Massive class for Johnny & Serap level IV

November 18, 2005

open hold
1,2,3,5,6,7 cross body lead with 1 1/2 counterclockwise traveling turn for the follower with R hand holding both of follower's hands - the routine was started with open hold and hand transfer was done during the cross body lead. I think Johnny made the switch during follower's turn, which might be the best place for it for looks. However, for practical purposes the switch could be done earlier on 4 or 5 or even near the end of the turn. For now, I'd suggest doing the switch whenever convenient.
1,2,3 leader makes stationary clockwise turn with R-L/R high and end with open cross body lead position
5,6,7 lead follower into a traveling a full counterclockwise traveling turn with R-L/R resting on follower's R shoulder - leader is facing the same direction as the follower on 8
1,2,3 step in place (or slight twisting of follower's body - with leader moving along with it - for up to 1/4 counterclockwise twist and back)
5,6,7 lead follower into a stationary 1 1/2 clockwise turn with R-L/R high

open hold
1,2,3 open break on 1 and exchange places with follower (with leader moving across the follower from her left side) with L-R high and R-L disconnected and get back into open - this is somewhat similar in overall movement as Casino enchufe, especially as Rhona & Helen do it
5,6,7 1/2 hook turn (clockwise) for the leader as L-R is tossed across follower's body (or to down and right from leader's point of view) and offer R hand at R waist to reconnect with R-R (follower's hand should be doing a large sweeping clockwise arc (from her point of view - from leader's point of view, it would look counterclockwise)
1,2,3 open break on 1 and bring follower forward on 2,3 with L-L connection being made in front as R-R goes over follower's head and behind her
5,6,7 using R-R to initiate lead (bring it towards leader's body), lead follower into a traveling 1 1/2 clockwise turn with R-R quickly disconnected and L-L kept high

open hold
1,2,3,5,6,7 basic and bring L-R high for leading follower into a full pivot clockwise turn on 5,6,7 with R-L kept low to place follower into a hammerlock/Setenta position
1,2,3 open break and bring follower to right side while leading her into a half counterclockwise turn
5,6,7 move to follower's right side with R-L high and L-R temporarily disconnected via in front of follower - L-R connection is remade by follower's L waist
1,2,3 open break followed by leading follower into a full traveling counterclockwise turn with L-R high (L-R needs to go up quickly and may need a somewhat sweeping half counterclockwise motion starting from close to leader's L waist) and follower moving across from leader's left side - try to end up behind the follower
5,6,7 bring follower back from leader's right side (leader needs to move to her left to make room for this) with wrap intact
1,2,3 twisting start to cross body lead ending with open cross body lead position
5,6,7 lead follower into a traveling 1 1/2 counterclockwise turn with L-R high (and R-L disconnected)

Massive number of people was present at the class, many of whom were new. I'm not sure what caused this; Johnny didn't know either. I'm guessing a massive coincidence, but I won't know and I won't be here next week to see if this was a one-time thing or something more lasting.

Club itself was very crowded as well - seemingly a little more so than the usual Friday standard. I had to act quickly to get some wanted dances early and stay behind late to get some more with reasonable amount of space. Then again, that's normal for Friday no matter what, and I use this opportunity to get to know some of the regulars better. The highlight (or the most memorable) of dancing involved me getting so flustered and low in confidence during a dance (in which I was running into the stairs, etc) and asking a bystander to count 1,2,3,5,6,7 to the music to make sure that I was dancing in time. He did so and said my timing was fine. Whew!