Standard lesson with Ikaika on 2/26/2010

Attendee: Sharron, Daniel

Worked on Waltz today.

1. press into the floor. Flex all the joints, from ankle to knee, to hip.
2. On the natural turn, stay on 2 for longer, think upper body extending left while Leader's body pass mine. LEFT LEFT on the upper body!!!
3. I was told to give the left side to the partner without taking the right side away. This twist in the body is supposely mostly done at the ribcage part (middle uper). from the top of the ribcage to the head, was just growing into an up left space. the sway is then started from the knee, though the hip.
3. turning lock, put the right knee directly behind the left knee, not to the right behind. This helped in get the right amount of turns.
4. Daniel was asked to bend down, especially flex hip joint as well. he was also told to keep the correct head position. not just turning faces here and there. he was also asked to turn the foot earlier in the second step of the over turned spin turn.

Standard lesson with Ikaika on 2/25/2010

Attendee: Sharron

2/25/2010
worked on foxtrat today

1. talked about using sway, how the upper body is stacked up to the left. even when I'm swayting to the left. swaying from the knee.
2. talked about using the ab muscle, something like feeling like a heavy lead ball in my belly, and that is my weight, and for every step, that weight is moved to the foot.
3. get the foot to the right place, and then the body goes, not the other way.
4. Also was told that I need more pilate exercise. Need to work on the muscles on my legs :(

Standard Lesson with Ikaika 2/19/2010

Write notes late again. Some vague memory of what was discussed. The main theme is to use push into the floor, not away from the floor. flex the joints, use the floor.

1. Asked the question on swing and sway. Ikaika's Answer is that we can do sway without swing.

2. Talked about push the floor from the ankle/feet.

3. Did overturn spin turn, I was told to that I finish my turn too early and fall out of it at the end. On all spin turn/open impetus, I need to get my weight onto the second step on my right foot, not going around.

4. turning lock: need to use the & step on the right foot to move onto the next step.

5. Also did wing, my right step need to go where my left foot is pointing to.

6. Old problem with right elbow. Need to get it down. need to think of pick up and give right side.



On the different note, Did winter Frolic this weekend, didn't feel so good, thought placement was not bad (1st in Silver and Gold, 5th in Novice, out of 7). It felt bad and video was disappointing. Will I ever make it to championship level? big question mark in my head.

standard lesson with Ikaika on 2/18/2010

Finally I'm writing the notes on the day of the lesson :)

1. We practiced on hold. I need to keep my right elbow down, starting from the time I raise my right hand, need to raise it slow. Need to give the sense that I have the confidence to take my time to make my choice.

2. hip twist slightly left, upper body slightly right

3. Do this 4 time in a row to make sure it is correct.

4. On every 2 (from 1& to 2) try to drop left hip, raise right hip (not stuck right hip out though) and turn upper body further (forward left), but still keep the right side to the partner. Need to try this more times to figure out what I can do, and need to do this on every 2.

5. Need to soften the knee and use the joints.

Standard Lesson with Ikaika on 2/11/2010

I am writing this entry late. Almost forgot what I learned @ this class.

We started with the new step bounce fall away in Waltz, then we did foxtrat feather and feather finish and three steps.

1. We talked a lot about rising into the ground, not away from it, using the foot. helps to keep balance better. I was thinking about the weight transferring from each bone of my foot from the front the the back.

2. We also talked about the sway from the hip, and the leg, but not from the upper body.

I think i vaguely got the idea, can do it one out of 10 times. So need to practice with a concious thought on this.

standard lesson with Olya on 2/9/2010

We worked on the spin turn over turned and turning lock.

1. I need to keep my right side closed to the partner, during the spin and the turnning lock. Almost like this proviced a reference point of where to turn/spin etc.

2. Daniel needs to pay attention not to rise too early?

standard lesson with Ikaika on 2/8/2010

today we set our next goal: to win gold in USA Dance Nationals on 4/9/2010. Very exciting!

So we set to work on some new figures.
1. Foxtrat:
bounce fall away with weave ending (gold)
hover cross (silver)

2. Waltz:
over turned spin turn -- somehow over turned spin seems to be easier than the normal spin we did.
turning lock (Silver)-- make sure to put the weight on the right foot on the lock step before stepping to the next one.

3. Ten positions.
1. close
2. prominent
3. outside partner: leader working forward
4. partner outside: follower walking forward?
5. counter prominent
6. fall away
7.

Standard Lesson with Ikaika on 2/3/2010

We watched the video from City Light today. Then we worked on my position. my upper body position.

1. shape from the foot: press into the floor to create the shape on the top. Once we talked about sway/shape from the knee before. I think maybe these two are related.
2. forward and sideway toward the elbow. pick up the left side. Feel like sliding ribcage to the left.
3. when in inside of the turn (such as natural 1 2 3) upper body stay behind.
4.

Silver Routine

Writing down the routine again so that it is more clear

1. Watlz --
first long wall
Open impetus
Wing
Double Reverse Spin
Chasse to Right,
Outside change to Prominent,
Close Prominent,
Hesitation.
Short Wall starts again
Double Reverse Spin
Chasse to Right,
Outside change, (end in close position)
Natural turn 1-6
Long Wall
Natural Spin turn
Reverse turn
Double reverse spin turn
Reverse turn,
Whisk,
Close Prominent,
Hesitation
Short Wall again


2. Tango --
Short wall, start from short wall
2 walks (SS)
Link (QQ)
Fallaway Prominend (SQQ, SQQ) last QQ is the heel turn.
Close Prominend (SQQS)
4 steps (QQQQ)
closed Prominend(SQQS)
reverse turn etc (QQS, QQS)
Long Wall
(2 walks
Link
Close prominent
Quarte
QQS
reverse turn) could remove if wall is not long enough.
2 Walk
Link
natural twist turn.
close promiment
2 walks
link
natrual prominent turn.
reverse turn.
Short Wall again



3. Foxtrat
First long wall
Feather (SQQ)
Reverse turn (SQQ)
Feather finish (SQQ)
Three step, (SQQ)
Natural turn (SQQ)
Weave (QQQQ)
Reverse turn
Check
Short wall
Weave
Feather finish
Three step
Natural turn
Hesitation

second long wall
Feather (SQQ)
Open telemark (SQQ), heel turn on this
Open Natural (SQQ),
Swivel 215 degree(S),
Feather Ending (SQQ),
Reverse Turn(SQQ)
Reverse Wave(SQQ), it's a back three step
Back feather(SQQ)
Feather Finish(SQQ)
Reverse turn (SQQ)
Check
then same short wall as before

4. Quick Step
first long wall
Quarter turn Right
Quarter turn left
Natural turn
backward lock
Runnning finish
Hesitation

Short wall
double reverse spin turn
chasse to Right,
Tipple Chasse ( can skip this if not enough space)
back lock
Hesitation

second long wall
Half natural (SQQ)
Spin Turn(SSS)
Chasse (SQQS)
Quick Open Reverse (SSQQ)
4 quick runs (SQQQQS)
Half natural (SQQ)
Short wall is the same.