Hot! Hot! Hot!

June 12, 2006

Shines

Slide
1 L foot cross over in front of R
2 R foot slide back
3 L foot slide back (in front of R)
5 R foot cross over in front of L
6 L foot cross over in front of R
7 R foot cross over in front of L

Reverse slide
1,2,3 basic
5 R foot cross behind L
6 L foot slide forward
7 R foot slide forward (behind L)
1 L foot step back cross behind R
2 R foot step back cross behind L
3 L foot step back cross behind R
5 R foot step in place (no longer crossed behind L)
6 L foot somewhat large step forward
7 R foot normal basic position for 7

Pachanga
1 L foot slide L
2 R foot together
3 R foot slide R
4 L foot together
5 L foot slide L
6 R foot together
7 R foot slide R
8 L foot together

1st hour of Intermediate partner work with Tiz

(I’m skipping all the basic and simple CBLs)

1,2,3,5,6,7 from open hold, simple Copa

1,2,3,5,6,7 from R-R hold, simple Copa (R down and roll for Copa motion/lead ending on follower’s hip followed by free 1 1/2 Copa turn for follower) with leader doing full clockwise turn on 7

1,2,3,5,6,7 from R-L hold, stationary double clockwise turn for follower one up one down with leader doing optional swivel turn on 7 (after pulling down the zipper on 6 and letting go R-L briefly) with reconnection of R-L
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and into Copa with both L-R connection made as early as 8/1 and as late as 3 – on 3, both R-L and L-R is in front of follower – lead follower forward with R-L low on 5 and let follower do a 1 1/2 Copa turn with L-R high for follower to spin on

The first hour is somewhat similar to the format of second hour of improver class from the second week. However, the amount of material is considerably greater than in the old improver class.

2nd hour of Intermediate partner work with Tiz

1,2,3,5,6,7 from open hold, Copa with R-L ending in front of follower on 3 and L-R behind follower’s R waist – lead follower into free Copa 1 1/2 turn (leading with R-L? and letting go)
1,2,3,5,6,7 Reconnect with L-R behind follower’s R waist and basic and lead L-R down on 5 to get follower to do a simple pivot turn to get back into open or closed hold

1,2,3,5,6,7 from open hold, standard Copa start but ending with over and under lead using L-R to get L-R positioned behind follower’s R waist
1,2,3,5,6,7 basic and lead L-R down on 5 to get follower to do a simple pivot turn to get back into open or closed hold

1,2,3,5,6,7 from R-R hold with L-L underneath, Copa with R-R ending in front of follower on 3 – lead Copa turn with R-R over and under to get R-R behind follower’s L waist
1,2,3,5,6,7 lead rock step for follower possibly with help of L hand on follower’s R shoulder and lead follower into a free 1 1/2 clockwise traveling turn for her to get back into open position (leader steps into follower’s space and turn clockwise to face follower and get into closed hold)

1,2,3,5,6,7 from R-R hold lead follower into Copa ending with L hand on follower’s R shoulder and start leading follower on 4 on shoulder for traveling clockwise 1 1/2 or 2 1/2 turn

Class was more enjoyable than it has been for last couple of weeks. At no time did I feel that I was going to get injured. Some of the better followers had to leave early and did not stay for the second class.

Vishal and Danie asked me if Tiz’s lessons were easier than Joe’s. Apparently they got an impression that this might be the case based upon someone’s comments about last week’s class. I couldn’t disagree more. If anything, Tiz tries to pack more material into the class than Joe. The way the class structure has been revised after the switch to the two-hour format is like this – the first hour is similar to the old second hour of improver class except with more material, and the second hour is similar to the old first hour of intermediate class except with more material once again. Thus the first hour works as a warm-up and/or an introduction to a basic material, while large number of more complex variations is introduced in the second hour. I suspect that my capacity for remembering materials from the class is better than anyone else more or less, and I find it very challenging to remember everything!

If the material in class were easy, I should think that a lot more people should be able to incorporate materials from class into social dancing. Very few people are able to do this, and many forget the material within couple of days. Until they can follow the moves in club setting speed comfortably, followers should not think that the material is too easy. Likewise, leaders have no right to think that the material is easy unless they could lead the move with a follower of “average” ability attending the class at normal club music speed. If people find it difficult to do the material in a controlled class setting, they should consider the idea that they should go down a level (or two!).

Not long ago, some anonymous person asked me how I would rate myself as a Salsa dancer. My answer was that I was either solid or high intermediate by UK standards. I could add that no leader in Cambridge who still takes classes regularly is better than solid or high intermediate in my opinion. In fact I probably could argue that many people involved in teaching Salsa in Cambridge are no better than solid or high intermediate (note: I’m using a very broad definition when I say people involved in teaching as I am including teaching assistants here.).

Conditions for dancing was not ideal tonight. The air was hot and humid, and there seemed to be a lot of equipment eccentricities (lights and sound system). I generally stuck to dance partners who could stay on time with me. Dancing was okay for me with my biggest complaint being that my leads were more forceful than I normally prefer.