Just another Thursday

May 25, 2006

“Hey! That’s a nice shirt! What’s the occasion?” asked Vishal.

“Thanks. Nothing special. I’ve been wearing another shirt just like this but with different color. I had this for quite some time but never got around to wearing it.”

“It must be the color. It really suits you.”

Hmm. I would have thought a new haircut would be more noticeable than a rather ordinary shirt.

Final exams really seem to be keeping a lot of people away although several missing people from the usual Thursday crowd are no longer in school. Mimi for one wasn’t here because she was not feeling particularly well, and she won’t be around as she’ll be in HK for ~10 days. I suppose knowing it meant that there was one less reason to sneak a look at the stairs.

Halley's comet comes around only every 76 years, and I missed it last time around. It was not very bright in 1986 of course. However, how in the world did I miss Hale-Bopp especially with everyone around joking about it all the time? Inconceivable! It would have been much easier than lying down in frozen ground looking for shooting stars.

About half of the followers for the advanced class were recruited from intermediate class. Once invited up, can they be un-invited assuming they would want to stay? Who knows?

Advanced with Sally with Chris

1,2,3,5,6,7 CBL end open hold
1,2,3,5,6,7 prepare and lead double turn with R-L pulling down the zipper to get R-L behind follower’s back R waist and switch to L-L
1,2,3,5,6,7 Copa fake with L-L getting brought up (rather reminiscent of Sergio’s version from several weeks ago) – open break and Copa position with R hand on follower’s R shoulder – instead of Copa, lead follower forward and into 1 1/2 clockwise traveling turn – get R arm over L-L at the end and connect R-R
1,2,3,5,6,7 in place CBL start and lead follower into 1 1/2 counterclockwise traveling turn getting R-R behind follower’s neck (consider it neck wrap?)
1,2,3,5,6,7 lead follower forward on 1 and turn follower 1/2 clockwise on 2,3 while leader steps back cross behind on 1 and step to R on 2,3 to get into CBL like position but still facing follower – windmill lead for 1 1/2 traveling turn for follower (getting follower to move forward while turning was tricky) ending with R-R elbow lock (very much like a position from Tony & Daniela last month)
1,2,3,5,6,7 Copa start on 1,2,3 – leader does hook turn for 1 1/2 clockwise turn initially with R-R high and into open reverse cross body position (reconnect L-L by leader’s L side)
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and bring follower forward while flicking follower’s hands and get behind and around follower – bring follower backwards with hands on hips/waist
1,2,3,5,6,7 reconnect L-L and Mambo jazz – bring follower forward stepping on 5 and 7 (leader’s footwork involves crossing behind on 1 and on 7) keeping the same frame
1,2,3,5,6,7 forward and turn follower 1/2 counterclockwise and switch to R-R – lead follower back into free traveling clockwise turn

Some footwork, turn, shine and shoulder movement drills were done sporadically especially in between classes before Chris recruited me for the beyond beginner class during the second hour. Who knew this would be a perfect occasion for nipple pinching? I suppose it helped that I was not a moving target.

Dancing afterwards was a little on quiet side but was surprisingly fine. A bystander commented, "It's probably easier for you to get dances because you're much better than me." True - up to a point - but leads regardless of abilities must try to get as much practice as possible, and this takes asking people (indiscriminately and taking full advantage of other people from class they attended) for dance.

Sergio made a surprise appearance so I got to show off my success with newfound ability to do some shoulder isolation movement. He returned the favor by showing off some fancy footwork, which makes mine look pedestrian by comparison. I think he was trying to talk me into going to Scala.

As I was getting ready to leave, Vishal asked me, "So are you going to be here tomorrow?" while making a vinyl record spinning motion. I replied, "Sure, as long as you want me to keep doing it."