Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Tango - Open Reverse Turn Outside Partner

The Open Reverse Turn, Outside Partner is a very scary sounding name for 6 steps. But you needn't be worried! As with the other reverse turns you have done in other dances so far, this turn will be going to the Left and for the gentlemen, starts on the Left foot. As the title says, part of the turn will happen stepping outside your partner's feet instead of inside as you would usually do.

The counts for this step are "Quick, Quick, Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow"

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Starting diagonally to your nearest wall, take one step forward on your Left foot. (Quick) Step side onto your Right foot, placing your back to the nearest wall, (Quick) and then step back with your Left foot putting your body in CBMP (keeping your shoulders to your partner/parallel to the wall but your hips and feet facing the wall that you have to your Left). (Slow) At this stage, you and your partner should not be in line, but more beside one another.

Step back on your Right foot, curving the step to continue the turn. (Quick) (You should be almost facing the nearest wall again.) Then step side on your Left foot (Quick) and close your Right to your left to complete the turn and end facing diagonal to wall as you started. (Slow)

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

You start backing diagonal to wall and take your first step back with your Right foot (this step has already begun to turn). (Quick) Then step side on your Left, to face the nearest wall. (Quick) The next step is forward towards the diagonal on your Right foot, but is not taken in line. (Slow) Your foot therefore should be between you and your partner and your body will be in CBMP (your upper body, still in hold, is facing your partner and your lower body has assumed the new alignment - creating a twist in your body).

Step forward again, this time on your Left foot (continuing to turn) and side on your Right foot to put your back to the nearest wall. (Quick, Quick) The last step is to close your Left foot to your Right and finish backing diagonal wall again. (Slow)

Notes for both Leader and Follower:

- Throughout this step, and regardless of what your feet are doing, make sure that your belly buttons are facing each other. This will ensure that you maintain the proper hold and upper body posture even when your feet start to go in other directions!

- Do NOT try to stay in line with your partner for all these steps! For once you are allowed to be on the outside, but dont let that affect your hold.

Glossary - Contra Body Movement Position (CBMP)

Contra or Contrary Body Movement Position is often used in steps that require you to be out of line with your partner. In the technique books, it is defined as: "A foot position where the foot is placed on or across the line of the supporting foot, either in front or behind, to maintain body line".

Essentially, this means that you are keeping your upper body facing one direction while your lower body faces a different one. This is generally accomplished by leaving the shoulders where they were in the previous step and allowing the legs to take a new direction.

However! You should not lose connection with your partner when in CBMP and should work even harder to keep your centres facing each other.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Rumba - Open Hip Twist

A very common step in Rumba, especially in combination with the Fan and Hockey Stick, the Open Hip Twist is much what it says it is.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Starting in open position (one hand hold), with your weight on your Right foot, you will step forward onto your Left foot on count 2. Bring your weight back onto your Right foot on count 3. Place your Left foot beside your Right on Count 4 and use until the end of count 1 to transfer your weight fully onto that leg. (It is your weight transfer that will cause the Lady to do the twist part of her step... so ensure that your lead arm does not go behind your body and that you do the full weight transfer.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Starting in open position (one hand hold), with your weight on your Left foot, step back onto your Right foot (like in the basic) on count 2 and then replace your weight to the Left foot on count 3. Your partner should lead you to step forward onto your Right foot, coming towards him as he stays in the same place. The lead arm therefore becomes a lot more compact. Dont allow your elbow to get behind your body at any point. As you and your partner both settle into your hips at the end of the 4-1 count, his hip movement, will cause you to pivot on your Right leg and finish facing the wall that was to your right. You should still have connection with your partner through your Right arm, but it is also wrapped in front of your body at this point.

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- The pivot at the end must not be rushed into by the follower, but also needs to be distinctly created by the Leader as he changes the weight from one foot to the other. In order to make this transition the most effective, both parties, need to be very aware of their arm placement and the connection between them.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Tango - Spanish Drag

(And two in one day to get us back on track!)

