Foxtrot Routine

4 bar of prep.
Choreograph has 6 phrases (48 bars) going around 6 wall before repeating. Adding 4 bar of prep. Totally 52 bars. With 28–30 bar/minute as Foxtrot tempo. We should finish the whole routine in between 104-111 seconds.

1st wall (long)
1. feather (1234, SQQ)
2. reverse turn (2234, SQQ)
3. feather finish (3234, SQQ)
4. three step (4234, SQQ)
5. syncopated feather step with a reverse pivot (5234, QQQQ)

2nd wall (short)
6. reverse wave (i.e. back three step, back feather, back three step)
(6234,7234,8234, SQQ,SQQ, SQQ). (Lady: two heel lead on the back three steps)
7. tipple chasse(1234, SQ&Q)
8. spin turn(2234, SQQ)
9. rounde(3234,QQQQ)
10. standing spin(4&2&34)

3rd wall (long)
11. feather step from PP(5234, SQQ)
12. three fallaway with feather ending added after the second fall away.
  a. first fall away(623,QQQ)
  b. second fall away(472, QQQ)
  c. feather ending(34,QQ)
  d. fall away slip pivot( 8234, QQQQ)
13. change of direction(1234, SS)
14. contra check (2234, SQQ)
15. rudolph rounde(32)
16. same foot lounge(34)
17. reverse pivot and close telemark (&4234)
19. throw away oversway (5234)
20. recover to PP (6234), heading toward corner
21. continues hover cross to outside swivel(7234,8234, SQQ,QQS, )
22. wing (1&2), head left.
23. 1 back swivel, another swivel to end PP (34,2234, SSS)

4th wall (short)
25. weave from PP(3234, 4234, SQQ, QQQQ), flat, no rise. Check to make sure the Slow is at the beginning.
26. fall away slip pivot ( 5234, QQQQ,)
27. double reverse overspin( 623&4, QQQ&Q) ? Need to check if this timing is SQ&Q& instead?
28. challenge line  (7234, SS) (Lady: head left on 72, right on 34)
29. Oversway  (8234, SS)

5th wall (long) 
26. split rounde to slip pivot (1234, SQQ)
27. weave ending  (2234, QQQQ)
28. bounce fall away (3234, QQQQ)
29. tumble turn (423&4, QQQ&Q)
30. left whisk (523&4, SQ&Q)
31. 2 swivels (6234, SS)
32. run around (7&2&34), ending with lady's Left foot stepping on the 4 to get into PP.
33, rise and step out from to PP( 8234, SS), heading toward corner.
34. feather from PP. (1234,SQQ )
35. half of a V cross. (22&,QQ&, ) (Lady: head right).
36. reverse impetus (34,QQ)  (Lady: head left on 3, head right on 4. Early rise on 3. early rise by straighten right knee early. Still a heel lead on 3)
37. right foot lounge (3234,SS)
38. Natural wing (4234,SQQ)


6th wall (short)
39. feather (5234, SQQ)
40. chasse to R (623&4,SQ&Q)
41. weave (7234, QQQQ)
42. hover telemark(8234, SQQ)
43. feather,(1234,SQQ) (first step outside partner)
44. repeat from three fallaway.

standard lesson with Danny on 12/21/2011

We had a lesson on waltz with Danny today at Ballroom Off Fifth.
It was a great lesson, we were able to work on some finer details of the dance.
1. we talked about fitting first.  Especially the fitting of the hip/thigh joint.
2. We then talked about the standing spin:
a. Denis need to lead the turn with the back of his neck, not his right arm.  He need to screw into the floor to stop, not still high up to stop.
b. I need to move my foot before my head, and leave my head with the standing leg. Need to ensure this on the first step stepping out of the left whisk.
3. we talked about free up the body for movement, instead of having it rigid and all thrown toward the partner at the same time. We started this topic while Danny was trying to tell Denis how to do the double reverse. He need to the step, rotation and swing in that order, not all at the same time. As he was talking about it, I realized that this rotation is what was missing in our natural turn, so I asked him to elaborate on this using Natural turn as an example. An example is the rotation of the body in the natural turn. In particular for the leader, after moving weight to the right foot, then it's rotation of the body (shoulder?), then it's swing the leg (think of the leg started at the shoulder). He demonstrated the rotation and usage of the body with me, using some figures like a zig zaging (but not really zig zagging, it's like weave, but I go backward). He showed how dancing is rigid and boring without this part.  He mentioned o do this as well in the spin turn.  We need to talk about  this more in our next lesson with Danny. Denis asked an interesting question when we were talking about the rotation in the spin turn vs the turning in the standing spin. Earlier in the standing spin, Danny was instructing him to only lead the turn with the back of the neck, do not pull the right side(shoulder) away to lead the turn. Here on the running spin turn, Danny talked about using rotation of the body after weight is commited at the first step (i.e. on the left step).
4. We talked about switching roles in the double reverse over spin to left whisk. In general the person going back is the person who is active.

