Beginners 8 Count and Level 2 Tandem

Hi Soho,

Another week of fantastic dancing at Soho! We enjoyed refreshing some Charleston moves with our Level 2 dancers - though we’re looking forward to increasing the speed a bit next week!  Well done to those of you who attended the Beginners class, it was great to see you do so well with your first experience of 8 count footwork.  We’ll be doing some more 8 count next week but as usual we’ll start by going over the footwork again - as always the class is a drop-in class, so no prior experience of swing dance is required.

See you then,
Chris & Sarah (and Peta)

Next Week (Tues 20 July)

Beginners (Level 1), 7:00 to 8:00pm:  If you have no experience of swing dancing, then Level 1 is where you’ll be introduced to swing dancing and learn some fun moves!  We’ll be working on 8 count Lindy Hop, doing the Swing Out (from closed), the Circle and some other moves.

Level 2, 8:15 to 9:15pm:  For students who have done the Charleston, 8 Count and 6 Count footwork from the Level 1 class.  This week we’re going to work on getting you more comfortable with the Charleston footwork, then introduce you all to the Tandem Charleston!

Social time, 9:15pm onwards:  have a practice to some great swing music, ask any questions, grab a drink - or do all of the above! The choice is yours.

Last Week (Tues 13 July)

Beginners (Level 1)

We started with the 8 count footwork.  With the leader starting with their weight on their right foot, followers on their left, we went:

Step, step, tri-ple-step, step, step, tri-ple-step
(Or for those of you who count: 1, 2, 3-and-4, 5, 6, 7-and-8)

Which for the leaders works out as:
Left, Right, Left-Right-Left, Right, Left, Right-Left-Right

And followers:
Right, Left, Right-Left-Right, Left, Right, Left-Right-Left

We then did a few moves using this footwork...

Tuck Turn: Starting in our closed position (with the leader and follower in a slight ‘V’ shape), the leader rock, steps the follower out to the leader’s right and brings them in-front (and facing) on 3-and-4, extending their left (follower’s right) arm.  Then on 5, 6 they raise their left arm and turn the follower under with a comfortable push with the right arm. Finish the move facing each other with the 7-and-8 triple step.

Promenot (Followers in Front): Rock, step the follower and bring her in-front (facing the leader) during the 3-and-4.  Then the leader steps forward on 5 (follower back), back on 6 (follower forward), then during the 7-and-8 triple step return the follower to the leader’s side. I.e. you end up back where you started!

Promenot (Leaders in Front): Same concept as the above, but this time the leader comes in front (and facing) the follower during the 3-and-4 triple step. Leader steps back on 5 (follower forward), forward on 6 (follower back), and then the leader returns to the follower’s side during the 7-and-8 triple step.  Again, finishing where you started!

Phew, that was a lot! You guys really did a great job!!

Level 2

We worked on our Charleston, refreshing moves and adding in the Kick Around and Kick and Slide variation for the Hand to Hand Charleston.  The moves we did were:

Charleston Basic in Side by Side:  you know what this is by now!

Corridor:  The move where you turn around after the 5 of the side by side basic to face the back, then keep turning (i.e. to the front, the back, the front, the back etc) using the footwork "kick and kick land".  Leaders use right hand on follower’s hip as you come to face the front to then create the turn to face back.  When you’re ready to exit, leaders pick up follower’s back instead of the hip as you turn to the front, then lead into the basic (i.e. straight back rather than turning).

Hand to Hand entry/exit:  We did the one from the Corridor, i.e. leaders kick three times and don’t turn while they turn the follower.  Then carry on and you’re in hand to hand!  The exit uses the same idea - i.e. kick three times and turn the follower but don’t turn yourself leads, and you’ll end up back in the Corridor.

Kick Around: Starts with you both kicking on your left foot, you do one and a half turns to your left and come back to the hand to hand position.  The footwork for both as you turn is: "kick and kick land, kick land, kick, land".

Kick and Slide Variation:  Does exactly what it says on the tin! Rather than "kick and kick land", change your hand-to-hand footwork to "kick and slide" with the slide taking two beats.  Leaders - don’t forget that the lead for this has a down feeling as you go into the slide.

 

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