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