First Lesson with Giampiero (Tango) 10/29/2011

Time: 9-10:30am 10/29/2011
Location: Starlite, Nutley, NJ.
Attendee: Sharron and Denis

This is the first lesson we are having with Giampiero. We worked on clarify the routine. Then dicussed quite a few technique points.

1. Poise in tango (and apply to other dances as well).  Lady: let the collar bone hang on the vertical line above the foot. Actually I feel the center of gravity of the collar bone shift quite a bit back comparing with what I was used to. This is quite consistent with what Danny and Bill Davis both have mentioned to leave the top back  more.

Once finding that vertical line, remember to relax it, don't hold it up. It's the arm that is up, not the shoulder/shoulder blade. The upper body is relaxed as we dance, it's the lower body, the legs and feet that is moving us around.

This change enables the body to

2. There is no sideway for the lady, always forward and backward: in fall away whisk,  after stepping forward on the left foot, swivel the foot to turn direction, so that the next step can be a backward step.

3. fall away whisk: bend the knee, sit down more. ??? Need to try this a bit and  ask about this part again. 

4. On the reverse pivots/turns, don't open the legs. Keep the legs together, and make the turn on the foot.

5. Prominade:
 a. from reverse turns. eg a five step goes into a PP.  leader turns only the upper body, not the base
 b. from natural turns. leader turns only the lower body, not the top. Like outside change?
 c. from standing position: half half.
 d. The lady should never try to open the hip.
 e. Stepping out of the promenade, lady should step forward as where the foot is pointing. (the foot should be pointing toward the partner). This is similar to what Danny saids that dance forward, means dancing spine toward the partner, because the forward direction is the direction toward the partner.

A couple other tips
2.  Don't follow. Must know the timing, direction, routine myself.
3.  Don't think while dancing. Do the thinking (visualize) ahead of time before starting, once started, just do it, do not think, there is no time, and looks less committed when thinking. 
4. Ignore the partner, don't let him disturb my posture.

Question for next lesson:

1. Clarify a couple places in the last part of the tango routine. finish the rest of the routine.
2. How to do big top and the step before the big top.
3. How to do the link? At times, I feel Denis' link is too regressive, instead of progressive. How is the link done in the routine, is it different from the basic progressive link?
4.

Tango Routine

Totally 5 phrases and 40 bars.with 31-33 bar per minute, it takes 72-77 seconds to finish the routine then repeat.
Start from PP toward DW at the beginning of short wall.

Phrase I: (Fallaway whisk from PP, chase,  progressive link to PP, skater lock, fallaway slip pivot, V cross, telespin, reverse pivot)
1. Natrual promenade turn: (1234, SQQ) (PP toward DW)
2. fall away whisk  (2234) (QQQQ)
3. hesitation 32 (S)
4. chase(&34), (&QQ)
5. chasse to right (4&2) (Q&Q)
6. Progressive link to PP (34) (QQ) (starting long wall)
7. Skater lock (5234&) (SQQ)8. fall away slip pivot (6234) (QQQQ) (going toward DC, not LOD)
9. half V cross (72&) (QQ&) (Question: direction down LOD now?)
10. half telespin? (34&) (QQ&)
11. reverse pivot (8234)
Phrase II: (Spanish Drag, same foot lounge, 5 steps, kick ball change, chase)
12. Spanish Drag, (1234, start to rise on 34) (SS)
13. same foot lounge (2234, continue to rise on 22, change to same foot lounge on 34) (SS)
14. 5 step ending PP (&3234&42) (&QQS&S) Question: check the timing in 14 and 15.   alternative timing? do we need to do &3234, or 3&234 (Note on 5/3/2012: This was changed to &32&34, i.e. &S&QQ, at the end of 4, two feet closed, in close position, weight on left foot, 42 is open to PP)
16.  slowly move from PP position to whisk (34) (S)
17. & kick ball change, & PP (&5&2&34): first & --  (&: weight on left foot, 5&2: kick ball change: &: weight on left foot)  (&Q&Q&S)
18. two walks from PP (6234)(SS)
19. chase, then chasse to right (&723&4)(&QQQ&Q)
20. back rock, close, same foot lounge, (8234) (QQS)
Phrase III: (Swivel, reverse turn)
21 swivel on left foot, swivel on right foot (1234)
22. kick flick left foot. (22)
23. go around (&34) (&QQ)
24. reverse turn. (3234)(QQS)
25. three more walks forward, close to right foot (&4234)(&QQS): close on risen foot, weight on left foot., shape left, hold the slow 
26. turn to PP, small step (R) step(L), point(R), place(R), step(L), step(R). (&52&34) (&QQ&Q)
27. outside spin: two small? forward step, close left foot to right and turn on right foot, change weight to left, step out right foot(6234) (QQQQ)
28. lounge roll, (72) (QQ)
29. stop lock, hold (3&482)
30. Recovery(&) V cross (34&)
Phrase IV: 
31. fall away slip pivot (1234)
32. Reverse outside swivels, (timing? QQS? 2234?  not clear
33. big top. (32&?) not clear on timing,
34. V cross32 (QQ& 34&)
35. Left whisk34 (QQS, 4234)
36. Run around in freckles 5&2&34, (Rudolph?) rounde on the 62.
(as in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMbWnfX89TM, 00:15)
37. Developed right foot, 34
38. rounde  72, Check right foot, 34
39. Step close, small shape. 82
40. Tick Open to pp 34
Phrase V
31. Two walk from pp 1234 ss
32. Close slowly, 2234
33. Two back walk, 3234, ss
34. Reverse turn, 4234,qqs&, &is in wing position
35. Two back walk in wing position, ss
36. Right foot close to left, left foot point out,
37. Step on left foot, swivel, with rounde on right foot
38. Outside swivel,
39. Step on left foot, rounde forward right foot,
40. Close.
41. From pp, walk close, sqq,
42. Reverse turn, qqs,
43. Walk, step side on right , shape my right,
44. Step side, shape my left.
45. Step side, oversway,
 

