Tony Lara number 6

November 27, 2007

I arrived around 7:35 – about ten minutes before the classes were scheduled to begin and barely enough time to greet people like Raj, Andrea, Louise, Richard and Jane as well as Vish, Daniella and Tony. I obtained a Bachata and a Reggaeton CD from Daniella and Tony before the classes started. I wasn’t sure how many people would turn up for the class, and it looked a little worrying when I got there. However, plenty of people showed up by the time the classes were underway – definitely not a loss for Vish.

The Bachata class was in a small part choreographed to Playa Fa Sho (Toby Love), but everything was essentially easily leadable – things just need to be broken down and reassembled to fit music.

Sway (Intro)
Hip movement (sharp bit)
Sway (repeat)
Slap simulation (sharp bit)
Basic
…
5,6,7,8 both connections made and lead follower to short quick 1/2 counterclockwise turn with only L-R going over follower’s head – hold follower in double wrap between 6 and 7 with follower’s arms crossed in front of follower
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 get L-R over follower and leave follower’s R on leader’s head on 1,2,3 do the same with R-L on 5,6,7 – leader’s R hand ends across follower’s stomach while L-L connection can be made to L side
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 basic side-to-side on leader’s timing (can be done indefinitely)
…
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 basic side-to-side basic with follower in front of leader both facing same way (really works only with “close” hold) on 1,2,3,4 then prep follower for travelling clockwise turn on 5,6,7,8 getting L-L over leader’s head for a hat while R hand goes to follower’s back in something like a CBL position
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 side dip (follower supporting her weight) and into tight embrace on 1,2,3,4 and in place basic on 5,6,7,8
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 basic
…

This next bit is useful mainly because it makes transition for leader going from leader’s footwork timing to follower’s footwork timing very smooth.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 side basic on 1,2,3,4 then R pointing R on 5, L toe together with R keeping weight on R foot on 6, L forward and turn further 1/4 clockwise on 7, finish Bachata basic with R toe together on 8 keeping weight on L (switch from L-R hold to R-R hold somewhere during the turn)
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 side basic on follower’s timing (indefinite – with options of going stationary, then sway or body roll or whatever) … to get back to normal position
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 side basic on 1,2,3,4 still on follower’s timing then L pointing L on 5, R toe together with L keeping weight on L foot on 6, forward and turn further 1/4 counterclockwise to face follower keeping only L-L hold and end with a hat for leader at the end to get back to closed hold

I was going to skip the Reggaeton part of the class altogether, but Tony had the idea of videotaping the warm-up for youtube. When I got my camera out, he decided to tape it himself and nudged me into participating in the warm-up. I weaselled myself out after the warm-up to retrieve my camera and videotaped other parts of the Reggaeton class. I considered joining the beginner Bachata class, but I was not needed. [note: There are or will be youtube clip(s) available but not via this blog.]

The social afterwards was a bit on the weak side – a far cry from last time. I ran into someone who knew a colleague (Colin) from work – I think his name was Richard “from Brixton” and the apparent connection is mountain biking. Another “new” acquaintance made was Katy – it was actually my third meeting with her – very nice. A Salsa dance with Daniella was quite interesting in that she took charge for large chunks of the dance – much more so than any other times I danced with her. Otherwise, many of the dances were a bit jarring and were something of a shocking transition from recent memory.

Other happenings included a raffle for charity, and the evening ended with long chats first with Daniella and then with Tony, Vishal, Danie and Gordon lasting until past 12:30.