Friday, February 27, 2009

Cha Cha Cha - Spot Turn

Another basic movement of the Cha Cha is the Spot Turn. This step allows either one partner or both to turn away from their partner over two beats and then return to them for the cha cha chasse. I will be explaining the step as if both partners are doing it simultaneously and will give a suggested set of steps in the notes following the body of the post which can be used to practice all the Cha Cha steps mentioned so far.

Think of this step as a New York with a full turn. Basically, it begins as a New York does, but instead of turning back to face your partner via the shortest route possible, you are actually going to (in the same amount of time) turn away from them and meet them face to face back on the other side.


Leaders'/Men's Footwork


Beginning with your weight on your Right foot, bring your Left foot forward and through to the side wall on Count 2. (Exactly the same movement as in your New Yorker.) Make sure that you leave your Right foot connected to the floor for the rest of the turn.

Continue moving your shoulders to the Right, with your weight on your Left foot and face away from your partner,turning all the way to face the wall that was originally to your Left.

On Count 3, step forward onto your Right foot (which has remained where it was throughout this movement)
and swivel the further 90 degrees to face your partner as you bring your Left foot around with no weight.

Cha Cha Chasse to the Left (Counts 4-and-1)

Reverse by bringing your Right foot through to face the wall to your Left. (Just like in your New Yorkers.) Leaving your Left foot where it is, continue to turn your shoulders to the Left - away from your partner -
until you face the wall that was originally to your Right. Step forward on Count 3 onto your Left foot
and swivel the last 90 degrees to face your partner again.

Cha Cha Chasse to the Right (Counts 4-and-1)

Followers'/Lady's Footwork


Start with your weight on your Left foot, bring your Right foot forward and through to the side wall on Count 2. (Exactly the same movement as in your New Yorker.) Make sure that you leave your Left foot connected to the floor for the rest of the turn.

Continue moving your shoulders to the Left, with your weight on your Right foot, and face away from your partner; turning all the way to face the wall that was originally to your Right. All of this turn needs to be competed in one count!

On Count 3, step forward onto your Left foot (which has not moved while you have been turning on the other foot)
and swivel the further 90 degrees to face your partner as you bring your Right foot around with no weight.

Cha Cha Chasse to your Right (Counts 4-and-1)


Reverse by bringing your Left foot through to face the wall to your Right. (Again, just like in your New Yorkers.) Leaving your Right foot where it is, continue to turn your shoulders to the Right - away from your partner - until you face the wall that was originally to your Left. Step forward on Count 3 onto your Right foot
and swivel the last 90 degrees to face your partner again.

Cha Cha Chasse to the Left (Counts 4-and-1)

Notes for both Leader and Follower:

- Remember that you are making the first movement the same as the New Yorker. Your feet stay exactly where they are while you turn and then you meet your partner on the other side after having turned away from them.

Suggested Sequence:

2 full basic movements (both a forward and back movement = 1 basic)
3 New Yorkers
1 Spot Turn

or

1 full basic movement
4 New Yorkers
2 Spot Turns

or a variation that you feel you want to try!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Glossary - "Quick"

A way of counting music. Used to signify one beat of the music for one movement or step. ("1, 2, 3, 4" etc)

Glossary - "Slow"

A way of counting music. Used to signify two beats of the music used for one movement or step. ("1-2, 3-4, 5-6," etc)

Glossary - Diagonal to Line of Dance

The starting position for the Leader in many of the ballroom dances. Standing on the line of the imaginary circle that is LOD, face your nearest wall and then turn your left shoulder part way into the centre so that you are on a diagonal ready to move anti-clockwise.


Monday, February 23, 2009

Social Foxtrot - Swaying Side Step

As the music for foxtrot is traditionally smooth and (in my opinion) tends to make you instinctively sway... this step plays into these natural tendencies.

Set within the framework of the basic step that you know (in a similar way to the Promenade), this step maintains the rhythm set out for Social Foxtrot - "Slow, Slow, Quick-Quick" but removes the diagonal element that allows for significant travelling.


Leaders'/Men's Footwork


As with the basic, begin on a diagonal with your left shoulder closest to the centre of the circle you will be travelling on. Move your Left foot forward on a Slow count. continue forward with your Right on the next Slow count.

Instead of turning 90 on the two Quick steps, merely turn enough to end up facing the nearest wall. Stepping side onto your Left foot and then closing your Right foot together with the Left for those two Quick steps.

The next step - taken with your Left foot on a Slow count - is taken directly to the side, leaving your Right foot where it was.

