Gold smooth - Waltz w/Jan O. A New Beginning

Waltz with Jan O. - April 1, 2015

Are we ready for some fun stuff? After 6 months since starting smooth, some of the concepts are starting to gel.  Shadow no longer feels like we are going to kick each other with each step, and the hold feels more like a frame. Jan gave us a new beginning to shorten the long wall and make it less flat. It was too long even for Walker.  Also added a 'variation of horse and cart' before the arabesque, to make it more interesting.  I like both changes.

(see previous post Nov for original)

- Eliminate twinkle, start in closed. step diagonal wall back  on left foot with left shape, forward slightly side R foot, changing to same foot lunge away from partner, hold R hand.

- 1-2-3 twinkle (LR L) into side by side (can also do a free spin 1-2&3&)

- chasse, to check, check, slip as above, ending facing LOD

- Pivot 1-&2-3 diagonal wall, ending BLOD in line with partner

like tumble turn 1-&-23 (back R, side flightly forward L, F R, F L)

- curved feather ending in shadow (partner catches up).

- open natural

- flip flop ending forward on L foot

- 1&a23:  FL dance the body away on the 1, side slightly back on R, back L, side slightly back? R on 2, rising, end forward L on 3

- open natural in shadow 1-2-3

- turn to arabesque 4-5-6?  back L,  rise for R turning forward, L

- dance deep. keep frame in arms for connection, dance body, not arms leg stretch going to check come all the way back dance forward with body center first, then stretch top keeping right side up, not tilted.

Technique notes: More Body! Lower! Rise!

Gold smooth - tango w/Jan O.

From closed
- two back walks, (S S) reverse turn (QQSQQ) to swivel  with entry like oversway (S backing left), step out to shadow (QQS)
In shadow
 - two forward walks starting on L (S S), viennesse crosses (SQ& SQ&)
-  those push off and turn things (FL turning back, BR turning forward = SS) forward L, close R turning, side L opening out (QQS)
- forward R turning to partner S, chasse diagonal back and left Q&Q, ending in closed. Link (?)


Updated 25 Feb 2015 with explanation of what i forgot last time:

from promenade
- SQQQ to open natural
- outside spin, to a line like hover or back check except rotates to left in order to pivot and kick right foot
- step down on R and cross left in front.

techniques: much improved shadow walks and viennese crosses!

Updated April 15 with continuation, thanks V. for his notes:

-- from leads pov --

overlap from above notes:

12           Right lunge

34           open to PP, kick 

continue:

&56        Step across in PP

78           Ronde, lady changes to R foot

12           Same (Right) foot lunge

3456       “Reverse turn”, man steps on 456, lady on 3456 changing foot

78           reverse outside swivel

12           lady steps across to the man’s left side

34           both step L,tap

56           both step R,tap forward

78           both step L,tap

12           check to R foot

345678  …reconnect to close hold
-- end --

in my words from the step tap:
- Holding r hand in back to partner:Step r , Tap l, step l, tap r, step r stretch line.
- Step back on left, turning to face partner.
- Forward r switch hands
- Turns to left to closed position
- Reverse turn to swivel here? 

--mary

Gold smooth - foxtrot w/Jan O.

updated 18 march 2015

Begin on count 5;
-start side by side facing wall on left foot
- X Right in front, Step - tap L (5-6) up on 5, down when pointing on 6.
- X Left in front, Step - tap R (7-8) down - up on tap.
- grapevine down line of dance (facing wall still) R L R L 123456
- X right in front, step-tap L. count is either step tap on 7-8 and take more time on the later swivel, or add 2 more grapevine steps and wait for the step tap until 1-2
- Canter turns, turning to left: LRLR 1234
- X left in front, swivel in place (?).....5678. - partner catches follows R hand/wrist
...
step forward R, walk around partner (Q&Q), step R, walk around Q&Q, to impetus ending pp
....
- Turning twinkle to shadow
- open right turns in shadow (?)
- open natural in shadow : starts forward on r , side and slightly back on l, back on r, feather finish back on left. QQSS
- tumble turn in shadow position: back r side Turning forward on l, forward on r, slip pivot on left.
- to oversway:back r (step inside partner), (left arm avoid nose needs to raise early?) side left also inside, almost closed position. r forward to oversway. Timing=? Here, partner needs to indicate step , rotate, but leave room without disturbing follow on the first step.
- to impetus/promenade
...

