Apache - Johnny & Serap Advanced

June 17, 2005

L-R hold
1,2,3 open break (stepping back very little if any), step close to follower to left side on 2,3, L-R goes behind follower on the R side, and R-R connection is made behind on 3/4– I think ideally follower’s L hand goes up on 3/4 [note. this is apparently referred to as Apache]
5,6,7 lead follower forward (while stepping away to make room and turning around on 5 – essentially 1/2 clockwise walk/turn which essentially started on 3) and unwrap follower (clockwise 1 1/2 turn) and on 7/8 do a hook turn (1/2 turn) with R-R kept high and palm facing the ceiling
1,2,3 forward and back (I found this step non-essential – it may be better to focus on the lead) while giving L hand low on my R side to make L-L connection by 3/4 while R-R is kept high – ideally follower ends up slightly behind on my R side
5,6,7 lead follower to a full counterclockwise turn while traveling forward and aimed to my L side – keeping R-R high and L-L low (ends with a wrap and both facing same direction with follower in front left)
1,2,3 R-R is lowered and raised again while stepping slightly to left forward and back in place
5,6,7 lead follower to a stationary 1 1/2 clockwise turn with R-R high and L-L low
1,2,3 give follower a hat with R-R (and let go so that R ends up on follower’s shoulders) while going into cross body lead position
5,6,7 lead follower to cross body lead with 1 1/2 counterclockwise turn with L-L high
1,2,3 give myself a hat with L-L while going into cross body lead position
5,6,7 complete simple cross body lead
1,2,3,5,6,7,1,2,3,5,6,7 simple shine (sliding forward on 6,7 with a kick and crossing over and stepping back on 1 to get back to basic for leaders)
1,2,3 prepare (open break works… so does a slight step to L and back in place)
5,6,7 lead follower to a full clockwise turn with L-R high and do a hook turn (1/2 turn) and drop L-R so that follower’s R hand ends up on my R hand
1,2,3 forward and back - R-R is raised high and L hand is offered behind to make L-L connection low
5,6,7 lead follower forward and into a reverse (clockwise) 1 1/2 traveling turn with L-L coming up high and R-R released

I was able to do this with little difficulty during the lesson and also during the club dancing with some followers with moderate success. Practicing these more difficult routines is going to be tricky because of dearth of followers who can do these types of moves with ease. I had a dance with Serap, which she claimed to have enjoyed (a first!). Timing rather than ability to lead multiple complex routines is becoming more of a concern now.