Putting follower into a straight jacket ... like yesterday - Johnny & Serap

October 28, 2005

1,2,3,5,6,7 stylized basic followed by preparation for stylized cross body lead start – normal on 1,2 followed by step backwards on 3 with L foot, then R foot cross over in front of L foot on 5 and R foot gets into cross body position on 7
1,2,3 stylized cross body lead start – L foot cross behind R foot on 1 and get into normal cross body lead position on 3
5,6,7 lead follower to a traveling 1 1/2 counterclockwise turn with R-L released followed by leader’s 1/2 counterclockwise turn to face away from follower on 7/8 with L-R in ending in pizza waiters position
1,2,3 walk in counterclockwise motion to get back into cross body lead start position and switch to R-R (possibly grabbing follower’s R wrist)
5,6,7 complete simple cross body lead ending in L-R hold
1,2,3 open break or prepare follower for… (optional footwork for leader is L foot cross behind R foot on 1)
5,6,7 lead follower to a stationary full clockwise turn with L-R high and leader turning 1/2 clockwise while releasing L-R - connect with R-R on 8/1
1,2,3 open break on 1 and lead follower forward on 2 with R-R going over follower’s head as it is released (allows follower for a hair comb styling) and connect L-L in front of follower while getting into cross body lead position (thus leader is moving to L of follower’s line)
5,6,7 lead follower to traveling 1 1/2 counterclockwise turn
1,2,3,5,6,7 basic thrown in
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break or prepare follower on 1,2,3 followed by leading follower to a stationary full clockwise turn with L-R high and leader turning 1/2 clockwise while releasing L-R - connect with R-R on 8/1 (just as it was done earlier)
1,2,3 open break on 1 and lead follower forward on 2 with R-R going over follower’s head but keeping connection & connect L-L in front of follower while getting into cross body lead position once again
5,6,7 lead follower to a traveling full clockwise turn with all connections kept intact – it seemed to me the best thing is to bring R-R down low first on 5 as L-L is used to lead follower forward also on 5, then follower’s turn is initiated on 6 with L-L going high with R-R being placed behind follower’s back L waist – L-L ends at shoulder level although it might help to have it slightly below shoulder level and straight L relative to follower’s body on 7/8
1,2,3 step to L (cross over forward or behind R foot as is deemed appropriate depending on relative position between leader and follower) on 1 as L-L is placed behind follower’s back R waist and turn follower around to face leader on 2,3
5,6,7 basic moving backwards with follower in straightjacket position = L-L behind her back R waist and R-R behind her back L waist (twist her body to move her L shoulder forward on 5 and L shoulder back on 7)
1,2,3 basic forward while getting into cross body lead position (twisting of follower’s position involves her R side moving backwards on 1 and forward on 3)
5,6,7 lead follower to 1 1/2 traveling counterclockwise turn with R-R released (L side of follower moves forward on 5 first before counterclockwise turn is initiated)

Turns are still difficult with the current floor condition. Combining it with usual Friday crowding and getting stepped on badly with heels made things rougher than usual. SOS this weekend hopefully will be the perfect cure. I now expect that Ballroom dancing tomorrow likely will be the highlight of dancing in Cambridge this week.