Week 7: starting August 28 We reviewed all moves of Level 1 and 2, with particular emphasis on the Giro to the Right from Parallel Cross. Other moves reviewed were:
Week 6: starting August 21 We worked on and refined the Giro to the right from Parallel Cross. Key points:
Week 5: starting August 14 We continued to refine the Medialuna, improvising it's entry from Backward Ochos. We introduced the Giro to the right from Parallel Cross - to be focused on in next lessons. Q:What's the difference between a Medialuna and a Giro? A: Medialuna: 3 steps circular in one direction. Giro: more than 3 steps circular in one direction - usually 5. The Giro from Parallel Cross is 5 steps: Forward - Side - Back - Side - Forward. Leader's steps need to be smaller than followers as he is the centre of the circle. In Bondi Sophia demonstrated a drill for dissociation: Home Play: Leaders and followers: Practice the dissociation drill. Leaders: View the videos and memorise your moves and that of the followers. Practice the move with a partner or solo (visualising your partner's moves as well as yours) Followers: Practice doing Giros to both sides solo around a chair. Imagine the chair is the leader and keep your chest facing the chair as you turn (disassociation). Step to your right (clockwise) : Forward - Side - Back - Side - Forward then reverse direction with a forward step to your left (anti-clockwise) followed by Side - Back - Side - Forward then reverse direction with a forward step to your right... and continue this pattern. View the video not to memorise the moves but to note how the leader's and follower's torsos stay connected in the turn. Notice how the steps are circular (particularly the back step). For reading: How to practice without a partner - for leadersHow to practice without a partner - for followers Week 4: starting August 7 We continued to refine the Medialuna, and then improvise it's entry from Backward Ochos: whenever the follower is pivoting on the leader's left side he can lead the entry to the Medialuna. To make this work the leader needs to know the follower's moves - which are: Step 1: Right leg - Back circular step (cross step) to leader's right Step 2: Left leg - Side step (aka Open step) to leader's right Step 3: Right leg - Forward circular step (cross step) to leader's right Step 4: Left leg - Forward circular step (cross step) to leader's left. Followers: Instead of memorising the steps for this move (as that doesn't help you to become a better follower) focus on following the leader's torso / frame lead and adhering to the circular ('Giro') code of walking - which is every second step is a Side (Open) step and every alternate step is a forward or back step. If you enter the side step with a forward step you'll exit the side step with a back step and vice versa. Forward and back steps in satellite moves like Giros and Medialunas are always cross steps (not to be confused with the figure of the Parallel Cross). A cross step is defined as a step whereby you can't open your legs without turning your back to your partner. Week 3: starting July 31 We reviewed moves from Week 2 and introduced the concept of circular walking. New move introduced was the Medialuna from Back Ocho (with optional Parada): Week 2: starting July 24 We added the Forward Ocho to the Parallel Cross - they fit together well ('poetry of moves') Week 1: starting July 17 We continued refining the Sandwich with third Parada (from Level 1 term). We introduced the Parallel Cross: Leader's steps for the Parallel Cross: Step 1 Left Leg
Step 2 Right Leg
Step 3 Left Leg
Step 4 Right Leg
I have deliberately not included the follower's steps as followers need to avoid memorisation to become good followers! To become a good leader a leader needs to know both his steps and that of the follower. Here's a video of the improvised display Ian and I did at the end of class: © SoTango Sydney - for exclusive use of SoTango students |
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