Russell

• shape created from swing. no swing, no shape
• swing straight, don't turn
• movement on step 2 is a consequence of step 1, which is a consequence of step 3...which prepares for the 1....
  
• javelin from man's left buttock, through his center, up through lady's center and out to man's hand
• Dance to your partner
  
• Don't move into holes that your head sees. Holes can be created by going off in a different direction and also by not moving to fill them (lady's swinging in chasse from promenade, for example).
  
• move the walls if you have to

my notes: tone in the core always helps, especially in double reverse turn and recovering from contrabody motion.

figures danced: natural turn, overturned and underturned spin turn, reverse turn, turning lock, weave to close, double reverse, outside spin,

sunday practice

testing video upload....



it worked! now if i could only get rid of the fuzziness... on well, thanks mom!

Gold Smooth - VWaltz w/Larinda

Lead

• begin on right foot
• canter (left HT rising 1-2, lower R 3, moving forward against LOD)
• repeat canter
• Lforward swiveling to left 1-2-3 weight forward bb
• Rback opening arms out in side by side, looking LOD 4-5-6

• canter? step forward left 1-2; forward R 3
• L forward and ronde R around 1-2-3 (catch lady's hand to help this)
• spiral on right foot turning to LOD 1-2-3
• reverse turn (LRLxin front) passing lady, then catch her arm in Left at end

opt gold

• guide lady to spin towards your center as you step back on R 1, leading into shadow catch her with R arm, crook elbow on 2 and rising
  
• step down LOD a little bit outside circle for shadow pivot on left foot on 3
• step to side (not back) with R foot 1-2, x left in front 3
• continue

opt silver

• guide lady to spin across as you step back on R 1, do simple close change Lback 2, R together on 3 (or R slightly forward depending on lady's position)
• continue in closed position

fun fun fun!! thanks to my great followers!

VWaltz Continued Jan 24, 2009

Cleanup:

• on opening canter steps, lead's right arm is out and curves in, out and in, in a 'pattycake / i like my partner' attitude.
• the lead for the swivel is slightly forward first
• on canter coming out LOD the right foot is in a lunge-like position, this leads to a 'jump' of sorts with together pressure (inside arms) and then apart connection during the ronde, with both partners' free legs and arms stretched as wide (perpendicular to LOD) as possible for big line

Continued:

• 1-2-3-4-5-6 natural in shadow position (maybe 2x?)
• lead ladies turn to right by indicating on her left shoulder
• side by side position
• lead underarm turn for lady (lead turns wrist so that palm faces up)
• swivels as breather (lead going backward) (2 each side)
• open natural

Open Standard - Quickstep w/Mark

Tonight's open standard lesson with Mark
Lady's steps, part I

• SSS 7-8, 1-2, 3-4 pivot/lunge RF, LB, RF
• Q&Q QQ 5&6, 7, 8 pepperpot (chasse, lock) with no rise because of subsequent quicks LF, RF, LF, xR in back, LF
• QQQQ 1,2,3,4 RF, LF, RF, LF
• QQ 5,6 RF, LF, left outside partner on these 2 steps
• QQ 7,8, RF, LB, feather finish

Lady's steps, part II

• S, 1-2, RB in traveling countracheck
• QQ 3,4, LB turning to PP, RF in PP
• QQS 5,6, 7-8, step hop slide LF, LF, RF slide all in PP
• SS 1-2, 3-4, point R foot to R with R sway, then L foot to L in closed position
• QQS 5,6, 7-8 kick/point left foot 2 times across to right in PP, then point L foot to L in closed position
• QQ QQQQ woodpecker (2x) hopping on R foot to C____ (L with R going diagonal back; R with L pointing diagonal forward; repeat L R) with diagonal loose pendulums

To the music of Nat King Cole's 'Almost like being in love' which apparently is slow for quickstep!

Lady's steps, Part III January 15, 2009

• back left step hop
• RF pivot, LB pivot, RF pivot
• Running right turn
• Quick open reverse

In various sequences of quicks and slows, timing optional.