DANce StepsNotes from Dan

Download Dan Calloway’s Class Notes – GUBDT – 20140226

Advanced Quickstep: Review

Gold Waltz Routine: Up to corner #2

Exercise: Stand facing mirror and alternately project arms forward. Use the shoulder blade to send the arm forward to learn to feel the projection of the blades for PP and outside partner angling, especially for the Runaround after the Left Whisk.

Gold Cha Cha Routine: Up through Overturned Hockey Stick to Three CCC’s

Bronze Waltz routine up to first corner

Double Reverse Spin (123&)

1. Leader: Ronde, then brush on count 3
2. Follower: Big step back into heel turn and forward out of heel turn. Keep the cross step small. (It’s a typ of close.)

Quickstep routine: first two sides. Angle the body with left side forward for outside partner steps.

Foxtrot routine: first two sides.

Basic Weave: Follower outside partner on step three and uses three consecutive toe steps after using toe-heel on step one.

Jive Bronze Routine

Last figure: American Spin (follower turns on the four count, an accented beat)

Jive Technique

1. Keep the rhythmic bounce action going on all figures, except the Walks. Internalize the bounce action there.
2. Chasse close to partner before every back rock to prevent the beginner’s error of over extending on back rocks.
3. Pick up the unweighted foot on the “and” before every chasse with a hips swing to create space for the lifted foot.  The Hip Bump occurs on this “and.”
4. The Hip Bump begins facing partner, then turns almost back to back for the hip bump. The free arm corkscrews upward for the bump then retracts with the corkscrew action reversed.
5. Under Arm Turns to the right (arch/outside turns) begin in closed position. UAT’s to the left (loop/inside turns) begin in open position.

Silver Quickstep Routine Complete!

Keep left side forward throughout.

Tango

Fallaway Promenade: Checked actions are sideward (like subway surfing).

Natural Twist Turn (SQQQQS): Follower’s head to R (looking toward DC) on last Q; Lunge (DW against

LOD) on last S.

Rumba routine with style:

1. Use arms with a flourish
2. Angle body
3. Connect with partner’s eyes
4. Move with attitude
5. Direct attention to the ankles through deliberate and exaggerated usage/action.
6. Turn head sharply
7. Be aware of body surfaces being directed toward partner and their proximity (Cheek to cheek in Aida Rock or follower’s rotisserie Curl)

Use “double pump” when leading the lady to step back, then close, in Fan Position.

Cha Cha: Small, rhythmic steps. The hips place the feet, therefore the steps are hip width.

Newcomer Waltz

1. Natural Turn
2. RF Closed Change
3. Reverse Turn
4. Whisk
5. Chasse from Promenade Position

Waltz Technique

1. Follower turns her head to right on step two of Whisk and returns it to the left on count two of Chasse.
2. Leader’s Chasse ends with LF toe-heel, not heel-toe.

At Corners in Quickstep:

1. 1-3 Natural Turn                     SQQ
2. Tipple Chasse to R                 SQQS QQS

Tango Technique

1. Staccato (detached) steps; legato (connected/continuous) body movement.
2. Keep center of gravity slightly dropped.
3. Drive forward on all forward steps.

Rumba/Cha Cha

Use straight legs and hip action.

Staccato steps again, with continuous hip movement

Big, condor-like arm actions on NY’s and Hand to Hands

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