Onset of summer and a favor for Vishal

July 3, 2006

Intermediate with Joe - first hour

1,2,3,5,6,7 prepare and lead follower to a double clockwise turn and leader turns full counterclockwise on 7 (or after follower is essentially done with her turn) with L-R above head or underarm – switch or drop catch to R-R
1,2,3,5,6,7 leader does open break away from follower – lead follower to 2 o’clock and into wrap (follower is led for traveling full counterclockwise turn) and switch to L-R either mid-way or at the end
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break (show free R hand to side on 1 and move it above and in front at shoulder level or so) and get into CBL-like position except facing away from follower’s line – lead follower to traveling full counterclockwise turn (lead slightly down toward 11 o’clock or so for follower with L-R and go high again and prevent follower from excessive turn using back of free R hand on follower’s R forearm) – leader is positioned slightly to R of follower
1,2,3,5,6,7 allow follower a forward step on 1 – prepare and lead follower into 1 1/2 stationary clockwise turn over and under with L-R ending behind follower’s L waist – leader is positioned slightly to L of follower
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and lead follower into early traveling 1 1/2 clockwise turn for follower with L-R ending by follower’s L side with leader’s fingers pointing up – L-R can be used to give follower a hat (and release) after follower’s turn is completed after a short pause (possibly during next 1 or even 2)
1,2,3,5,6,7 end with simple CBL

Intermediate with Joe - second hour

1,2,3,5,6,7 prepare and lead follower to a double clockwise turn and leader turns full counterclockwise on 7 (or after follower is essentially done with her turn) with L-R above head or underarm – switch or drop catch to R-R
1,2,3,5,6,7 leader does open break away from follower – lead follower to 2 o’clock and into wrap (follower is led for traveling full counterclockwise turn) and switch to L-R either mid-way or at the end – offer free R hand in front of follower after follower’s turn is completed
1,2,3,5,6,7 two options here – either lead follower into a stationary double clockwise turn with R-L starting high and L-R starting low and R-L ending low and L-R ending high with leader facing follower at all times OR lead follower into 1 1/2 traveling clockwise turn with leader moving into CBL position initially and end facing follower
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and L-R over leader’s head (end back-to-back with follower with L-R extended with tension and R-L lowered) – L-R down and up like windmill for 1 1/2 traveling clockwise turn for follower while leader continues to face away from follower’s line – at the end leader turns clockwise (end facing away from follower) and switch to R-R behind his back
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and bring follower forward with R-R going over follower’s head and L-L connection made in front – with L-L, lead follower forward on 5 (2 o’clock works) and into traveling full counterclockwise turn ending in wrap (L-L low around waist and R-R high around neck – minimize leading with R-R for follower’s turn)
1,2,3,5,6,7 prepare (allow follower forward step on 1) and lead follower into stationary 1 1/2 clockwise turn keeping L-L low and end with R-R hat for follower and release R-R
1,2,3,5,6,7 get into CBL position – lead follower into 1 1/2 traveling clockwise turn with leader turning full counterclockwise on 7 (or after follower’s turn is essentially done) – finish with L-L connection
1,2,3,5,6,7 get into CBL position and lead follower into traveling 1 1/2 counterclockwise turn for follower
1,2,3,5,6,7 L-L hat for leader and end with simple CBL

Yesterday Vishal had asked me if I would be able to cover as DJ tonight so I brought my CDs along with me. I am guessing that I don’t need to fear about getting banned from Club Salsa. After Joe played 3 songs, I took over. Thus I only had two dances tonight – once with Zhenzi during the break and once with Euvian after the classes. I would have tried to get at least one more dance but people I considered asking seemed busy socializing.

Sergio made a surprise appearance, arriving during the break between the first and second hour. I guess he was bored – he spent part of the second hour reading a paper and later observing the class. He asked if I am now DJing regularly on Mondays. I replied that this was just a one-time thing as a personal favor for Vishal. Once a week is quite enough – I prefer to dance rather than play DJ.

Playlist

Anacaona – Cheo Feliciano (1) (-4.5% for this and songs thereafter)
Soledad – La 33
Miye Na We – Africando (2)
Abran Paso – Orchestra Harlow
El Topodoredoso – Hector Lavoe (-2.5% for this and songs thereafter)
Nina Y Senora – Tito Puente (3)
Sabroson – Markolino Dimond
Me Libere – El Gran Combo (-1% for this and songs thereafter)
Descarga Lebron – Lebron Brothers
Picadillo – Tito Puente (4)
Etnia – Grupo Niche (normal speed for this song and thereafter)
Idilio – Willie Colon (5)
El Preso – Fruko Y Sus Tesos
Si Por Mi Llueve – Cheo Feliciano (6)
Otra Oportunidad – Jimmy Bosch (7)

(1) Joe played 3 songs, including El Pito – Isidro Infante, Mirandote - Frankie Ruiz.
(2) Someone commented that the lyrics for this song sounded like Swahili. He might be right for all I know.
(3) Cyrille asked about this song (song name and which album it’s from – it was originally in Para Los Rumberos. I have it as part of the 50 Years of Swing compilation. He said, “It’s perfect!”
(4) This song finally brought Sergio onto the dance floor.
(5) John asked me to lower the volume. I guess there’s not enough bodies to absorb sound because I was keeping the volume at typical Friday level or slightly lower according to the DJ mixer and other instruments. I should try a more hands-on sound check with an empty room in future.
(6) This was probably the iffiest song I played tonight. Most people are gone by this point. I am guessing that this is the end of the evening.
(7) Yup. Everyone’s gone by now. I left a CD of Frankie Ruiz (Exitos Eternos) for Danie with La Rueda as the first song. Luis commented that this song (La Rueda) is 25 years old. His estimate seems pretty accurate – the song is certainly from the 80’s. Of course, many of the songs I played tonight are even older – as early as the late 60’s.

Given the composition of the crowd, I really didn’t think there was any impetus to play Merengue or Bachata tonight. Often Mondays and Thursdays go without Bachata or Merengue anyway.

One of the practice songs, which caught Sergio’s ear, was called “Vibes” – Joe couldn’t think of name of the artist from top of his head.

Sergio is trying to get me to watch some video recordings of dance performances by select premier New York Salsa dancers claiming that their material is much better than anything taught in drop-in classes in the UK. I suspect that he knows what he’s talking about, but it’s really difficult to practice partner-work without a practice partner. Then again, many people attending drop-in classes have serious deficiencies and some are almost hopelessly over their head about their assessment of their level and about which level class they should be attending.

It feels like summer. It’s warm. Many people are away on vacation. There seemed to be even more than usual amount of socializing and practicing instead of dancing from likes of Sergio, Cyrille and Rajiv.