Technique Points

We initially concentrated on the well established group of basics - Basics, Shoulder to Shoulder and New Yorks, and looked at ways to make it better.

From Basics on:-

We kept pressure on the inside edges of the balls of the feet, and made sure that the last thing to leave the floor when moving was the inside edge of the ball, which was also the first thing to go down as well.

The moving leg bends as the weight leaves it, and straightens as the weight goes onto it.

When taking a step forward and backward, turn the toes outwards.  Block the back knee as it bends with the front knee.

Make sure that as the weight goes onto each foot that the heel lowers, and the hip swings across and beyond it.

Try and keep the upper ribcage still

From shoulder to shoulder onwards - turn the head with the body turn

From the New York onwards, flow the arms out, try to make the movement gradual and fluent - avoid sharp movements

The arms should be curved, and don't forget the fingers being extended as well

We also looked at changing the spot turns into switch turns.  The spot turn is a full turn gradual over each step.  The switch turn is a build up of 1/4 turn, then a half turn on the first step, no turn on the second step then the final 1/4 turn in between the end of the second and the beginning of the third steps.

New Choreography

We looked at the following combination of steps:-

Follow the leader - this was for the man 4 spot or switch turns, the first going clockwise.  For the lady she dances a back, replace, cha cha cha forwards, then two spot or switch turns (clockwise then anti-clockwise) followed by a forward, replace cha cha cha.

On the final cha cha cha, the man takes hold with a left - right hand hold and both dance two further cha cha chas in the same direction.

We have two basics with either a single or double hand hold - the man's first basic starts on the left foot, the lady's first basic starts back on the right foot.

The man dances a further basic, the lady dances a basic but on the cha cha cha she turns 1/2 a turn anti-clockwise.  At this point the lady holds both arms out, the man holds her under the arms (remembering we are by now both facing the same way).

The man steps back on the right foot, the lady steps back on the left foot, the lady bending into the knee and flicking the the right foot up and forwards.  Remember the man might get stepped on here - he needs to offset himself to be safe.

The drop happens on beat '2', lady comes up on beat '3' and turns clockwise.  The cha cha cha is then an opportunity for both to take hold and recommence dancing (eg back to basic)

The above notes are not verbatim copies of the approved technique of the teaching societies, but are intended to be easily digestible aide memoires from the course you attended.

(c) 2010 Ballroom Experience Co