Transfer your weight - or Sway - back onto the Right foot for the next Slow count,
and then take a side (Left foot) together (Right foot) "Quick-Quick" with no turn at all.

Repeat the whole movement again: step side with your Left foot, Sway/replace weight onto your Right foot "Slow, Slow".
On the two Quick steps, take a slightly angled initial side step with your Left foot and close together again with your Right - ready now to pick up the basic movement on the second half where you would be moving backwards. (So you are now facing on a diagonal with your back in the general Line of Dance and your right shoulder closer to the centre of the circle.)

Use the second part of the basic movement, moving backwards on your Left foot, to complete the phrase of music and take you into your next step - whatever you choose it to be!


Follower's/Lady's Footwork


Start in hold, with your back diagonal to the Line of Dance. Take one slow step backwards on your Right foot and then a second on your Left. Instead of doing a full 90 degree turn on your two quick steps, only turn as far as you need to to face the far wall.

Then, moving straight sideways down the Line of Dance, take your next slow step with your Right foot directly to the side. Transfer your weight leaving your Left foot where it was but releasing the heel so that the foot is now pointed to the side.

Transfer your weight - or Sway - back onto the Left foot for the next Slow count,
and then take a side (Right foot) together (Left foot) "Quick-Quick" with no turn at all.

Repeat the whole movement again: step side with your Right foot,
Sway/replace weight onto your Leftt foot "Slow, Slow". On the two Quick steps, take a slightly angled initial side step with your Right foot and close together again with your Left - ready now to pick up the basic movement on the second half where you would be moving forwards.
Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- this step starts with the first half of a basic and finishes with the second half

- all the sways are to be done directly to a wall. NOT on diagonal.

- allow the upper body to sway with you when you take your side steps... this will make the step look and feel more relaxed and natural.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch!!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Cha Cha Cha - New York

The movement commonly called a New York or a New Yorker has other (often purely technical) names and is a simple addition to your Cha Cha Basic that can add a bit of fun.

This step maintains the rhythm established in the Basic and only makes a slight change to the steps taken on counts 2 and 3.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Start with your weight on your Right foot, with your left extended out to the side.

Instead of stepping straight forward "through" your partner on Count 2 as you would in a basic movement, turn your shoulders to face the wall to your Right as you bring your Left foot through and step forward in the new direction.
(You and your partner should now have stepped forward on your inside/closest legs and should both be facing the wall to your right with only your left hand holding her right at about waist height slightly in front of your body.)

Replace your weight on your Left foot and turn your shoulders back to face your partner on Count 3. (Take hold of both hands at this stage and while you are facing each other.)

Doing the same ChaCha Chasse as in the Basic movement, step side on your Left foot, bring your feet together with your Right foot, and then step to the side again on your Left. (Count 4-and-1)

Repeat to the other side by bringing your shoulders open to the wall to your left and stepping through on your Right foot. (Count 2)

Replace your weight onto your left foot and bring your body back to face your partner. (Count 3)

Cha Cha Chasse to the Right: step side onto your Right foot, close your Left foot to your Right, and then step side again on the Right.


Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Start with your weight on your Left foot.
Rather than stepping back into the normal basic movement, your partner will have indicated (by lowering his left - your right hand at the end of the previous step) that you are going to step forward on your Right foot opening your shoulders to face the wall to your Left on Count 2.

Replace your weight onto your Left foot and bring your shoulders back to face your partner on Count 3.

Take a Cha Cha Chasse just as in your Basic movement: step side onto your Right foot, bring your Left foot together with your Right, and then move your Right to the side again. (Counts 4-and-1)

When led, swing your shoulders open to face the wall to your right as you step forward on your Left foot. (Count 2)

Return to face your partner and with your weight on your Right foot on Count 3.

Do a Cha Cha Chasse moving your Left foot to the side, close your Right foot to your left, and then step side again on the Left. (Counts 4-and-1)Notes for both the Follower and the Leader:

- the set described here is 2 New York steps whereas the same amount of footwork and music used for a Basic step would only be counted as 1 full step.

- This step needs to be led by the man lowering his Left arm (when in hold) at the end of the step preceding it and then lightly leading the lady's hand forward to face the desired wall. When a sequence of New York steps are being done, take double hand hold in between each one and release the arm that is not in the centre of the pairing on the forward step.

- A good sequence of steps would be to dance 2 full basic steps and then 4 New Yorks (2 to each side) which can be repeated indefinitely if you return to closed hold after the last New York.

- Try not to lift the back leg off the ground when you step through on count 2. You need to place most of your weight on the foot coming forward, but the back toe should stay in contact with the floor.