One step backward, two steps forward?

March 25, 2007

Another three hours – from around 6 to 9. Total amount of time spent with these lessons thus far? Approximately 17 hours. If this were done as series of one-hour lessons one week, it would be almost 4 months. By such reasoning, I am well ahead of my pace for learning to dance Salsa On1. In any case, it definitely is not a piece of cake.

Barely over an hour was spent on partner work, and it felt as if I regressed a great deal at the start of it. Part of it was lack of practice, but at least a small part of it I think was because I had become too used to doing my footwork on follower’s timing. Learning footwork on follower’s timing by the way is the standard method – opposite of the way On1 classes are done.

The basic footwork and turns were done no differently than before – perhaps sometimes at higher pace and sometimes with a little more complexity. Some of the complications included doing Cha Cha shuffles only during 1 to 4 or only during 5 to 8. Another footwork exercise done involved stepping on 6.5 and sliding on 7 (the idea was to do this immediately after a 3 o’clock turn but we did not get that far).

Only one new element was added to the partner work. This was in part because everything learned to date had to be fixed and adjusted.

For me the spot turn was fixed extensively once again. Get out of the way on 7. Forward on 1. Hook on 2. Step forward on 5. A different ending involving backwards charge on 6 can be done instead of going into forward basic.

Adjustments to CBL and Copa were fairly minor. No big adjustments were made to getting into half crucifix and getting out of it. Same with open break with R-R followed by R-R toss over follower’s head and making L-L connection, etc – although this could be because we ran out of time. More adjustments were made for leading turns for the follower.

The new element – involving two options – started with the leader doing a right turn. I’m guessing that 3 o’clock into open cross body position would be the simplest and perhaps the optimal method. Keep fingers up and give follower a forward signal on 1. Then either lead follower into a cross body turn with a clockwise turn (perhaps this could be called anti-cross body – I don’t know). A second option is to give a signal for 12 o’clock turn for follower.

Turning on 7 to move as unit 1/4 (or 1/2) before CBL finish was discussed briefly but we did not get around to practicing it. I think the idea here is to get the R foot close to follower’s L foot (at a perpendicular angle perhaps?) on 7 and then turning as unit counterclockwise.

I think we need some extensive practice in more of a social setting – perhaps without supervision. After all, we’ll have to get used to it pretty soon – even if it means we start developing some bad habits that will have to be fixed.