Standard Lesson with Ikaika 9/2/2009

Location: Dance Spectrum.
Time: 4pm
Attendee: Sharron, Daniel

Today we worked on Quickstep.

1. lock step followed by quarter turns: Sharron should remember to open the right side, (not only the right hip), and let the partner pass, but time it with the movement of the partner, do not finish the turn early. And the end of it, Daniel needs to remember to still give the right side towards the partner.
2. Daniel needs to remember to keep the right side up, not necessarily shoulder, but the right side. especially during the quater turns and the end of the lock.
3. Don't rise too much on the leg, practice rise only the upper body.
4. Both Sharron and Daniel needs to keep the feeling of upper body weighted down toward the floor during rising. Right now it is too high up. Need to do the teraband exercise.
5. Ikaika used an interesting way to put Sharron into correct posture, he had sharron putting her hands on his shoulder, then he just expanded. It is a strange(in a good way) sensation
6. Daniel's right hand/wrist position.

Notes for previous lessons on Quicksteps in August.

From Daniel:
1. Running Finish Figure should be smooth. This means rotation should also be smooth. Start the rotation on 1.
2. This is the main point about running finish: not falling forward.
a. After 1, anchor weight on left foot and place right foot in the right direction. When right foot is in place, start pushing off left foot (this will also push the right foot forward more increasing the size of the step.
b. Similar on 2 : keep weight on right foot; place left foot; push off right foot and receive on toe of left foot. Roll left off (toe -> heel) while transferring weight.

NOTE : Quickstep is quick, so we need to prepare the stepping foot faster; otherwise, we fall (as there is no support). By preparing the foot faster and not falling, we also make sure we do not "make noise" when we step (because the steps are softer??). This is where Ikaika's story of him dancing and his instructor saying "I do not know if you were on time because I could not hear the music over the sound of your steps"....


From Sharron:
a. Sharron's part on Running finish: Do not stop moving at the end of it, on the right foot going back step. keep moving.