Curved feathers? hairpin heel turn:? (Q and QQ) (left side/ arm out, then in, then out. repeat)  impetus to Eros (in pp swing r leg up and then pivot on left foot turning into prep and contra check. 

Notes: after shaping always check core!

--mary

ps. need to remember to take some video next time!

Gold smooth - waltz w/ Jan Ondrias

Techniques: shaping has so many options, shadow, arabesque and check, go for it

Begin closed backing diagonal wall.
Twinkle to pp , underarm turn to left to side by side.
Chases
Twinkle
Twinkle
Check right foot in front,back left, side right
Check other sideleft foot in front, replace  right, slip on left foot and turning
Pivots 1 and 23 (r-l-r-l)
Curved feather
Three step,( catch lady)
natural turn (2) passing feet
Back l pivoting, side r, back l changing hand hold, facing partner
To arabesque: side r on bent knee, rise on 2, flex knee on 3 and extend left leg .
Collect as in contra check and forward on left extending r leg crossed behind
 Step back on r, back on left turning towards partner and rising, whisk r behind.
Reverse turn: forward left, R pivoting toward left, forward left pivoting more to complete turn  and catch in closed hold .

waltz is beauty in motion.

20 Nov 2014 to continue from previous notes:

....
After arabesque etc:
-Turn into closed position.
-Fallaway slip pivot diagonal center.
-Telemark to pp ending
-Outside arabesque turning, to oversway and develope changing to one handhold.
-Hover (forward r, hover left with shape, down in pp)
-Forward left in cbmp, forward r then turn into shadow.  Leader does chasse. Try this in two hand hold to feel the shape and lead.

-- mary

Gold smooth - vwaltz w/Jan O.

Wow -- first entry in over 2 years. So pleased to be taking smooth class at MIT with Jan Ondrias coaching AND to have my friend R. join me on this fun learning curve!  These notes are from the follower's perspective.

- From closed, back right foot, 5th position break (released closed to just a right hand hold)
- turn into partner (create "window" with hands") for shadow position
- cantor
- hesitation
- me on right side of partner: forward L, forward R, cross L in back, repeat on other feet
-  turn in to left with shape L shape R shape L then shape to right and ready to go forward, now on leader's left side, still in shadow (ha!) The count is L (1-2) R (3) L (1-2-3).
- those crossy thingies again: forward R, forward L, cross R in back, repeat on other feet.
- "like impetus" leader leads the followers R hand down and follow steps forward R, forward L, bring feet together, turn through promenade to closed position.
- open natural etc.


notes on technique: roll shoulder, engage lats -- do it on both sides! (need practice on R side).
my thoughts -- activate the forward side -- release the other side not being stretched.

general smooth techniques in this class: outside of turn and inside of rotation. dance towards partner's center. duh! but so good to hear it again, slightly differently than Russell's harpoon.

So much fun -- but oh my how to get it up to tempo?

Update Feb 25 2015:
-reverse turn 1-2-3 2-2-3
-to shadow
-open natural
-flip flop
-wing
-cantor (backward)
-1-2-3 2-2-3 changing places, shaping mirror image (left hand to right hand, then right and to left hand)
-1-2-3 walk around (step 2 switch head shape to left)
-twinkle out
-a develope somewhere before this section.

--mary

Open Waltz - With Mark (via Ron and Becca)

-Natural Turn
-Overturned spin turn to turning lock to right
-natural pivot (forward R, turning to b LOD)
-natural telemark (back L, close R to left, side ( or forward turning back?) L, back R) 1&23
-close change to Diag center (back L, back R, together L)
- reverse pivot
- some 1,2,3 step... to end back LOD
-double contracheck, end forward R
- double ronde (on L, ronde R leg (1) , back R (2),side L(3),forward R (1), side L (2), exit forward R (3)) -- or is it 12&3, 123? hmmm

Open Standard - Tango w/Mark

Two classes now-

-from promenade, SQQ , on last Q leadturns to right while backing LOD
-back checks QQQQ (lady has heel lead(s), turning head on each. create small actions stemming from feet and hips through the floor, not arms
-QQS to close, slight "increase in elevation" to preceed drop
-drop oversway: open to promenade except head, relax knee to drop quickly. drape arms or else will look like separate motions. no rotation of shoulders, only tilt.
- recover to promenade

- fallaway whisk: hips or shoulders, not both together. create energy
- i need to remember to stay left during the whisk part. otherwise partner's right shoulder tends to come in/up.