The 7th salsa class turned into a private class: Only Robert and Gissela, and Eidi & I.
We repeated the first and second parts of our sequence, fixing the feet in Remolino (leader must step "inside" on 7 with right foot), doing well in the first class without basicos! In the second part, we're still doing it with basicos in between the moves, to give the poor guy a chance the think. :)
After fine-tuning some details, including the hand-toss leads in La Cruz, we started on part 3 of the sequence. Gisela asked for some solo moves, known as shines, so we focused on that, and introduced two new solo steps, useful for solo shines:
- Mambo step. This is simple: You tap with your toes forwards on 1, 3, 5, 7: Left, Right, Left, Right (followers: Reverse foot order). No weight is shifted onto the tapping foot. The mambo step is for solo dancing. It looks even better with some armwork added.
- Bicicleta: This is all about placing your feet in line. Left foot in front of the right on 1, then on 2-3 the feet move backwards so you stay on the same spot. Repeat on 5-7 with the other foot first (followers: Reverse foot order). It's important that the feet really are exactly one in front of the other, that's what gives this step its character. Looks good combined with a body roll or some wavy armwork.
Using the new steps, the entire part three of the sequence is solo dancing:
For the leader:
9-11) Stand still, feet apart, clap 3-2 clave with macho attitude.
12) Mambo Cross: Do mambo step front and right, two taps in each direction. Rotation towards the right. First tap is with left foot.
13) Do mambo step back and left, two taps in each direction. Rotation towards the right.
14) Return to the line. Basic step, move in close to the follower. Hand on her back on 8.
15 Pick up the follower, nice and easy into closed hold on 1-3, and on 5-7 Cross Body Lead.
For the follower:
9) Right turn with styling: Right arm spiraling up, close to body, above head in the turn into holding an egg. Arm moves like a corkscrew, hand always points up. Fingers end in a crest-like spread. Palm faces right when finished.
10) 1-3 Basico, 5-7 Bicicleta
11) Bicicleta
12) Mambo Cross: Do mambo step front and right, two taps in each direction. Rotation towards the right. First tap is with right foot.
13) Do mambo step back and left, two taps in each direction. Rotation towards the right.
14) Return to the line. Rumba step.
15) Cross Body Lead.
So at the end of 15), we're back in closed hold, ready for part four of the sequence. Keep practicing!
And for all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 2010 will be a monster year for salsa dancing! Big hugs to everyone.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
6th salsa class: Lima, 2009-12-07
The 6th salsa class had the core members gathered: Juan-Carlos and Melanie, Robert and Gissela, and Eidi & I.
By now we're getting into a routine, things are feeling more familiar. After four classes, of short sequences, in the fifth class we'll put those four sequences together and dance the whole sequence from class 1 to 4.
In today's footwork, we showed how to do a left turn, a simple, slow turn which uses an entire beat. You just step through the entire turn, there's no spinning on the foot at any point. In general, the footwork is looking very good!
We repeated last week's sequence:
1) Cross Body Lead,
2) Right turns for leader/follower,
3) La Copa,
4) Sombrero.
It took some time to polish the details, and it really does make a big difference if you practice at home between classes or not! :)
Worth mentioning the detail of how to lead Sombrero - if you lead it right, it will be obvious to the follower to which side she should turn, by blocking her with your left hand on her hip, so her own arm, in front of her body, forces her to turn to the right. We also mentioned the estetics of the Sombrero, that the arms first rise, then fall, like a fan opening up.
Then, we got into the new sequence for the day, a continuation of the previous one:
5) Cross Body Lead, Arc Walk
6) Remolino
7) Follower's Right Turn, double hold
8) La Cruz
Breaking each step down into some detail:
5) Cross Body Lead, Arc Walk: A cross body lead, but the leader raises his hand so the follower walks beneath it, which makes her half-turn to the right instead of the left on 7. It is important that the leader guides the follower with his right hand on 5, so she knows to move straight forward. Like any other cross body lead without turns, this move looks best if the follower does her half-turn on 7, not earlier. For some ladies' styling, the follower can put her free left hand on her hip while walking beneath the arc.
6) Remolino: Starts with an Open Break, then the lead steps forward and puts his right arm on the follower's back, arm above her shoulder, like a wing. Then the two step a full turn to the right on 5-6-7, walking around a common center of gravity. The most difficult thing here was how to step for the lead: The right foot walks "inside" the left foot on 7.
7) Follower's Right Turn, double hold: Basic step on 1-2-3, then a simple follower's right turn on 5-6-7, with both hands held. Ends into a double-crossed hold, left hand above right hand. This is just a preparation for the next move, really. It helps to use the thumb as a leader to maintain the grip in the turn.
