Standard Group Lesson with Stanley McCalla on 5/4/2010

I found out about this group lesson from DanceChalsea's website. So 7:30pm I got there. I think the lesson is only $15, but I'm not completely sure. Dancechalsea is a small studio. There are three latin couples practicing there. And the space is pretty small.

Bronze Class
The first group lesson is for Bronze level. We are given a few exercises.
1. Put hands together, push down in front and in back to keep shoulder down and
2. Learned a new practice hold position, where the follwer press against the leader. The leader hold the follower at her shoulder blades.
3. Rise up in the toes for 10 times.
4. bend down on one supporting leg, with the other foot extended forward or backward. repeat for each leg 10 times.
5. Bend down on one supporting leg, with the other foot exending side ways. then move the weight over and rise.
6. Position. Feel the left ear going toward left elbow.

Then we did a little routine:
natural turn 1-6.
change step
reverse turn 1-3
check 1-3
weave 1-3(close position)
natural turn 1-3 (outside partner)
This was an ok class. Not too much fun though since the other 4 people are really beginner, so not too much fun for me. But the exercise is good, and the check part in the routine is actually new for me.

Silver/Gold Class
This is a fun class. First of all, only me and another student is here. And this other student is Alex, who is Daniel's friend from MIT. I've met him briefly at MAC. And he is actually a good height match for me. So we get to do something fun. The class is mostly focused on the guy (as always :). But I get to dance and make shapes :)

Amalgomation 1:
natural, 1-3
quick spin and a reverse pivot? 12&3
telemark into PP 123
challenge line 123
hover corte 123 (456 if needed)
outside change (in close position)

For this one, we mostly worked on the hover corte. I keep on having problems of not knowing how far I should step on, so some times I feel my step on the challenge line is too small, so I end up back weighted at the end. But I'm not sure if it is because the guy pushed me out of balance though. Stanley said I should think about having the

Amalgomation 2:
from PP
left wisk (123)
run around the leader (12&3), ending outside partner.
outside spin (123) (RLR). Right foot step outside partner. left foot close to right foot. then pivot on left foot.
forgot the rest...