Quickstep Routine

8 phrases (64 bars), 73-77 minutes based on 50–52 bars per minute for quickstep.
90 seconds music should allow 9-10 phrase.

written from lady's perspective


first wall, long
8 count Prep 1234,5678
Runs (step hop chasse)123&4, rocket step 2 runs( 2234)
Repeat runs 3234, 4234
Step hop 52 contra check, 34
2 Jump 62
Kick right foot twice, 3472
Kick left foot once 34
Low kick right, left, right, ending in PP.  Place right foot back on 4. 8234

toward 2nd wall corner, then to second wall
From PP, 2 Step hops: Step hop on L(S&) 12, Step hop on R(S&) 34
Scatter chasse Q&Q to L (q&q&) 2&2 (Is this a scatter chasse kind of chasse with some sort of lowering as apposed to the type of chasse in pepper pot? )
Step hop (S&) 34
Scatter Chasse: Slow &32 Slow &34 Quick & quick 4&2(Is this a scatter chasse kind of chasse with some sort of lowering? )
Step hop (s&) 34 , ending going down line of dance in new long wall.

3rd wall, long
chasse to left (for lady)(q&q&) 5&2&. the last & is a small step back on the right foot.
Pepper pot: Step Hop on L backward outside partner(34, S&), Chasse (q&q) 6&2, lock (qq) 34
Stephop on L, 72
Pepper pot: stephop on R, 34, chasse. (q&q, 8&2), qq(34)

Outside change Sqq 1234
Open Natural, SQQ 2234
Outside spin. SQQ 3234

4th wall, short

Turning lock,QQQQ4234
open natural, SQQ 5234 (this open natural is different from the last one? What direction am I going?)
outside spin again SQQ 6234
Hesitation 7234, 8234 (at the end, up on toes, girl sway right)

5th wall, long 
Side lock (1a2) (left foot lock in the front, sway left)
Hop hop (3 4)
3 Low kicks then a bent kick(2234) (QQQQ)
Hesitation ending with girl sway right 3234 (SS)
Side lock ( 4a2) sway left, two more back steps (34)
Forward lock 523&4 (SQ&Q&?)

Quick open reverse (6234)

close telemark (7234) (SQQ)
left foot pick up (8234) (SS) (82 stepping right foot, 34 pick up  left foot)

2 Samba step. 1234, 2234
recover step, 3234(SS)  32 is stepping back, 34 is bush forward.

Turning lock (ending in PP), 423&4
Open Natrual 5234
running finish, 6234 (Ending backing DW of short wall)

6th wall, short
Tipsy (L,R,L) SQ&Q, Q&Q, Q&Q 723&4, 8&2, 3&4

1 back (for man) locks(1&234, Q&QS)

pepper pot: 2 locks(2&234, Q&QQQ)
running finish (3234, SQQ)
Natural turn (4234, SQQ), lower at the end
Impetus (5234, SQQ), to PP,
check and kick left foot(62&34, S&S),
2 fast kick to the right, 1 slow kick to the left. Twice (7234, 8234, QQS, QQS), ending in PP.

7th wall, long
Fast low side kicks in PP, 1234
Step hop (left foot), step hop(right foot, turn) (S&S&),2234
Chasse (q&q, 3&2) & (a change step on right foot)
Pepper Pot to R: step hop (on left foot)(S&) 34, chasse(Q&Q), cross(QQ)  4&234
Step hop(left) 52, step hop (on right foot) 34, chasse to L(q&q), & (6&2&)

Step hop (left), step hop(right), step hop(left)(34, 72, 34, S&, S&, S&)

Pepper Pot: chasse to R + Rocket step (Q&QQQ), ending PP. (8&234)

Toward the short wall corner that begins 8th wall
Open Natrual (SQQ, 1234),from PP, All forward steps.
running finish (SQQ, 2234), first step forward, next two backward. Can sway right, but not in PP
Open Natrual (SQQ, 3234),
running finish(SQQ, 4234),
Natrual (SQQ, 5234),
Spin (SQQ, 6234) ending in close position facing toward DC on the long line.(Is the spin turn timing SSS?)
Pepper pot: double locks (Q&QQQ, 7&234)
Outside change: (SQQ, 8234)
Repeat from from beginning.

Waltz Routine

Totally 6 phrase (48 bars), with 28-30 bar per minute, that is 96-102 seconds to finish.  Typically would dance to the end of 5th phrase in 90 seconds.

Waltz Routine
1st wall (Long)
1. Natural turn 123
2. Running spin turn 4&56
3. Reverse turn ending VCross 223&
4. fall away slip pivot 4&56
5. double reverse over spin 3&2&3
6. Left Whisk 4 5 6
7. run around 4&2&3&
8. Ending in PP 4 5 6
9. zigzag: 1&2 3  2nd wall (short)

10. pivot and spin turn: 4& 5 6  (4& are pivots, keep it flat, 5 is spin turn rise.)
11. turning lock ending PP: 2&23
12. chasse: 4 5&6 (on the 6, goes back, instead of side)
13. natural: 3 2 3
14. spin turn: 4 5 6 (where do we need to face at the end of the spin turn? Is this an under turned spin turn?)
15. turning lock to PP: 4&23
3rd wall (Long) 
16. chasse: 45&6
17. quick open reverse + a pivot: 1&23&
18. double reverse overspin: 4&5&6
19. throw away : 223 456
20. turn around develope: 323 456
21. weave from PP 423
22. Outside change to PP 4 5 6
22. lunge roll  12&3
23. right foot lunge 456
4th wall (Short)
24. check & slip pivot 223 456
25. chasse to right. 32&3
26. tumble turn. 45&6&
27. reverse turn. 423
28. contra check. 456 (weight on R foot on 3)
29. two step forward then rounde on right foot. (1&2
30. run around ending in PP (Standing spin) (3& 4 &56), &3 step forward, & get on left foot, 123 turn into PP)
5th wall (Long)
31. wave to outside change to PP (223, 456)
32. telespin. (3&2&3)
33. outside swivel,(&456)
34. change of direction.(like a reverse turn?) (323)
35. develope on right foot, outside partner. (456)
36. outside spin.(1&23)
37. pivot, pivot. (4& 5& 6) Not sure about the rest
38. heel turn, change foot,
39. step back right foot to same foot lounge (head left)
40. shape head right,
41. shape head left, weave coming out. (what is the head out step called?)
42.  outside change to PP.

Standard Lesson with Ieva on 9/21/2011

August and September just flew by!

This is the second lesson Denis and I had with Ieva. We looked at waltz mostly, then a little bit of VW. It was a great lesson.

1. At last Sunday's lesson, we focused on space. Having a bigger space.
a. Put a dot on foot, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist, finger, neck. feeling like the space between each dots are bigger, longer.
b. Thinking of the space around the body, rather than the body itself as a way to renew/maintain the shape. Think as if there are balloons all around.
c. Think of the elbow going where the movement is going.

I asked a couple questions today
2. How to get a bigger shape on the natural turn? Keep in mind there is not much time to finish the shape though, so need to start early. Remember to keep the space big all around. do not sacrifice one part of the space to achieve bigger space on another part. For example, don't shorten the back, keep both side of the neck long (don't short the left side of the neck).

3. Running spin turn:
Don't rise completely to the end, rising after the weight is moved onto the standing foot , second rise gradually.

4. Left Whisk:
Sharron need to remember not to collapse the left side.

5. run around:
On the first step coming out of the left whisk, put right hip down, to change to a sway toward the center of the turn, (while keeping the shape to the left).

6. Promenade position:
Remember to keep the space big, not having head leaning forward into the direction.

7. zigzag: do not shift the frame when turning from PP to close position. Keep the frame (i.e. spine, elbow, arms) moving forward consistently at the same speed.

8. pivots+ spin turn: difference between pivots and spin turn. no rise on pivots? what was she addressing here?

9. Throw away then into a left foot develope: do not close the space when turning around to the develope. Need to move the hip up/forward for the develope.


VW:
1. direction: Remember to step the right foot right under partner's spine to ensure that I'm following his direction.