On2 workout week 1

February 27, 2007

Timing CD with Clave and Conga was used by Sergio to explain where 2, 6 (pah) and 4, 8 (du-doom) were - essentially the way Joe did it. Forward basic and back basic were described with more detail. Turns were explained and practiced On2 in a manner similar but not identical to the Turn Combo 1 was described last Sunday workshop On1.

forward basic (follower's timing)
1 R foot slightly forward (weight transfer to R)
2 L foot forward (press against the ground but without transferring ALL weight onto L foot - minimize the body from moving forward - forward and backward movements to be done on 1 and on 5 rather than on 2 and on 6)
3 R foot on spot (with weight firmly on R foot)
5 L foot back (weight transfer to L - backward body movement happens here, not on 6)
6 R foot press against ground behind L foot (no complete transfer of weight though)
7 L foot on spot (with weight firmly on L foot again)
1 R foot forward (weight transfer to R)

back basic (same idea as above - I suppose without the body moving as a whole at any point)

3 o'clock turn (follower's timing)
1 R foot pointing up to 3 o'clock
2 L foot in front of R and swivel 1/2 clockwise (weight primarily on R foot)
3 land on balls of R (i.e. weight on R) - pause
5 L slightly back while turning ~1/4 further
6,7 remainder of back basic

12 o'clock turn (follower's timing)
1,2 forward basic
3 weight on R foot and swivel 1/2 clockwise
5 L foot in front of R foot (maybe pointing 9 o'clock from original perspective) and finish turning
6,7 back part of basic

hook turn (follower's timing)
1,2,3 forward basic
5 L foot slightly back
6 R foot hook behind L and swivel 180 or more keeping both foot grounded
7 land and pause and make sure to keep L grounded
1 R foot slightly forward as any leftover turn is completed
2,3 remainder of forward basic

broken left turn (follower's timing)
1,2,3 forward basic
5 turn 1/2 counterclockwise and step forward with L
6 forward and maybe slightly to L with R and swivel 1/2 counterclockwise
7 weight transfer to L
1,2,3 forward basic

right turn (spin)
1,2,3 forward basic
5 L foot slightly back
6 R foot back and weight transfer to R foot
7 L foot in front of R foot in preparation
1 turn full right (clockwise) on balls of R foot with L foot coming along for the spin (it could be gliding along the ground) - start with 1/4 turn, then 1/2 turn, etc with practicing head turning last…
2 L foot land in front (but presumably not for a full weight transfer)
3 R foot on spot (full weight on R again)

CBL footwork for both followers and leaders (everyone did both … in follower's timing)
5,6,7 back basic
1 forward on R
2 forward on L (start turning shortly after 2 or was it 3?)
3 turn 1/2 counterclockwise on R (later we were doing an extra 1/2 turn to face starting direction again)
5,6,7 back basic
…
1,2 forward basic
3 into CBL position (close to follower)
5 L foot into CBL position (to get out of the way)
6 R foot slightly to R
7 L foot and start to turn 1/4 counterclockwise (later we turned an extra 1/2 to face starting direction again)
1,2,3 forward basic (or another CBL)

Much of the practice was done using Cha Cha earlier and Salsa later. Sometimes Cha Cha movements were incorporated into the basic movements, sometimes without.

Shine du jour

1 R foot forward basic
2 L foot cross over R
3 swivel 1/2 clockwise
Cha Cha optional (couple of options)
5 R foot cross over L
6 swivel 1/2 counterclockwise
7 L foot cross over R
1 R foot cross over L
2,3 forward basic

There was fair bit of checking tension/connection - being responsive, etc without any real partner work. Other than keeping a good frame without being rigid (the word elastic or rubber band was used) and finger-to-finger tension/connection, it's difficult to describe in words.

Partner work done involved forward basic, CBL (with a lot of adjustments - minimizing leads first and then putting some leads back in - lightest lead possible being the general aim), and open back basic with some stylization and getting back to closed hold from it.

We hoped to get started as early as 7:30 but did not get going until nearly 9. It was past 11:30 when we were done.