One of the iconic tango moves, a Spanish Drag is very simple in terms of the footwork, but can often be done in a very sloppy way. To ensure that it is done properly, you need to be very aware of your frame and body connection as well as have a good idea about the affects your movements have on your partner.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

All the Spanish Drag requires is a Slow count step to the side on your Left foot, keeping the knee bent in a lunge like position, and then a returning of the Right foot together with the Left on a second Slow count. Shape your upper body with a slight lift on the Left side and use your head position to look over your partner's Left shoulder.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Quite simply, you take a step to the side on your Right foot, into a lunge position for one Slow count. You then close your feet together using the Left foot to close to the Right on a second Slow count. Your Right knee should be in contact with your partner's leg during this step and there is a shaping that will extend the Right side of your upper body.

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:
(I havent included foot diagrams as the step itself is something created through the rest of the body.)

- Too often this is done with a huge bend at the waist to make the upper body more dramatic. This will only lead to messy dancing and the potential to hurt your partner if you wrench their back or side too far. When you stand normally in tango hold, simply think of lifting out of the waist and elongating the Left side of your body for men, or Right side of your body for Ladies. There should be no collapsing on the opposite side... if you have to bend the opposite side, you have shaped too much!

- Be sure to maintain contact with your partner throughout this move, it is the movement as one unit that makes it impressive to watch.

Jive - Link and Whip

Getting a little more advanced with the Jive, is the Link and Whip. In my mind, this step is great for adding a bit of momentum into your dancing. It requires both partners to work together in close proximity and can provide a nice little adrenaline rush when done quickly!

Starting from open, usually one hand, hold, this step takes you slightly away from your partner at the beginning in order to bring yourselves close and around in a circle.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

You start with your Rock step going back on your Left foot. You then take a small chasse, practically on the spot but leading your partner to come towards you and slightly to your Right side.

Then cross your Right foot behind your left foot, turning your body as much as possible at this time as well. Step to the side with your Left foot continuing the turn and hopefully getting about 3/4 of the way around by this point. Then face the direction you started as you do your chasse to the Right: Right foot side, Left foot together, Right foot side.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

The diagram for this step looks scary ladies, but it is actually a lot easier than it sounds. Do your Rock step first, stepping back on your Right foot and replacing the weight to your Left.

Then take a chasse slightly forward towards the right side of your partner; Right foot forward, Left foot together, Right foot forward. during this chasse you should start to turn to the right as if you are walking in a circle around your partner. You then have two walks, Left, Right, around your partner to complete as much of the turn as possible. And chasse to the Left (Left foot side, Right foot together, Left foot side) to complete the turn if necessary and come back directly in front of your partner.

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- You need to work together to get around the turn. If you fight each other or do not use each other's momentum, you will not get around.

- Keep your upper body in closed hold during the turn and do not allow the lady to end up under the man's armpit! (Take hold as you come towards each other in the first chasse.)

- Ladies, you are on the outside of the circle, men, you are on the inside.... the step will not work if the men try to move too much or if the ladies stay on the same spot!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Waltz - Spin Turn

You will soon find, if you are practising your natural and reverse turns, that you either have to vary the amount of turn that you do at some point in order to get around the room (which is definitely allowed as long as you keep going around in the right direction), or you get stuck in a corner (which isn't such a good thing).

A great step to get you out of corners is the Spin Turn. It starts like the beginning of a Natural Turn and can be done with varying degrees of turn. (It can be done in corners or even along a straight side, but for this description I will give the amount of turn usually done in corners.)

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Start with the first three steps of your Natural Turn (forward on your Right foot - turning to your right - and then side onto your Left, and close your Right foot to your left) to finish with your back directly to the line of dance. (Counts 1, 2, 3)

Step back onto your Left foot but think of keeping your knees bent and close together - because you are now going to pivot on that Left foot - think of pulling your Right shoulder backwards and bringing the Right foot around as if connected and immovable from the position it was placed in when you stepped back. Step forward onto the Right foot and then "fall" back onto your Left now facing Diagonal Against your New Line of Dance. (Counts 1(and), 2, 3)

Next do a quarter turn to face the New Line of Dance by stepping backwards onto your Right foot, side onto your Left, and together with your Right. (Counts 1, 2, 3) You are now ready to do any reverse figure or a close change.


Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Start with the first three steps of your natural turn. Step back on your Left foot, side on your Right and together with your Left to end facing Line of Dance. (Counts 1, 2, 3)

Step forward into your partner with your Right foot (Count 1), beginning to curve to your Right, the next step is taken forward as your partner is pivoting, which means that you end up with your weight on your Left foot and your back to the diagonal you initially started on on Count 2. (Which in the technique books is therefore labelled as a step back and slightly to the side.) With your weight on the toe of your Left foot, lightly brush your Right foot towards your left (Count "2-and") and then back out on a diagonal to step forward on Count 3.

Complete the sequence by stepping forward on your Left foot, turning to the Left, and side together with your Right and Left feet respectively. (Counts 1, 2, 3)


Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- When doing the pivot, it is very important that the gentleman keeps his weight over his supporting foot at all times... if you start to lean forward or backwards, you make the turn impossible for your partner. This also goes for the women, however. Ladies, do not hold on to your partner for dear life or lean into him, this will make the turn heavy and difficult to turn - it should feel light and easy!!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Jive - Hip Bumps

(Sorry for the delay on this and the following entries... I had a busy few days and didnt manage to get my days straight before I threw myself into the heady enjoyment of it all. Will get back on track and back to normal this week.)

Hip Bumps in Jive are one of those steps that you either find fun and amusing or think are silly and not worth doing. Either way, it is worth setting them out here and letting you choose whether you incorporate them into your dancing or not!

Quite simply, the footwork for both parties is very similar to that of the Basic Movement, but has a curve in terms of the direction you are moving.

Starting in Left to Right hand hold, you both do your rock step as usual (Counts 1, 2) and then, keeping the connecting hand down and slightly in front of your body, do your chasse sideways in towards your partner (Counts 1-2-3). Tap your hips together on the last half of the 3rd beat. And chasse back out away from your partner either in a straight line away in order to repeat the hip bump, or swinging back around to face your partner. (Counts 1-2-3).

Leaders'/Men's Footwork diagrams:
(The last chasse isn't included in the diagrams as it can either go straight to the side or curve back around to face your partner.)

Followers'/Lady's Footwork diagrams:
(The last chasse isn't included in the diagrams as it can either go straight to the side or curve back around to face your partner.)

Monday, June 08, 2009

Waltz - Whisk and Chasse

A lovely set of steps, and one of the more common ones in basic waltz, is a Whisk and Chasse.

Done after a reverse turn (possibly instead of the closed change that we put at the end of the natural and reverse turn sequence) or when you have your Left foot free, gents, Right foot for ladies, the Whisk and Chasse moves you along the floor and allows you to go into Promenade position - which we have not yet done in Waltz!

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

This step starts with your Left foot taking a small step forward (Count 1) and then a step directly to the side with your Right (Count 2) - do not put your heel down on this step! It is also a good thing to try to make your alignment at this stage to be directly facing to the wall nearest to you, as you will need to travel down the LOD which is hard to do if you are still on diagonal.

Pull your Left foot behind your Right foot so that your knees fit into each other and your toes are pointed away from each other. This will also mean that you open slightly into promenade position. As you transfer the weight onto your Left foot, lower the heel. (Count 3) This should also mean that you take all the weight off your Right foot, which ends up ready to take the next step forward. Those three beats are what make up the Whisk.

Next, you are going to take four steps over the course of three beats. This means that the timing is going to become "1, 2-and, 3". Step forward onto your Right foot, moving along the Line of Dance. (Count 1) Allow your body to naturally turn back to the diagonal as you take a step to the side (which ends up still being along the LOD) on Count 2. Close your Right foot to your Left foot on the "and" count, and then step forward and slightly side, now firmly back on the diagonal on Count 3.

You can now go into any natural figure! (You have your Right foot free and the easiest thing to do is to start your natural turn again!)

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

This step starts with your Right foot taking a small step backward (Count 1) and then a step directly to the side with your Left (Count 2) - do not put your heel down on this step! It is also a good thing to try to make your alignment at this stage to be directly backing to the wall nearest to you, as you will need to travel down the LOD which is hard to do if you are still on diagonal.

