High on life – maybe too much so

September 25, 2006

Intermediate with Joe

1,2,3,5,6,7 crossed hold L-L on top – CBL and lead follower into full counterclockwise traveling turn into half crucifix with R hand on follower’s R shoulder (leader positioned slightly to R of follower)
1,2,3,5,6,7 allow follower forward on 1, lead her around 1/2 clockwise on 2,3 and lead her to 1 1/2 clockwise traveling turn (or was it 2 1/2? – may want to make it 1 1/2 to have a better chance of it working) switching from L-L to R-L with hold switched to fingers pointing up after the first turn – leader steps into follower’s lane on 5 and turn 3/4 counterclockwise on 7 for slam dunk to switch to L-L by leader’s L waist
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and leader steps into reverse CBL position with L-L going up and forward and in continuous motion lead follower into windmill (going up and around like bowling motion and releasing at the bottom) to lead follower to free 1 1/2 counterclockwise traveling turn – leader does a 3/4 counterclockwise moving into follower’s former position and face follower

There was a bit of practice without drop-catch/slam dunk during the second bar too.

1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and lead follower into stationary clockwise turn into hammerlock
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and like a Copa start with all connections pointing towards the direction follower came from – move into follower’s former space facing away from follower and bring R-L up to leader’s R shoulder – sway to R and bring L-R up and around and to leader’s back (scratching back position)
1,2,3,5,6,7 step to R (turning body about 1/4 clockwise) on 1 like start of Dile que no and turn 1/2 counterclockwise on 2,3 – turn further on 3/4 counterclockwise over 5,6,7,8 with R-L going over leader’s head (but not until 6 or thereafter AFTER leading follower to initiate forward step on 5 for CBL finish) [note: it is easier to get R-L going over leader’s head smoothly if leader is facing away from follower when this happens thus it would be useful to do the final 1/2 turn or so on 7/8] [additional note: think of this like another way of leading follower into CBL]
1,2,3,5,6,7 position is double-crossed hold (as if follower was made to turn full counterclockwise with all connections intact) – prepare and lead follower to stationary clockwise turn (one turn is okay, double turn is fine too in my opinion) – there are many options for simple finish

Apparently the second bit was something Joe picked up from one of the performers at the UK Salsa Congress at Bognor Regis. I had a lot of fun with this one during and after the class. Sometimes it’s simpler for me to do kind of moves that are super easy for follower but more challenging rather than those that asks me for the follower to do somewhat complicated thing while I also have to do something mildly tricky.

Most people who were at the UK Congress were absent tonight, and many others were absent perhaps in anticipation. A big exception was Rajiv, whom I greeted with the words, “Good Morning.” I figured that he slept most of the day – he said he got up at 5, and he seemed too satiated for dancing tonight. Rajiv said Joe and his team were also at the Congress. Otherwise, I heard very little about happenings at the Congress.

I’m not sure what the difference exactly was but the music Joe played tonight was quite nice (as opposed to R&B fusion-y stuff he sometimes plays – perhaps pandering to the crowd). For me, it was the best music played on a Monday (aside from ones where I played the songs as the DJ – I am biased of course). Good music helped to make my dances quite fun and fabulous.

This is great. I have been feeling superb for well over a week (perhaps over 2 weeks... in fact I think all of September has been quite good) and I don’t see why it won’t continue for a while longer. I don’t’ think there has been such a long spell for more than 6 months. The fact that things could be much better on multiple fronts only cheers me up even more. Very weird! I love irrational exuberance – even if it’s not completely irrational. It will end at some point, but I will enjoy it while it lasts.

12 dances with 6 people or something like it. I seem to have stopped counting lately.