BAM Class 9: Pre-Ohio Star Ball!
Download Dan Calloway’s Class Notes – BAM – 20131118
Beginners
Waltz
- Use dramatic Rise and Fall.
- Do not use the edges of the floor.
- Connect with your partner with the frame and NEVER LOSE IT.
Quickstep: Perform, including smile with teeth showing. No heel leads on the last step of figures.
Tango: Do not miss heel leads. Perfect Promenade position.
Rumba and Cha Cha
- Start with New Yorks.
- Do not drop eye level at any time.
- Keep pressure in the connected hands at all times.
Jive: Connect with your partner and use the connection to lead and follow all the figures.
Silver
Waltz
- Do not hide behind a good frame. Instead, perform and entertain.
- If the eyes drop, so will posture and the frame.
Quickstep is about outside partner (with your body kept facing your partner’s) and exuberance.
Tango: Play a game of Gotcha with your partner to catch each other popping up, dancing wimpy or letting arms drop.
Foxtrot
- Some judges will not consider you for the next round if your body loses contact with your partner’s too often.
- Move to and from outside partner position by sliding with slight rotation.
Cha Cha
- Romance is about attention to each other. Use sustained eye contact.
- Sharpen the foot and leg actions, especially on locks and chasses.
Rumba is percussive/rhythmic in the feet movements and head turns, but lyrical in the body and arm actions.
Samba
- Samba is complicated. Show conspicuous enjoyment.
- Stay grounded with foot pressure in the balls of both feet at all times.
- Pay attention to how your movement across the floor looks. “Choreography” is writing on the floor.
Jive
- The default connection is pressure toward partner. Always increase the pressure before reversing it for the back rock.
- Back Rocks open out with turn.
- Attend to your spacing. Keep it intimate.
Share this Post:
