DANce StepsNotes from Dan

Cha Cha

Lock Step Checklist

1. Only the second step of a lock crosses. The first and third steps are uncrossed walk actions.
2. Footwork

Forward Lock: Ball-Flat, Ball, Ball-Flat; Backward Lock: Ball, Ball-Flat, Ball-Flat

1. The Latin/Cuban Cross is the same for every cross action in Latin: The legs should be closed from the tops of the thighs upward, back foot turned out almost ninety degrees.
2. Ball of foot steps are danced with a hard ankle, not a spongy or weak ankle. Keep the heel high off the floor.
3. Angle the body strongly: Twist the hips, ribs, back and chest on each lock, up to the armpits. Minimize the shoulder turn.
4. Straighten the leg before the foot arrives into its new position on each step.

Connections should be stable and still to enable maximum stability and mobility in the body.

Keep the free hand out to the side on an imaginary ballet barre for increased stability and leverage.

Foxtrot

Three basic bronze American Style figures were danced to ingrain technical principles: the Quarter Turns, in line and outside partner (SSQQ SSQQ), and the Promenade Basic (SSQQ). The principles:

1. Brush one thigh, knee, calf, ankle and foot against the other as they pass. If your partner’s leg is in the way, brush it instead.
2. Going forward into turns, step bigger; Going backward into turns step smaller.
3. To be more musical, avoid counting with slows and quicks. Instead count “a1a2a3a4” or “Boom-chick, boom-chick.”
4. Roll through the feet to use all of the music.
5. Exaggerate the lateral hip swing on the quicks, but do not alter the level shoulder line.

The Promenade Basic Principles

1. Dance across your partner’s path: Man moves DW, Lady moves DC, to maintain the pressure between the bodies.
2. Roll open to PP and to close the bodies back to each other from PP.

Outside Partner Quarter Turns

1. Slide to and from Outside Partner position.
2. The lady’s head stays to the left when walking forward outside partner on the left side.

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