Standard lesson with Katusha

Today's lesson we worked on foxtrot.
1. Shape:
a. an exercise is to stand with right side next to the wall, stretch left but push to the right to stretch left, so we have the equal stretch on both side. And this shape and stretch is maintained within, but supported by the partner.
b. When trying to shape head/upper shoulder back, the spine is shifted forward first, so there is a bigger contrast between the lower part of the spine, and the upper part (+ neck, head), but over all the stardum is staying at the same spot in space.
c. In prominade position, the stretch is exactly the opposite. stretch to right on the right, but stretch to the left at the base area (from above hip to bra strap area shift left, then above part stretch right).
2. spine keep toward the partner, even during the shapes. Lady's spine mirror what Leader's spine do.
3. The stretch both side somehow helped me to keep the arms connected to the body. Denis reported improvement in quickstep.
4. Reverse turn, under turn it, so that it ends with a slight rotation to the right.
5. CBM, she said to think of the two shoulders moving at different speeds.

Standard lesson with GP 2/4/2012

What a fantastic lesson today.  We worked on techniques.

1. Lady's job is to only move forward and backward. Let the guy to the job of direction and turning,

Reverse Figures
Eg A: Applying this in big top: Big top is three forward steps, with a swivel and pivot in the middle. after the outside swivel, on the big top steps, just step forward, do not try to get around, just go forward (down line of dance) on left foot, then forward with right foot, as soon as the right foot touches the ground, swivel on BOTH foot, then close left foot to right foot, pivot (meaning turning body and foot at the same time), then step forward with left foot.

 Eg B: Fall away slip pivot. first three step is stepping straight back, At the end of the third step (right foot back), rise and continue to go back with head, then the man will turn the lady and make it a slip pivot.

Eg C: weave from PP: forward with right foot
a. forward left
b. forward right, do not try to cut across him.
c. swivel, (keep head right).
d. forward left.

Eg D: double reverse over spin:
back step on right foot, left foot close to right foot, and heel turn, forward with right foot, swivel with both foot once right foot touches the floor, (turn head to right), cross the left foot in front of left foot. right foot back, pivot on right foot.

Thoughts: tumble turn is similar to the second part of the double reverse over spin.

Questions:
1. How to apply this to reverse step in reverse outside swivel in tango? Is it back right foot, pivot foot and body, forward left step,


Natural figures:

Eg E: Natrual Spin turn and Pivots: remember to go forward, not going around.
a. turn body right to match with the partner as stepping forward on the right foot. (very important, do not try to go around).
b. then step forward on the left foot, (not around).
c. swivel both feet to the right, as soon as the foot touch the floor,

d. move weight back to left foot,
e. pivot on left foot. (turn body and foot at the same time)
f. forward with right foot again, repeat a.

2. In forward movement, the power of the movement come from the bending of the the shin of the front foot. It is like a horse that pulls the carriage(body) forward. The incorrect way is to push from the back foot.  This provides more control of the movement, much less likely to let the momentem of the body taking control. Especially so in tango. 
Eg: reverse outside swivel. In syllabus, the reverse outside swivel is a reverse turn+ swivel. The difference in open step is that the lady doesn't swivel, only the guy does the swivel. The girl only just turn the body to the left to face the guy, As I'm moving the left foot forward, I need to keep my body to the left as the guy is moving from my right side to my left side.  But I continue to move forward on my foot.

After the reverse outside swivel, do not stop, continue with the forward step in the big top right away.