Rumba Lesson with Ryan -- 9/12/2008

1. Basic
1. side step in basic
1. settle
2. heel drops
3. use leg/foot (not hip) to transfer the weight, hip is always left behind the direction we are going.
   
2. forward step in basic
1. default is always a forward walk, but at the end of it, the spine changes direction to go back.
   
3. backward step in basic
1. hip is square first
2. wait for the man's lead to settle.
   
3. then use settling to move forward (use twist to move backward).
   
2. New Yorker
1. left side shoulder(ribcage) should motivate(initiate?) the right turn.
2. vise Vera: right side motivate the left turn.
3. it is actually a forward/backward walk after turn?
   
3. Spot Turn
1. Intro to spot turn is the same as the new yorker
2. the difference is to continue the twist into a turn in the order of the hip, leg (foot), body, and head.
3. Pause on the "&" after 2 to wait for the lead to determine where the next step would be.
   
4. Hand & hand
1. turn 3/8 of a turn first
2. twist and finish 1/8 of the turn.
3. then settle back to arrive on 2
   
5. fan position
1. hip facing partner
2. body 45' left from partner
3. head 90' left from partner
4. hand 135' left from partner
   
6. open hip twist (to go into fan)
   
1. to lead into this step, always default to a forward action
2. allow the body to change direction during the twist (to turn slightly left if needed)
3. hip twist is the cause of the effect, should not accent it.
   
4. use the action (i.e. settle, twist, compression) to produce the result (arriving, turning).
   
7. hockey stick (out from fan)
1. wait for the lead of the twist and the closing of the feet.
   
2. 2 clear directions in forward walk out from the fan position.
   
1. (Left foot?) toward the partner
2. (Right foot?) toward new direction, which is slightly left of the partner.
   
3. treat every step with twist and settle: twist to bring the leg in, settle to move.
   
8. balance
   
1. arrive on the ball of the feet immediately
2. twist happens when weight moves to the toe.
3. from hip to the upper body, head" they move together to be over the ball of the foot. (picture illustration omitted)