Pull your Right foot behind your Left foot so that your knees fit into each other and your toes are pointed away from each other. This will also mean that you open slightly into promenade position. As you transfer the weight onto your Right foot, lower the heel. (Count 3) This should also mean that you take all the weight off your Left foot, which ends up ready to take the next step forward. Those three beats are what make up the Whisk.

Next, the Chasse! You are going to take four steps over the course of three beats. This means that the timing is going to become "1, 2-and, 3". Step forward onto your Left foot, moving along the Line of Dance. (Count 1) Allow your body to naturally turn slightly to face your partner again as you take a step to the side (which ends up still being along the LOD) on Count 2. Close your Left foot to your Right foot on the "and" count, and then step backwards and slightly side, now firmly back on the diagonal on Count 3.

This can be followed with any Natural step... so for now, your natural turn!

Notes for Both the Leader and the Follower:

- Be aware of the size of your steps. Some of the steps should be taken smaller than others and a lot of the movement on the Chasse will depend on the speed of the music and the space available in front of you on the floor, to mention just two factors. Make the step dynamic by using different step lengths... i have tried to indicate which ones should always be kept small, but use your own descretion. Dance!!

Friday, June 05, 2009

Jive - American Spin

The American Spin is a nice simple step that can look quite impressive and, in my opinion, is a lot of fun too. (But I have always been partial to turning!)

Essentially, this moves sees the gentleman acting as a strong, stable source from which the lady can get momentum and balance. Just like in everyday life, right, boys? ;)

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Once again, you have it easy boys. Your footwork is simply a basic; do your rock step and then two small chasses practically on the spot. If you move, you will make things very difficult for your partner.

Start in a Left to Right hand hold, lead her forward towards you on the first chasse, but dont let your elbow get behind your body. That tension will allow her to feel that she can use the strength in your arm to push off (when indicated, of course) and do her turn. In between the two chasses give her a very slight releasing push with your hand and prepare to collect her hand again at the end of the chasse. You can take her into Left to Right hand hold and repeat, or you can take her hand as she faces you again and collect her into closed hold to get into any other step. (Counting should be something like: "Rock, Step, 1, 2, 3, push, 1, 2, 3")

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

You have the tricky job again, ladies! I know you can handle it! Start with your regular Rock Step backwards on your Right foot, and when led, take the first chasse forwards towards your partner instead or to the side.

This should create a nice resistance in the connection between you and your partner in your arms. Never allow your elbow to get behind your body.

As you finish the first chasse, and just before the second, your partner will give you a small 'release' although you should be creating your own momentum by storing the potential in your connection with your partner. Your chasse will have been Right, Left, Right, so leave your Right foot where it is, pick up your Left foot and turn towards your partner/the Right,

completing the last chasse (Left, Right, Left) either facing your partner and moving to the left, or use it to complete your turn if you dont feel comfortable spinning the whole way around on half a beat.

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- Connection with you rpartner is very important. Girls, use your men, that is what they are there for - to help stabilise you and to give you something to push off of in order to get your turn going. Guys, be aware that any significant action you do to try to 'help' you partner in this situation is more likely to actually throw her off. Be gentle, but solid, for her!

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Cover of Dance Today Magazine

This is a little bit late, but I thought I would mention it anyways!

One of the other things that I do, aside from write/badly draw these blogs for you, is photography. I have a company that, if you are interested, can be found at www.sheardphotography.co.uk or you can go see a bit of a different gallery on the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=7362001407 .

But what does this have to do with dancing? I hear you ask.
No, this is not just shameless self promotion, I promise!

Back in February I took some photos for some friends of mine that ended up being used as the cover of Dance Today Magazine. The friends are Andrew Cuerden and Hanna Haarala, Latin American Professionals; who, aside from their glittering competitive career, fantastic shows, and teaching, are sometimes known from their exposure in Series Three of Strictly Come Dancing. They were fronting a large dance exhibition here in London called Move It and the people at Dance Today decided that they should also be on the front of the Magazine edition that was not only going to all the regular readers/distributors, but also was going to be given out to all the people who attended Move It as well!

As I love Andrew and Hanna and am pretty proud of the shots that we got for them, I thought I would share them with you here too!

