Swinging Out at Soho!

Hi Soho,

What a fantastic week at Soho! Our beginner dancers did an awesome job with their first experience of a full Swing Out, while our Level 2 students looked fantastic with their tandem Charleston! We’ll be carrying the energy on into next week, where beginners will do some Swing Out variations and Level 2 will add in an extra tandem move before mixing the tandem into the other footwork that you know and love.  As usual, our beginner’s lesson is a drop in class – so absolutely no prior experience of swing dancing is required.

See you then!
Chris & Sarah

Next Week (Tues 03 August)

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 and some Swing Out variations.

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’ll add in an extra Tandem Charleston move, before mixing the tandem into the other footwork counts you know.

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 27 July)

Beginners (Level 1)

This week was all about the Swing Out (in London also known as the "Lindy Turn").  The move starts in the open position and uses the eight count footwork we’ve recently been working on.  The follower is brought in during 1-4, both turning 180 degrees in the process, and then is sent back out to the position she started in during 5-8.  Some of the things we talked about were:

• Lead in a straight line on 1 and 2, with the leader stepping slightly off the line
• Create the 180 turn during 3 and 4, leading the turn with the body and catching the follower with the leader’s right hand
• Followers keep your body facing the leader - there’s no need to run away!
• The all important 5 - leaders turn body and step in the direction of the line where you’re sending your follower out to.  This creates the all important momentum down the line.
• Leaders - don’t forget to let go with your right hand at the end of 5!
• Followers - complete your footwork as you’re sent down the line, turning back to face the leaders

During the lesson we also went over the swing out (from closed to open) and the circle - all described in previous diary entries.

Level 2

We carried on with the Tandem Charleston (see last week’s diary note).  This week we added in the exit and the half turn (so that the leader is in front).  Here are the details:

Exit:  Towards the end of the previous tandem basic, leaders place your left hand on the follower’s left shoulder blade. Then use this to push her out on 2 and 3, so that she has turned out by 4.  On 5, instead of the normal tandem footwork, lead into a 6 count pass by.  Followers get it easy as they are on the right foot, so do the normal "rock, step, pump land, pump land" footwork.  Leaders you do your rock step on the wrong foot (i.e. back on the right rather than the normal left), so you need to change your footwork during the 6 count pass by to the following:

Rock, step, pump, land, pump, hold.

That’ll mean you can then do your next rock stop on the correct foot.

Half Turn:  During the 2, 3, 4, leaders sweep your right hand up over the followers head so that you both turn 90 degrees to your left.  Then complete the turn after 4, with the leaders remembering to release the left hand and re-connect with it once the turn is complete.  You should both finish facing the opposite way to how you started, with the leaders now in front.  Remember to both stay close to each other.  You can now do a basic tandem in this position.  When you’re ready, leaders lead exactly the same (i.e. right hand sweeping, but this time over your head) to turn you both back to the “normal” tandem position.

Soho Swings To...

A swingin’ track for practicing the tandem Charleston is our recommendation this week. Check out Streamliner by the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra (available on iTunes on the album Swing Masters: Calling All Jitterbugs).  A great swing orchestral track, with plenty of energy in it, this is at the slower end of your tandem Charleston (156 beats per minute) so good for practicing turning moves (like the Half Turn) if you’re not yet totally confident with them.

View other diary entries for Soho - The O Bar (83 Wardour St Soho W1D 6QE) ...