Bored of moves?

June 19, 2006

The teachers today were Tiz, Joe and Ivey.

1st hour with Tiz

Shines taught today were Slave-Suzy, Hook step, and Bicycle. Joe was teaching Slide-step among others for Improvers.

1,2,3,5,6,7 lead stationary clockwise turn for follower with L-R ending with drop catch ending with R-R [all drop catches with leader ending facing away from follower with counterclockwise turn]
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break, turn around and lead follower to stationary clockwise turn

1,2,3,5,6,7 lead stationary clockwise turn for follower with L-R ending with drop catch ending with R-R
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and lead follower forward on leader’s right side with R-R going over while connecting L-L in front then lead follower into 1/2 traveling clockwise turn with a gentle R-R lead to get back to open

1,2,3,5,6,7 lead stationary clockwise turn for follower with L-R ending with drop catch ending with R-R
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and lead follower forward on leader’s right side with R-R going over while connecting L-L in front and windmill lead with L-L going over and under to place follower’s L hand behind her R waist (downward lead then let go) – leader turns clockwise and connect R-L
1,2,3,5,6,7 in-and-out standard (many variations of Copa are possible of course)

2nd hour with Tiz

1,2,3,5,6,7 open break into reverse CBL position and lead follower into 1/2 traveling clockwise turn with L-R and drop catch ending with R-R
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break, turn around and lead follower to stationary clockwise turn

1,2,3,5,6,7 open break into reverse CBL position and lead follower into 1 1/2 traveling clockwise turn (aided with R hand on follower’s L shoulder for lead on 4) with L-R and drop catch ending with R-R
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and lead follower forward on leader’s right side with R-R going over and lead windmill 1 1/2 clockwise traveling turn for follower

1,2,3,5,6,7 R-R open break and into Copa but lead follower into 1 1/2 clockwise turn (can be aided with free L hand on follower’s L shoulder for lead on 4) and drop catch ending with R-R
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break, toss R-R and connect L-L and lead broken left turn for follower

Instead of broken left, leading another traveling turn (many methods) with L-L is easy enough. Most of these things are dead easy with most competent followers. Of course, all this is essentially review of things I learned already and only with minor changes.

There were more experienced and/or talented Salsa dancers tonight than usual. Oh wait, that’s not quite right. It was certainly on the good side but not exceptionally so. In any case, dancing was good – not quite as good as last night but that is not saying much.

Vishal played a lot of songs I did not recognize. I made a comment/query about this to Vishal, and he referred to me playing a lot of new things as a factor that led him to be more adventuresome. I would imagine that Vishal would have more songs to choose from compared to me if he wanted. Many of the songs were fine although it would have been nice if fewer songs had a lot of transitions. My dance with Ivey for example was made difficult because of there being 4-6 transitions.

This was Agnes’s last night at Club Salsa this academic year. I found this out at the last minute, which led me to steal her away from Adam for one last dance before I left. She’ll be back but not until October. I suppose same situation will apply to other undergraduates (as well as some university-associated people who are not students as I note sadly).

Word of the day - escalation ... videotape might be another appropriate one...

Thought of the day - I wonder if I am getting bored of learning new moves? By moves, I mean primarly turn patterns.