rain with snow

May 3, 2007

Intermediate/Advanced with Chris assisted by Jane


1,2,3,5,6,7 open hold - CBL into hammerlock with L-R behind follower's L waist (R-L high)
1,2,3,5,6,7 leader turns full clockwise during 1,2,3 letting go L-R temporarily before reconnecting to lead follower to a double turn with all connections ending high with leader's R arm pointing up - perhaps step forward on 7 and let go L hand early [note: another thing to try - end with R-L behind follower's R waist hammerlock.]
1,2,3,5,6,7 move L hand to behind leader's R waist to offer connection there [note: the connection wanted here is L-L meaning the connection changes from R-L to R-R during or after the follower's turn in previous bar. It might be worth trying this move with a simplified version of previous move - something like R-R double turn ending with both arms pointing up.] and bring follower forward on 2,3 to leader's R with R-R going over follower's head initially and brought down (at this point, I would say the leader and follower can be somewhere between back-to-back and side-to-side) - lead follower behind and around leader (no turning required - lead her to step to her right on 5 and back on 6,7 - Chris suggested that the lead should be done with L-L although I sometimes never made the L-L connection during practice) and switch to L-R (end position is leader and follower facing each other having more or less ended in same position on 8 as was on 1 except now leader is probably positioned to follower's L side) [note: this move seems fairly simple in principle and quite doable in retrospect.]
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break (L-R) and bring follower forward up to 5 (possibly could use free R hand on follower's stomach) then lead her back into full counterclockwise turn on 6 and switch to R-R with leader turning 1/2 (counterclockwise in this class) to end facing same direction as follower (leader is positioned ahead and to L of follower)
1,2,3,5,6,7 lead follower forward on 2,3,5 with R-R high straight ahead and lead a windmill 1 1/2 clockwise traveling turn for follower with switch to L-R at the first bottom hand position of windmill and with leader turning clockwise (~1/2 to 3/4) at the end of follower's turn to finish positioned to new L of follower with L-R behind leader's back R waist
1,2,3,5,6,7 matrix-like move to get R-R connection (R to wrist is fine) and lead free 1 1/2 traveling turn for follower

Sally was away in Barcelona doing her Salsa Holiday thingy. I had mistakenly thought this was going to happen last week.

Drinks at the Sauce group included Zern, Natalie, William, Clara, Rajiv and Ed. One of the topic discussed was the UK Salsa competition heat to be done at Club Salsa on May 20. Aside from Natalie and Zern, it was salsa salsa salsa.

There was a fairly big turnout from the Singapore contingent of the Salsa team. Zhenzhi was back after a long absence. She went through at least three shoes. Sam was there very briefly (I didn't even get to say hello) to practice with Mark. Agnes, Haihan and Stephanie stayed til the end and somewhat beyond outside after closing time - Salsa congresses was a topic and Stephanie mentioned that she liked the one in Hamburg. Another topic was some dance competition (varsity?)varsity dance competition against Oxford University in Peterborough of all placesSt Ives (makes more sense) with five couples from the Salsa team entering the competition. Others at the social included Cyrille, Ivan, Euvian, Mimi, Richard. Return of Mimi meant much needed dances On2.

After a something of a long downturn (lasting about 2 weeks or so), I had a pretty good time on the dance floor. Of course this does not mean people I danced with found the dances 'fun'. At one point Euvian said something like "When are you going to let me go?"

Around 11:30 I noticed the CD left by Chris on an autopilot was ending (less than 2 minutes remaining) with no sign of anything being ready as the next song. I had some compilation CDs I had prepared for On2 class and put one of them on. Four songs from the CD was played in sequence - Asia Mood, Hong Kong Mambo, Japan Mambo (all by Tito Puente), and Lluvia Con Nieve (Mon Rivera). I think it compensated for lack of Mambo up until that point.

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