Step list for Wedding Dance Workshops
April 3
Basics - Posture; Leading and responding; Directions
Merengue
Basic: stepping on the beat of the music (small steps)
Open and Cross Arm leads: Open Arm - the leader opens s/his arm away from s/his chest to give a direction to the responder
Cross Arm - the leader crosses s/his arm across s/his chest to give a direction to the responder
If the leader lifts s/his arm to give a space, then the responder will turn under the leading arm (leaders should remember to step out of the responder's way, then follow the responder)
Foxtrot
Box basic: Left foot steps forward, right foot steps open side, left foot steps together, right foot steps back, left foot steps open side, right foot steps together. Slow, quick,quick, slow, quick, quick (1 2 - 3 - 4, 1 2 - 3 - 4. A Slow gets 2 counts, a quick gets 1 count).
Progressive: forward - Left foot steps forward, right foot steps open side, left foot steps together, right foot steps forward, left foot steps open side, right foot steps together.
backward - Left foot steps back, right foot steps open side, left foot steps together, right foot steps back, left foot steps open side, right foot steps together.
Open Arm lead: Gentleman does a box, but on the right foot stepping back, he opens his left arm and lifts so the Lady can step under and turn Clockwise on the last quick quick of the box.
Swing
Basic: rock step, side, touch, side, touch. 6 counts - quick, quick, slow, slow. Gentleman steps back on his left foot for the rock step, then side left, then right. Lady steps back on her right foot for the rock step, then side right, then left.
Open Arm lead: turn happens during the slow slow
April 9
Ceroc
Basic: Forward, back, back, forward. Gentlemen begin left foot forward, Ladies begin right foot back
Other Basic: forward, back, in place, in place; OR back, forward, in place, in place
Open Arm lead: leader step forward, then back out of the responder's way, lift the arm for the responder to turn under, then step in place, in place turning to follow the responder.
responder steps back, forward, forward and turn, back
Waltz
Box basic: Left foot steps forward, right foot steps open side, left foot steps together, right foot steps back, left foot steps open side, right foot steps together. One step per beat of music, quick (1 2 3, 1 2 3).
Rotate the box counterclockwise.
Swing
Basic: rock step, side, touch, side, touch. 6 counts - quick, quick, slow, slow. Gentleman steps back on his left foot for the rock step, then side left, then right. Lady steps back on her right foot for the rock step, then side right, then left.
Don't Let Go: leader gives a cross arm lead but doesn't let go with the other hand, and wraps the responder to s/his side.
Step list for Ceroc
Basic: Forward back back forward. Gentlemen begin left foot forward, Ladies begin right foot back
in parallel and contra
open arm lead
cross arm lead
carousel
skin turn
wrap
wrap & shadow
Open arm don't let go
cross body lead, add whipped turn (cross arm after whip)
skin turn -> rock step back -> L arm over G head -> push hip w/ hand -> cross arm
closed dance positn; into & out of w/ open, cross arm leads
back dip, add rotation
whip L CCW into G right side, take L right hand w/ G left & open into death drop
Syllabus for Octagon Ballroom Class
Lesson 1
Technique - Posture, Center and weight placement just forward of the center.
Movement vocabulary
weight change: step, touch
directions: forward, backward, side open and side crossed, diagonal open and crossed
Leading basics (open dance pos.) - forward, backward, sideways, open, crossed
Merengue - basic stepping. Add push and pull, changing facing. Add open arm leads and man under open arm.
Swing - basic
Lesson 2
Technique - Posture; Center; Plié sequence for ankles; walking straight forward and backward, identifying directions from hip placement. Turning - practice 3 step turn and spotting
Review leading basics (open dance pos.) - review forward, backward, sideways, open, crossed; add pressure, open and crossed arm leads
Merengue - review; cross arm lead, add brush st
Swing - review; open arm lead, cross arm lead
Lesson 3
Technique - Posture; Center; Pliés; straight line walking; add sideways. Emphasizing directions from hip. Turning - practice 3 step turn and spotting
Merengue - review
Swing - review Brush step, turn leads, add Twin Cities, Wrap
Foxtrot - box, for and bk progressive, turning box
Lesson 4
Technique - Posture; Center; Pliés; Straight Line Walking; knee lifts
Merengue - dance and review
Review swing;
Foxtrot - review and add lady's turn under (cross arm lead and open arm lead)
Waltz - learn basic. Try FT steps with waltz
Lesson 5
Technique - do technique exercises; turning - practice 3 step turn and spotting
Merengue - dance
Swing - review briefly and dance
Foxtrot - review; add cross step, cross and weave
Waltz - review and dance
Tango - basic only if time and dancers are so inclined.
Parks and Rec class: We'll be meeting on M 12/13, T 12/14, and M 12/20. Don't forget about the Ballroom Dance Club at 7:30-9:45 on Fridays at the the Forker Bldg, Rm 196. Dance Dance Dance!
Ames Parks and Rec (Mondays, 11-12/04)
To be covered:
Basic movement vocabulary; Posture; Leading, Directions, weight change, rhythms
Lesson 1. Technique - Posture, Center and weight placement just forward of the center.
Movement vocabulary - weight change: step, touch; directions: forward, backward, side open and side crossed, diagonal open and crossed
Leading basics (open dance pos.) - forward, backward, sideways, open, crossed
Merengue - basic stepping. Add push and pull, changing facing. Add open arm leads, cross arm lead; add turn under open arm.
Swing - basic
2. Technique - Posture; Center
Review leading basics (open dance pos.) - review forward, backward, sideways, open, crossed; add pressure, open and crossed arm leads
Merengue - review
Swing - review; add right hands hold; open arm lead, cross arm lead
3. Technique - Posture; Center; knee lifts; straight line walking; add sideways. Emphasizing directions from hip.
Merengue - review
Swing - review; add Brush step
Foxtrot - left and right box
4. Technique - Posture; Center; Easy Knees; Pliés; Straight Line Walking. Turning - 3 step turn and spotting
Merengue - dance and review
Swing - dance and review; add Twin Cities (open arm lead, don't let go), Wrap (cross arm lead, don't let go)
Foxtrot - review boxes, for and bk progressive, turning the box and add lady's turn under (cross arm lead and open arm lead)
5. Technique - do technique exercises
Merengue - dance
Swing - review briefly and dance
Foxtrot - review; add cross step, cross and weave
Waltz - learn basic. Try FT steps with waltz
American Tango - basic
6. Technique - do technique exercises
Waltz - review
Foxtrot - review and add lady's turn under
American Tango - review; add rock forward and back
Swing - review; add Row step (rt hands tog - pull, push, rk st)
Polka basic?
Ballroom Dance Club
Viennese Waltz
Int: Basic
Adv: Basic; original Viennese Waltz basic; Ronde;
American Tango
Int: Basic forward, back, promenade; promenade with a turn; whip her around; fan
Adv: Corte and Dip; Run and Fan; Run and Slide
