DANce StepsNotes from Dan

Download Dan Calloway’s Class Notes – GUBDT – 20131113

Advanced

Foxtrot Technique

1. Sway originates inside the shoes. The best dancers dance internally, not just externally. Dance inside your suit/ballgown.
2. Techniques to keep the movement appropriately slow and expressive:
   1. When two foot parts are used on a step, the second foot part is part of the next step.
   2. Stay low
   3. Roll through the feet
   4. Keep the supporting knee moving forward as long as possible before changing weight to the next foot.

Jive

1. Toe Heel Swivels                                            QQS QQS QQQ QQQ (7) a8
2. Overturned Fallaway Throwaway                 3a4 3a4
3. Chicken Walks                                                SaSa QaQaQaQ
4. Repeat Throwaway and Chicken Walks        3a4 3a4: SaSa QaQaQaQ
5. Simple Spin                                                     1 2

Jive Technique

1. Get to the Slow a little early and hold for full beat value. Exaggerate timing distinctions wherever possible.
2. Always rotate around a specific area of the body, especially one hip or the other.

Beginner

Waltz Exercise: Dance a measure, then stay up on the toes for a measure.

Quickstep: Review

Tango: Group 3

1. Progressive Link                     QQ
2. Natural Promenade Turn        SQQS
3. Rock Turn                               QQS QQS

Foxtrot

1. Feather Step (SQQ)    Start with Leader’s right foot; has one heel lead and ends outside partner
2. Three Step (SQQ)       Start with Leader’s left foot and has two heel leads

Rumba and Cha Cha: Add Natural Top (three bars), keeping shoulders square to partner throughout.

Jive

1. Whip Throwaway      1 2 3a4; 5 6 7a8
2. Whip                           1,2 3a4; 5 6 7a8

Intermediate

Samba and Jive: Finish Bronze Routine

Foxtrot Technique

1. Pick up the leading side on each figure. Dance through that leading side.
2. Put one hand on top of the trailing hip to drive it down and through the leading hip.
3. Keep shoulder axis level as vertical axis tilts from side to side.
4. The first slow dictates the level to be maintained for the remainder of the dance. Do not pop up. Popping up is incompatible with keeping the supporting knee moving forward.
5. Leaders: Dance Foxtrot with left hand in front of face, thumb on end of nose, to find perfect head alignment.

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