Standard Lesson with Ikaika 7/27/2009

Location: Dance Spectrum

Time: 10:45am

Attendee: Sharron, Daniel,

Today we revisited tango. Really good lesson today, need to practice to drill the points in.

1 Rock Turn:

a). Shaping in rock step: The indicator of shaping from the leader is just an indicator, an inch, not a mile.

b). Sharron needs to remember to give the left shoulder up toward the partner before the shaping, and

c). Tick in the corte: right and then left, like a shiver. We can not really be fast, we can just stop fast to create the sharp image.

2. Reverse turn: (QQSQQ)

a) remember left turning figure needs to keep left side forward.This means, only left upper body, parts above the hip, not including the hip,

b) Sharron needs to remember to feel heavy on the lower body, feel the weight on the the standing leg connected to the floor, and stretch/grow the upper body,

c) Leader steps back on SQ, not curving too much.

3. Natural Twist turn.(SQQSQQ)

a) both person needs to remember to stay down,(Screw down).

b) right turning figure should have right side forward.

c) after the first Q, the man needs to power toward a slight turn to the right, and then step across on the next Q.

d) Man: right knee hook behind left knee. toe of right foot only slightly behind left foot. turn on right toe, left heel.

6 Natural prominent turn.

Standard Lesson with Ikaika 7/20/2009

Location: Dance Spectrum
Time: 12:00pm
Attendee: Sharron, Daniel

Today we did Foxtrat because we didn't have time to practice on tango last week. Today's class is somewhat confusing to me. Anyway, here are the few points, I think I heard/understand

1. Foxtrat timing:split weight on whole count, completely transfered weight on &.
(78&1&2&3&4 ) feather step

2. weight need to go straight down to be right in front of the heel. even when bending down, bend stright down.

3. exercise:

a. use inner thought muscle to pull legs together. from side to center, from front back to middle

b. contract muscle from belly.

c. turn shoulder arround without turning hips.

Standard Lesson with Ikaika 7/13/2009

Location: Dance Spectrum
Time: 12:00pm
Attendee: Sharron, Daniel

Today we did tango again.
1. Rock step:
(S S QQS QQS )
(123456781234)
a. Follower shape to the left at the end of 2nd slow. This slow is emphasized.
b. shape to the right out rock step, this the third slow. it is also empahsized, remember to have sharp/upward shape.
c. out of the rock step (the third Q) is a back step for the leader.

2. Natural pivot turn from prominent position (SQQSQQ)
a. start from facing diagonal wall, end up facing down LOD in prominent position. At the end, leader needs to make sure that the upper body (shoulder) is parallel to LOD, facing partner, Hip is turn out slightly for prominent position, head and foot is facing LOD in prominent position.
b. the step leaving from prominent position is the same as porminent close. Remember to move the body as a stack foward with the right knee, don't leave the butt behind.
b. right turning figures, follower should turn the lower body, leader should turn the upper body. Left turning figures is the opposite.
c. Turn the head to the left(up) on the first QQS?

3. Posture: mental picture of Lady's posture
a. left shoulder stretch up forward toward partner, grow toward the partner, not away.
b. close ribcage.
c. close tummy
d. left arm and shoulder up

4. flexibility of shoulder vs hip: exercise, glue hip on the chair, and turn upper body/shoulder only.

5. Q&A: reverse turn first/second step still feel awkward.

Standard Lesson with Ikaika 7/6/2009

Location: Dance Spectrum
Time: 12:00pm
Attendee: Sharron (Daniel is out of town this Monday)

Today we did foxtrot
1. feel the weight change controlled, clearly from one foot to the other, not a falling though the space

2. natural turn to outside partner, then weave: keep weight to the left, toward the left elbow.

3. feel the weight going from one end of the foot to the other end: when going backward, feel the weight on the front of the foot, moving through the foot to the heel. When going forward (like in weave), feel the weight going from the heel (which is where the weight should be after the heel turn) to the ball of the foot then step out.
4. Timing: Lady starting from left foot ,
feather step (SQQ),
reverse turn (SQQ),
feather finish(SQQ),

Standard Lesson with Ikaika 7/8/2009

Location: Dance Spectrum
Time: 12:00pm
Attendee: Daniel, Sharron

Today we continued on Tango.
1) Posture
a. Sharron's left shoulder/arm!!! Think of bow and arrow on the prominent step, don't let the bow tilt back.
b. Daniel's right arm need to keep up, no dropping, and elbow should not go behind the shoulder, especially in prominent position.
2) Timing
a. Timing for "Walk, Walk, Link" is "Slow Slow and Slow". Link needs to be faster/sharper. Lady needs to use the right foot as the pivot point.
3) Rock
a. rock is the rocking of the leg, not the tilting of upper body like a rocking chair.
b. rock is small sexy rocks.
4) Reverse turn
a. Heel lead for the lady on the right foot forward step.
b. Daniel needs to step to the Right on the back step.

Q&A
1) outside partner: Man's foot is not aligned with the direction of the movement, but almost 30 degrees away, while the body is like 45 degrees away.
2) In tango: what about the right side lead, and stepping on the inside edge of circle? What is it about? why we need to do that?