Friday, May 29, 2009

Cha Cha Cha - Underarm Turn

Today we are going to look at both an Underarm Turn to the Left and and Underarm Turn to the Right. They vary only in the direction that the lady is turning.

This step can be used in one direction or in both, whichever fits in with your sequence of steps.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

You have it easy, gents... your footwork is the Basic Movement! (So no diagrams for you today!)

All you need to do to initiate the turn is raise your Left arm on your Cha Cha Cha (Chasse) to the Left. Then, as you take your back step, your partner will turn underneath the raised arm and face you again for the Chasse to the Right. To turn her the other direction, as you are Chasse-ing, raise the left hand again and bring it across your body between you. This will ensure that your partner turns the right direction. Take the forward step of your Basic as she turns and you will both join back together for the Chasse.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Although the guys have it easy in terms of footwork, you dont have it too much harder, ladies! You have already done a spot turn. Well, and underarm turn is basically a spot turn while holding on to your partner.

During half of a basic movement (when you are stepping back), as you Chasse to the Right, your partner will lift his Left/your Right hand.

Step forward with your Left foot, exactly like in the spot turn,

leave your Right foot where it is, turn away from your partner and return your weight to your Right foot. (Counts 2, 3)

Complete the movement with the Cha Cha Chasse to the Left facing your partner. (Counts 4-and-1)

If he then takes your right hand and leads it across your body on that chasse, he is leading you into the turn on the other side. Step forward onto your Right foot,

turn away from your partner but leaving your feel where they are and replace the weight onto your Left foot, ready to Chasse to the Right.


Notes for both the Leader and Follower:

- Leaders, don not think that you need to turn your lady with your left arm... allow her to turn herself! It will save a lot of sore arms and shoulders. Your arm/hand is simply there to guide her.

- Followers, do not grip your partner's hand while you are turning. You will end up hurting one or both of you! Your hands should be lightly resting in each others... which allows for an easy turn.

- Do not forget the timing of your own footwork. Just because you are doing different things with your feet, you should not get distracted or put off by this difference. Get your own footwork so that you dont have to worry about it while you are leading or taking direction.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Social Foxtrot - Opening Out

This step was mentioned to me by a friend this week, and though I am not certain of its specific name, it was such a good step that I couldn't help but include it here!

If you have ever watched the classic old dance movies, you will likely have seen this step or something similar. It is a lovely step that takes you out of hold and moves you along the dance floor.
Leaders'/Men's Footwork

On the second half of your Basic Movement, release closed hold on the Quick Quick and turn your body slightly away from your partner. You should still be holding on to her Left hand with your Right and it is through that arm that you lead her to open her body as well - by leading her Left side forward slightly.

Take a Slow step forward on your Left foot. Bring your Right foot and Right shoulder forward for a Quick step and take another quick step bringing your Left foot together with your Right. At this point you should have your Right arm in front of you and you and your partner should be making a "V" shape - with your backs pointing towards each other.

Take another Slow step, this time with your Right foot as you start to swing your Right side back to reverse the "V" and by the end of the next two quick steps you should either be face to face with your partner or in the reverse of the "V" you had before. (Whether you face her directly or not is a stylistic choice.) the first Quick is another step forward onto your Left foot and the second closes your Right foot to your left.

You can either repeat this sequence or go into the second half of your basic movement and return to hold.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

You are doing the natural opposite of your partner throughout this step. As you are led into the second half of the basic movement, your partner will release hold and move slightly away from you, maintaining contact through his Right, your Left, hand. Swinging this arm forward slightly he will indicate that you should begin to open up along line of dance - similar to when you open into promenade. Take one slow step forward on your Right foot, allowing your Left shoulder to start moving forward. Next, take two Quick steps, first forward on the Left and then closing together with the Right, opening even further into a "V" shape with your Left arm at the point.

Reverse this movement over the next three steps by taking a Slow forward step on your Left Foot and bringing your left shoulder back, swinging your Right side forward. Take two more Quick steps, Forward on the Right and together with the Left, to either bring you face to face with your partner or into the reverse of the "V" you were in before.

This can then be repeated or closed hold can be re-established and the basic movement can be resumed from the second half (with you moving forward).

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- The rhythm of this step is different from the basic and the rhythm we have been using for all the other Social Foxtrot steps so far. Instead of "Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick" it is simply "Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow, Quick, Quick"

- Although I have said to lead the body positioning through the connected arm, think of it being more of a body lead that the arm happens to be on the end of. Much like the latin dances, you should not be pulling or dragging your partner around. If you both maintain a connection and don't allow your arms to go floppy when you are out of hold, this step will be much easier for both of you.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Cha Cha Cha - 3 Cha Cha's

This step is the first Cha Cha step that we have which is going to travel. Most of the Latin dances are more stationary but have elements within them that allow you to move or change direction.

Starting on a "4-and-1" count, it requires something to fill the "2,3" preceding it - be that a rock step as in the basic, a spot turn, or any such movement. Other than that, this step is very much what its name would suggest!

