be used, in which between stomping on the floor, the legs and arms are thrown forward - right arm/left leg in the first case and left arm, right leg in the second case. At all times while doing this step, the stomping on the floor with both feet is done strongly to the heavy ska drum beat.