Some of my favourites are below, and you can see how the magazine itself looked by going to the Dance Today site, here: http://www.dance-today.co.uk/2009Mar/index.html




*all images are copyright Sheard Photography - no use can be made without prior consent*

Monday, June 01, 2009

Waltz - 6 Step Natural and Reverse

Moving away from the box waltz, we are now going to look at the 6 step Natural and Reverse Turns.

You may remember that a Natural turn is one that turns to the Right and a Reverse turn is one that turns to the Left. In order to join the two of these together, we are going to do a Closed Change or Change Step, in between. So! Instead of having four counts of 3 to get around and back to where you started, as you have in the box waltz, you now have two counts of 3 to make 3/4's of a turn and then one more set of 3 to stay on the same alignment but change your feet to enable you to turn the other direction.

If you start by thinking that you are going to be travelling down the long side of a room, you should automatically face Diagonal to Line of Dance, Gents, and Ladies, you should be Backing Diagonal Line of Dance.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Before you even move your feet, begin to turn your shoulders to the Right. If your frame is good, this will warn your partner that a turn is about to happen and she will instinctively begin to turn her body as well - which will make your whole movement easier.

Step forward on your Right foot - if your shoulders are already turning, this "forward step" should be curving as well. On your "side, together" (Left foot then Right) continue turning so that you end up facing directly to the wall that was to your Right when you started. Keeping the shoulders turning to the Right, step backwards (with a slight, natural curve) onto your Left foot, and then step side, together (Right then Left) to finish facing diagonally into the centre of the circle.

You then need to do a Closed Change to enable you to start your Reverse turn - so without changing your alignment at all, step forward on your Right foot, and then side, together with your Left then Right.

You now have your Left foot free to begin your Reverse turn, but as with the Natural, it is easier if you initiate the turn with your upper body first, so slightly anticipate your first step with a beginning of a turn to the Left through your shoulders. Step forward onto your Left foot and complete the count of three by taking your side, together (Right then Left) ending up facing the wall that you originally (back at the very beginning) had to your Right again. Keeping the shoulders turning, step back onto your Right foot and step side, together (Left, Right) to finish facing Diagonal to Line of Dance again.

Complete the set, by doing another Closed Change - with no turn - forward on your Left, Side and together on your Right then Left. Now you are ready to begin again with your Natural Turn.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Before your partner takes his first step, he should begin shaping his upper body and turning slightly towards the Right, this is your cue to maintain a good hold and connection with him and likewise start to turn your upper body. This turn will then translate into your feet and will make it easier to accomplish the amount of turn needed on each set of steps.

Begin by stepping backwards (with a slight curve due to your body shaping) on your Left foot. Step side onto your Right foot and then together with your Left. At this point you should be facing the wall that was originally far down the Line of Dance to your Right. Step forward onto your Right foot, shoulders still turning, and then side, together (Left, Right) to end up with your back diagonally into the middle of the circle. (In some rooms that are more square, or smaller, you will not be backing the centre but will instead be simply on a diagonal with your Right side inside the circle.)

You then need to do a Closed Change to enable you to start your Reverse turn - so without changing your alignment at all, step backward on your Left foot, and then side, together with your Right then Left.

You now have your Right foot free to begin your Reverse turn, but as with the Natural, it is easier if the turn is initiated with the upper body first, so pay attention to your partner's frame before the first step; you should feel the beginning of a turn to the Left through your shoulders. Step backward onto your Right foot and complete the count of three by taking your side, together (Left then Right) ending up facing the wall that you originally (back at the very beginning) had to your Right again. Keeping the shoulders turning, step forward onto your Let foot and step side, together (Right, Left) to finish backing Diagonal to Line of Dance again.

Complete the set, by doing another Closed Change - with no turn - backwards on your Right, Side and together on your Left then Right. Now you are ready to begin again with your Natural Turn.

Notes for both the Leader and Follower:

- Make sure that you extend all your steps... this is intended to move more or less along a line (with bumpy edges). You should never be moving back on yourself or retracing ground that you have already covered.

(*phew! just under the wire. today has been a long day!!*)