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

The first of the three chasses is as normal. A Side Chasse (side, together, side) leading with the right foot first. (Count 4-and-1)

The second is a Forward Chasse or a Lock Step in which you turn your body to face the direction you are moving. (Which is the same direction as when you were moving sideways, but now you are facing the side wall instead of just travelling towards it.) Step forward onto your Left foot, close your Right foot behind it - toes pointed away from each other and fitting your knees into each other, and then step forward again with your Left foot. (Count 2-and-3)

And then do one more regular Side Chasse. (Count 4-and-1)

To get you moving back in the other direction, do a spot turn; stepping forward onto your Left foot and turning away from your partner. (Count 2, 3)

Then repeat the three chasses moving back in the other direction. The first being a Side Chasse - Left, Right, Left. ( Count 4-and-1)

Then a Lock Step or Forward Chasse - Forward on your Right foot, cross your Left foot behind the right (toes facing outwards, knees together), and then forward again with your Right foot. (Count 2-and-3)

And one more Side Chasse (Count 4-and-1), before another spot turn which brings you back to the beginning. (Count 2, 3)

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

The first of the three chasses is as normal. A Side Chasse (side, together, side) leading with the Left foot first. (Count 4-and-1)

The second is a Forward Chasse or a Lock Step in which you turn your body to face the direction you are moving. (Which is the same direction as when you were moving sideways, but now you are facing the side wall instead of just travelling towards it.) Step forward onto your Right foot, close your Left foot behind it - toes pointed away from each other and fitting your knees into each other, and then step forward again with your Rightt foot. (Count 2-and-3)

And then do one more regular Side Chasse. (Count 4-and-1)

To get you moving back in the other direction, do a spot turn; stepping forward onto your Right foot and turning away from your partner. (Count 2, 3)

Then repeat the three chasses moving back in the other direction. The first being a Side Chasse - Right, Left, Right. ( Count 4-and-1)

Then a Lock Step or Forward Chasse - Forward on your Left foot, cross your Right foot behind the right (toes facing outwards, knees together), and then forward again with your Left foot.(Count 2-and-3)

And one more Side Chasse (Count 4-and-1), before another spot turn which brings you back to the beginning. (Count 2, 3)

Notes For Both the Leader and the Follower:

- This step moves in one directionover the three chasses even though your body position changes from facing your partner, to facing the side wall, and back to facing your partner.

- It can be followed with a side chasse and stepping forward for the leader (backwards for the follower) - essentially a Basic Movement - or any other step but beginning on the chasse portion of the step.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Social Foxtrot - Pivot Turn

A slightly more complicated step for this generally simple dance, is the Pivot Turn. This looks impressive and gives a great feeling of controlled spinning when done properly.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Begin this step just like your promenade. Step forward onto your Left foot (Slow) and again forward on your Right (Slow), with your Quick Quick being used to take a small step forward on your Left foot and then a small step side onto your Right - placing yourself and your partner in promenade position.


Take the next two Slow steps as walks forward: Left, Right. On the next Quick, step in front of your partner to face against Line of Dance, cutting her off and ending up with her foot between your legs.

Pivot on your Left foot, swinging your Right foot around to face Line of Dance again (keeping your partner on your right side!) on the second Quick.

Still in promenade, step forward onto your Left foot, as in the basic, and forward again with the Right foot. (Slow, Slow) And step side together, Left then Right, on the Quick, Quick to change your direction by a quarter turn.

You would then move backwards into the second half of your basic movement, for example.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

The beginning of this step is exactly like your promenade. Step backwards onto your Right foot and again back onto your Left foot. (Slow, Slow) Take one small step back with your Right foot on your first Quick step and then a small step to the side on your Left for the second Quick.


Walk forward, Right, Left, on the next two Slow counts. Take another step forward with your Right foot. (Quick) Your partner should have stepped in front of you and should be blocking you with his body at this stage. Staying on the Right side of your partner, pivot on your Right foot, swinging your Left foot around on the second Quick.

Continue turning in that same direction (to the right) to take a step forward in promenade position on your Right foot for the next Slow step. Take another forward walk with your Left on the second Slow and then close in front of your partner back into standard hold as you take your Quick Quick, Right Left to complete a quarter turn.

Your next movement will likely be a forward walk as in the second half of your Basic Movement.


Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- This pivot happens on the Quick beats... therefore it is much easier to get all the way around if you are close to your partner. The further away from each other that you are, the more distance you have to cover. Try to stay close.

- Make sure you stay on the Right side of your partner. If you begin to get directly in front of each other, you will not be able to complete this step easily!

- Leaders, the more you step directly in front of your Ladies in the middle of the step, the easier it will be to get around for both of you.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Cha Cha Cha - Hand to Hand

Another step this week that you have already seen somewhere else! This one, if you remember, is very similar to one of the Rumba steps (which crossover fairly regularly) but this time, you are going to do a cha cha chasse instead of just transfer your weight on the 4-and-1.


Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Instead of stepping forward on your Left foot on the Count of 2, as you did in the Basic Movement, you re now going to step backwards on your Left foot - opening up to face the wall that was to your Left.

On count 3, replace the weight on your Right foot and turn back to face your partner. (Your Left foot will 'track' underneath you - lightly move over the floor after a step onto the other foot to collect under your body ready to take the next step.)
Cha Cha Chasse on Counts 4-1 onto your Left foot.


Reverse by stepping backwards onto your Right foot on Count 2. (You should now be holding your partner's Right hand in your Left at waist height.)

Transfer your weight back on to your Left foot and turn back to face your partner on Count 3.

On Counts 4-1, cha cha chasse with your Right foot.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Start by stepping backwards onto your Right foot on Count 2. (You should now be facing the wall that was to your Right when you started the movement.)

Transfer your weight back on to your Left foot and turn back to face your partner on Count 3 - tracking your foot underneath you.

On Counts 4-1, Cha Cha Chasse with your Right foot.

Step backwards on your Left foot - opening up to face the wall that was to your Left - on Count 2.

On count 3, replace the weight on your Right foot and turn back to face your partner.

Cha Cha Chasse on Counts 4-1 onto your Left foot.

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- make sure you are holding the inside hand and stepping back with your outside foot when doing this step. Face your partner on the Cha Cha Chasses.

- Put Your Heels DOWN!!! Especially when stepping backwards, make sure you completely transfer the weight onto that foot and simply leave the other foot extended out in front of you ready to take the weight back when you move forward. Putting your heels down will also facilitate your latin hip movement.