8) La Cruz (also known as Jesu Cristo): Today's most difficult move. Gets its name from the pose on 3, where the partners stand back to back with arms outstretched like a cross. The follower's steps are actually identical to those of La Copa, but the armwork is quite different. Begins on 1 with an Open Break. On 2, the leader must pull with his left hand on the follower's right hand so she understands that she should move into a La Copa position. The leader steps forward with his right foot, facing left (back to back with the follower). The leader raises the hands which are still coupled. On 3, the arms are lowered, one to each side, forming "La Cruz". The arms should not be fully extended. Then on 5, the leader "tosses" the follower's right hand backwards, while the leader's right hand is still holding her and indicating the direction of her half-turn. This tells her to return to the spot she came from. On 6, the leader's right hand releases her, completely letting go. On 7, both make a half-turn to face each other, without any contact. The most difficult thing here is that 1-2-3 goes very fast - the pull on 2 must be obvious, and it is very important to put the weight of the leader's left foot on 3. And here, just like in Sombrero, the esthetics we're looking for is that the arms rise (though not very high) on 2, and fall down and out like a fan on 3. The trick is to make it look slow even though it's quite fast.
The first three didn't present any real problems, but the fourth one will require some work. We'll repeat the 5-8 moves in the next class, but do remember to practice! Taking a video is an excellent way to help the memory.
That was all we did in this class. Come back for more next Sunday, and don't forget to practice!
By now we're getting into a routine, things are feeling more familiar. After four classes, of short sequences, in the fifth class we'll put those four sequences together and dance the whole sequence from class 1 to 4.
In today's footwork, we showed how to do a left turn, a simple, slow turn which uses an entire beat. You just step through the entire turn, there's no spinning on the foot at any point. In general, the footwork is looking very good!
We repeated last week's sequence:
1) Cross Body Lead,
2) Right turns for leader/follower,
3) La Copa,
4) Sombrero.
It took some time to polish the details, and it really does make a big difference if you practice at home between classes or not! :)
Worth mentioning the detail of how to lead Sombrero - if you lead it right, it will be obvious to the follower to which side she should turn, by blocking her with your left hand on her hip, so her own arm, in front of her body, forces her to turn to the right. We also mentioned the estetics of the Sombrero, that the arms first rise, then fall, like a fan opening up.
Then, we got into the new sequence for the day, a continuation of the previous one:
5) Cross Body Lead, Arc Walk
6) Remolino
7) Follower's Right Turn, double hold
8) La Cruz
Breaking each step down into some detail:
5) Cross Body Lead, Arc Walk: A cross body lead, but the leader raises his hand so the follower walks beneath it, which makes her half-turn to the right instead of the left on 7. It is important that the leader guides the follower with his right hand on 5, so she knows to move straight forward. Like any other cross body lead without turns, this move looks best if the follower does her half-turn on 7, not earlier. For some ladies' styling, the follower can put her free left hand on her hip while walking beneath the arc.
6) Remolino: Starts with an Open Break, then the lead steps forward and puts his right arm on the follower's back, arm above her shoulder, like a wing. Then the two step a full turn to the right on 5-6-7, walking around a common center of gravity. The most difficult thing here was how to step for the lead: The right foot walks "inside" the left foot on 7.
7) Follower's Right Turn, double hold: Basic step on 1-2-3, then a simple follower's right turn on 5-6-7, with both hands held. Ends into a double-crossed hold, left hand above right hand. This is just a preparation for the next move, really. It helps to use the thumb as a leader to maintain the grip in the turn.
8) La Cruz (also known as Jesu Cristo): Today's most difficult move. Gets its name from the pose on 3, where the partners stand back to back with arms outstretched like a cross. The follower's steps are actually identical to those of La Copa, but the armwork is quite different. Begins on 1 with an Open Break. On 2, the leader must pull with his left hand on the follower's right hand so she understands that she should move into a La Copa position. The leader steps forward with his right foot, facing left (back to back with the follower). The leader raises the hands which are still coupled. On 3, the arms are lowered, one to each side, forming "La Cruz". The arms should not be fully extended. Then on 5, the leader "tosses" the follower's right hand backwards, while the leader's right hand is still holding her and indicating the direction of her half-turn. This tells her to return to the spot she came from. On 6, the leader's right hand releases her, completely letting go. On 7, both make a half-turn to face each other, without any contact. The most difficult thing here is that 1-2-3 goes very fast - the pull on 2 must be obvious, and it is very important to put the weight of the leader's left foot on 3. And here, just like in Sombrero, the esthetics we're looking for is that the arms rise (though not very high) on 2, and fall down and out like a fan on 3. The trick is to make it look slow even though it's quite fast.
The first three didn't present any real problems, but the fourth one will require some work. We'll repeat the 5-8 moves in the next class, but do remember to practice! Taking a video is an excellent way to help the memory.
That was all we did in this class. Come back for more next Sunday, and don't forget to practice!
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