Hello dancers!

Welcome to the inaugural Class Note for our New Dancer Salsa class! This will be a short summary of what we’ve been doing for the past three weeks.

We started off doing connection work with our partners, finding both our own and other people’s bodies in space. From there, we began working on a series of one hand up/one hand down moves. These include cuddles, hammerlocks, linking the two together with a spin, and moving them in a circle. Leads for moves will happen when the moving person’s left foot is free. We also started doing some behind-the-back moves (cuddle-tunnel-sliding door).

We spent some time doing cross-body leads: getting a good connection between lead and follow, and then letting follows explore ways of adding flair to their dancing.

We have also started working on cuban motion, getting our bodies accustomed to this new action. We started simply working on standing up straight. From there we worked on the “ski-jumper position” (nose over toes); foot turn-out (10:00 & 2:00, or a triangle); and pressing our toes into the ground (a magnet).

We’ve been ending our class with a “dance circle”, in which we cut loose and show off the new moves we’ve been learning! After that, we have a “reflection circle” in which we share something fun or interesting we’ve picked up that day.

This week, we gained some comfort with taking our bodies into different planes of motion for dips!

We started with a simple lean-dip. This starts from an extremely close cuddle. Next, the lead lunges out to the side, while keeping the torso vertical. The follow fills the only space left (i.e. the lead’s side). This is a place for some leg flair. However, this flair is often dependant on variables such as dance space or clothing. The best way for the follow to look polished–no matter where the foot is–is simply to point the toes!

Dips are starting to get into some more advanced moves. With great power comes great responsibility! Leads: don’t lead these moves unless you ARE SURE that the follow can follow them and FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH IT! Make sure there is enough room on the floor (there is nothing scarier than being dipped and seeing someone’s foot coming directly at your face!) NEVER DROP THE FOLLOW! IT IS A MEMORABLE EVENT!

Follows: if somone leads you through something you don’t feel comfortable with, step out of it, or let go with your hands (safely). You should never be forced into moves you don’t want to do.

We then moved on to some vertical safety dips. The lead and follow stand at right angles to each other. The lead sinks straight down (without leaning forward or to the side), creating space below the follow. The follow stays directly above the follow’s standing leg (the INSIDE leg). The follow points the OUTSIDE leg, creating the illusion of length. In this way, both partners are supporting the majority of their own weight.

We also talked about a few ways to save a dip, should something go horribly, horribly wrong (i.e. the lead creates an arm-circle around the follow and returns to standing, or by using the lead’s knee).

Due to nasty weather, class will be cancelled tonight, 17 February. This is also a reminder that we have no class NEXT WEEK (24 February) because Darrell and I will be competing in Indiana. We will next meet in two weeks, on 2 March. I will let you know then how we will deal with making up the lost time from today.

Stay warm, and stay safe!

In our first class back in two weeks, we spent awhile reviewing Cuban motion…really getting our toes digging into the ground, the feet turned out, and bringing our weight front over our toes. This then lets the hips do all sorts of fun things!

After that, we did some work with side breaks, taking a nice solid step out to the side, and shifting our weight completely as we do it.

We linked that up with some cross-overs. We got into these slowly, breaking them down by turning, and stepping. As we turned, our feet were always together. When we stepped out together with our partner on the inside foot, we shifted our weight fully onto the front foot. We also worked on both leads and follows opening up their bodies, and letting the arms extend out from and complete the line of the collar bone.

Finally, we did some work with “arm swims”, in which the lead brings the “swimming arm” straight up, and NOT in a circle!

Also, the Wisconsin State Competition is coming up April 17-20. Darrell and myself will be competing both the evenings of the 17th and 19th (Thurs and Sat). If you’re interested in coming, let us know ASAP so we can get tickets!

This was our seventh, but not final, class! I will be teaching the final class next Sunday, March 16th, at 7:00.

We spent this Sunday doing a little review from last week. We worked more on cross-overs, making sure we were getting full weight changes. Each cross-over consists of turning and stepping…coupled with some hip settling to help get us through the motion faster!

We covered side breaks a little more, and then worked on some 5th position breaks. Like the cross-over, these consist of turning and stepping, but just stepping in more of a back direction.

We ended with a rowdy dance circle, and planned out our “Graduation Dance”, which will be this coming Friday, March 14th. We will rendezvous at Frida’s on State St. around 10:30 and have some mad crazy salsa dancing to celebrate all the hard work that you guys have done for the past 2 months!