BAM Spring Class 7
Download Dan Calloway’s Class Notes -BAM-20140331
Pre-Bam Jam Class
Review Natural Spin Turn in W and Q
Rumba/Cha Cha
Begin in Open Position with Right Foot (Follower’s LF) pointed to side.
Chasse to Right (Follower’s Left) 4&1
- 3 New Yorks
- Alemana
- 3 Hand to Hands
- Solo Spot Turn
- ½ Basic to Alemana
- Closed Hip Twist
- Hockey Stick
- 3 Cha Cha Cha’s (in Cha Cha only)
- Basic Movement
Re-start with 3 New Yorks.
Silver Standard Technique
- The “highest head” always wins, but it shouldn’t be that way. Therefore, always have the highest head and also, fill the body and figures with musicality and dancing.
- Specifically, react to your partner at all times. The three positions have the partner at three different degrees of offset. The more offset the more rotation of the body to face him/her.
- Every step in dancing moves laterally to your right or left. Moving to your right, let your partner go. Do not go with him/her too willingly. Moving left, leave your partner.
Example choreography (Quickstep): NST, Overt. V6, Quick Open Rev, 4 Quick Run
- Followers: Most men can rise far more than their partner due to her heel height and shorter inseam. Therefore, she should never try to go where he does vertically. Find your own ideal rise and fall range and relate it to your partner’s rise, without trying to match his rise. Be a pedestal for him on moving figures as he is for you on line figures.
- Use your left thumb under your chin as an exercise to keep it level.
- Do not hinge backward with the torso. Keep the back long and the ribcage closed.
Samba Technique
- The character of this dance is farther removed from most people’s personality than any other dance. Which of you is frivolous, sexy, rhythmic, macho, playful and uninhibited? Develop these qualities to the extent that is realistic and desirable for you for this dance.
- Men: Present the chest and maintain a macho charisma, particularly if you score yourself low on the 1-10 macho scale.
- This is rhythm dancing: Tic everything, including the Reverse Turn and Latin Crosses.
- Latin Crosses should be crossed with enough space between the feet to be able to keep five toes on the floor on the back foot.