Week 4
11/18

This week, we continued transferring Salsa knowledge into Rumba, using the same Over-rotated reverso-cuddle that we’ve been playing with for the past few weeks. We worked with a hook for how to time things: go somewhere on the slow, and do the “move” on the quick-quick. Go somewhere, do the move. We also were working on stretching out the SLOOOOOW, to make it feel more like taffy, or a cat kneading a little cat bed. Rumba should feel luxurious in your body.

Another concept that is really important for Leads is that you shouldn’t be leading turning things and moving things at the same time. For instance, when you are leading the over-rotation (2 variations: reverso cuddle or reverso hammerlock), don’t try to lead the Follow move AND turn at the same time…you will accomplish naught but knocking each other down. Turn first (which is lead by a simple rotation of Lead’s wrist), THEN move space.

Announcements:
1. USA Dance-Madison dance this Saturday night! Rumba lesson at 7:00, dance at 8:00. I’m DJing!
2. Check our calendar for upcoming classes (which will start in January); they should be posted in the next few days.
3. We have decided to reschedule our Dec. 2 class for Dec. 16. This means we won’t meet for two weeks (Nov. 25/Thanksgiving, and Dec. 2/my dress rehearsal). I’ll see you all on December 9, when I am one year older and one year wiser!

In the meantime, happy Thanksgiving, happy December, and happy dancing!

Our first three classes
10/28, 11/4, 11/11

In the first three weeks of class, we’ve been working on reinforcing some combinations that we started in the Salsa/Rhythm 102 class, specifically the Right Side Pass check, followed by an over-rotated wrap.

A few key points to remember…

1. Right Side Passes (RSP) are lead past the Lead’s right shoulder
2. Cross-Body Leads (CBL) are lead past the Lead’s left shoulder

We also worked on dancing Mambo. It is essentially the same as Salsa, but breaks on 2, instead of 1 (sometimes also called “Salsa on 2”–both are correct names). While 100% of the moves you know in Salsa can be transferred to Mambo, the different break-point in the basic will lead you to emphasize different parts of the music and different parts of your dance.

Some YouTube videos that you may find helpful…
*Salsa timing
*Mambo timing, and instrumentation
*A little timing quiz (On 1)

We also transposed this same movement concept into Rumba. The Rumba basic is a box step (similar to Waltz or Fox Trot), and is danced in a Slow-Quick-Quick timing. Leads generally start moving forward on their left foot, Follows generally start moving back on their right foot. You can use many of the moves you know from Salsa in Rumba.

The two dances are pretty different stylistically. Salsa is a club dance; Rumba is what happens after you leave the club. Rumba is slower, and you want to use that slow to your advantage, and really emphasize the extension and “goo” in each step.

Notes for Follows:
1. Keep soft elbows and wrists, and use gravity to your advantage in the connection.
2. To gather/store energy for future moves, don’t be afraid to “run into” your own arm.
3. Wait for the Lead to give you space before you move there! It is especially tempting to back-lead when you are moving behind the Lead. Don’t panic, the Lead will let you know when there is time and space for you to move back in front again.

Notes for everyone:
1. Stand up straight!
2. Dance from the center of your body, not your extremities. When you are moving or turning, think about which direction your rib cage is moving or turning. Your hands and feet are only extensions (or side-effects) of the motion of your center.
Really great job so far, everyone!