11/25 Lesson with Slavi: Using the weight

Put the entire weight over the supporting foot. Use the floor. The shaping etc should all come from the feet, foot pressure. For example:

- Foxtrot basics: Roll the feet, feel the floor

- Waltz: Stretch left on the natural turn, it has to originate from the feet. Then on the spin turn, pivots: Bring weight entirely over the right foot when stepping on the right foot. Same just before the turning lock. After the turning lock, continue to go before turning the head to promenade

- Foxtrot: Outside spin and ronde: Also don't forget to bring the weight over the right foot when stepping on the right foot. Don't collapse the left side.

Slavi lesson 11/16/09 Viennese & Quickstep

Flekrels

First on all reverse turns, use lower leg more to give follow a clearer signal.
Then to initiate flekrel, instead of going forward, go side.

Reverse turns--stay left.
Natural turns--stay right.

Contracheck exit--don't turn with upper body, just go straight back, then use right leg to give the girl lead for "mini" ronde. It is ok to drop as you're doing this.

Then final exit, go straight like your waltz beginning natural turn, then again don't turn/rotate, go straight back.


Quickstep
* changed intro, enter back line of dance
* emphasize sloows
* changed the woodpecker to emphasize standing leg

Slavi lesson - Nov 12

(W,F,VW,Q) Feel the connection in the hips: No tucked in, butt not sticked out, just straight and the front is picked up.

In the Waltz natural turn, don't lose the shape completely on the first step, keep the connection in the hips, don't stick the butt out too much. There are certain steps where the butt sticks out more (like feather step in foxtrot)

Stretch both sides: To the left but ALSO to the RIGHT. The weight must be balanced over the standing leg, not shifted too much to the left. This will lower the right shoulder and create a better connection in the right hand.

Tango: Frame: Stretch from the body (left AND right).

In the fallaway: Lady "doesn't move", stays with the man. Lady is in the inside of the left turn: smaller step and get out of the man's way. Think stretching left too.

Before the right lunge: Man closes the lady before stepping with the left foot. Then transfer the weight to the right foot and ONLY AFTER THAT do the right lunge.

Spanish drag: Man just takes his weight to the left. Then stays to the left while going to promenade.

Foxtrot:

Reverse turn: Lady turns left early, getting out of the man way. Lady is in the inside of the turn, smaller step.

Chasse: Must think of pushing from the standing leg to the SIDE, not up (otherwise it's jumpy).

To move forward, lady uses body weight, not feet. The weight must go towards the man, not around. Don't take the head weight to the left of the man. Stay in position and take the body weight towards the man (as if we don't know what will happen next). Example: Waltz pivots, Viennese Natural turn.

11/03/09 Slavi lesson

Waltz (and other dances)

Chasse on 2nd way, take two steps forward (left [prev step]->right->left strongly forward still, side ways-ish) then stay/project forward as you go backwards.

Don't overturn step before contracheck.

Usage of head...only go where the body stretches. Apply e.g. on natural turn.

Foxtrot

Same principle, but note especially on
* feather finish (body should be over left leg, before too back weighted/stretching leg out), and 3 step, just hip forward, and use the lower body to create the look of the stretch.



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other stuff realized at practice
* viennese fleckrels use weight
* tango rock spin turn entrace rotate left side strongly