Thursday, 23 December 2010

Advanced Salsa Newyork Steps

In 35th class we learnt Advanced Salsa Newyork steps:

1: Male partner starts by doing open break and making C loop with his left hand.
2: Open break step 2.
3: Open break step 3. His left hand holding her right hand reaches over top of their head levels.
5: He does a side basic with his right foot, while she starts doing a clockwise (right) 360 degrees turn. He leaves her left hand.
6: He shifts weight to his left foot. She continues doing right turn.
7: He pushes his right foot to get momentum to do a quick 180 degrees counter-clockwise (left) turn. During rotation, his left hand keeps on holding her right hand over his head. She completes her right turn. At end of his turn, he leaves her right hand. Both partners are now facing same direction. She lets her right hand come down and he holds it with his right hand (brought behind his back).

1: Side step 1. Both partners do side steps, with him holding her right hand with his right hand. He starts by doing it with his left foot, while she starts with her right foot.
2: Side step 2.
3: Side step 3.
5: Side step 5.
6: Side step 6.
7: Side step 7.

1: Basic step 1. He goes forward with his left foot, while she goes back with her right foot.
2: Basic step 2.
3: Basic step 3.
5: He brings his left hand in side of his right leg (where she can see it) and she holds it with his left hand. He then gives a pull using his left hand. He goes back with his right foot. She steps ahead with her left foot, such that she starts rotating 1.5 counter-clockwise (left) turns, from his right side (under their right arms).
6: Side step 6 for him. He leaves her left hand after pull and keeps on rotating her with his right hand.
7: Basic step 7 for him. She completes 1.5 left turns and then both partners switch hands, so that his left hand now holds her right hand and vice versa.

Tuesday, 21 December 2010

Salsa Arm Loop or Fish style

In 34th class, we learnt Salsa's Arm loop or Fish steps.

1: Cross body lead (CBL) step 1.
2: CBL step 2.
3: CBL step 3.
5: CBL step 5. In start of this step, male partner starts raising his left hand and gives lead to female partner for performing a left (counter-clockwise) turn.
6: CBL step 6. Instead of putting his left foot turned by 90 degrees, he puts it a bit straight in forward direction. He leaves her left hand and she does a counter-clockwise turn.
7: He bring his right foot ahead. Now he is looking at 90 degrees to her view line.

1: He makes a fish of her hands, by putting her left hand (palm) over right one. He starts doing right turn by putting his left foot ahead.
2: He continues doing right turn, by sliding over his left foot.
3: He completes right turn and starts facing her. His both hands hold the fish made by her.
5: Basic step 5, with holding the fish with both his hands.
6: Basic step 6.
7: Basic step 7.

The arm loop methods start. It has three variants, with arm loop being done in either step 1, 3, or 5. Easier one is arm loop on 5.
1: CBL step 1.
2: CBL step 2. He leaves the fish with his right hand (holding it with his left hand).
3: CBL step 3.
5. CBL step 5. He does a arm loop around his head. He raises her both arms (with fish still in formation) and inserts his head inside the loop. Her arms then come down.
6: CBL step 6. She breaks the fish and her left hand now comes on his right shoulder, whereas he starts holding her right hand with his left hand.
7: CBL step 7.

Tuesday, 14 December 2010

Salsa Hammerlock and Hammerlock with double turn

In 33rd class, we learnt Hammerlock and Hammerlock double turn.

Hammerlock steps:
After doing a complete basic step,
1: Male partner does step 1 of open break. He starts giving leads to female partner, with his left hand for a right turn (clockwise), forming an inverted C. She does her basic step 1.
2: He does step 2 of open break, giving inverted C leads. She does basic step 2.
3: He does step 3 of open break, giving inverted C leads. At end of this position, his left hand (holding her right hand) should raise above their heads. She puts her right foot turned 90 degrees to her right (clockwise), so that it will help her taking a right turn.
5: She starts rotating towards her right (clockwise), with weight on her right foot. She picks up her left foot, crosses over right foot and places it down, turning 180 degrees clockwise. He does a side step with his right foot. Both partners keep on holding their hands.
6: He does step 6 of side step. She completes her right turn, now with weight on her left foot.
7: He does step 7 of side steps. She shifts weight on right foot and brings her left foot forward.

Now both the partners are in Hammerlock position.
From this position there are many ways to come back to normal position.

In first variant, after reaching in hammerlock position, both partners do basic steps 1,2 and 3, and then he leaves her left hand, which she brings back in front from her left side and he holds it again with his right hand.
Following video shows steps for Hammerlock turn and first variant (easiest) to come back to normal position:

Second variant is single left turns. After reaching in hammerlock position, she does a left turn to come back to normal position.

Third variant is double turns, where she performs double left (counter-clockwise) turns and they both end up switching their positions. After reaching in hammerlock position,
1: He does open break. She does basic step 1.
2: He pulls her left hand by his right hand, so that she gets momentum to take double turns towards her left (counter-clockwise). He picks up and puts his right foot a bit ahead and left to its initial position, giving her space to rotate. He also starts raising his left hand (holding her right hand). She also steps forward with her left foot and starts rotating to her left raising her right hand.
3: After pulling her left hand, he leaves it. He continues stepping forward and rotating her. She keeps on rotating counter-clockwise and moving forward. At end of step 3, he should have turned clockwise by 90 degrees.
5: She keeps on rotating. He also completes his 180 degrees turn and reaches at her position.
6: While rotating she can go a bit farther, so he should make sure to cover the distance, while doing steps 5,6, and 7.
7: At end of step 7, both partners end up in normal positions, facing each other. He again holds up her left hand with his right hand.

Following video shows steps for Hammerlock with double turns:

Thursday, 9 December 2010

Rueda

In 32nd class, we learnt Rueda (Casino Salsa).
It’s a type of round dancing of Salsa which is done mostly in a circle. Pairs of dancers form a circle, with dance moves called out by one person, a caller (or 'lĂ­der' or 'cantante' in Spanish). Many moves have hand signs to complement the calls; these are useful in noisy venues, where spoken calls might not be easily heard. Many moves involve the swapping of partners.
The circle will start from 'al Medio', a normal closed hold with all the couples stepping in and out of the circle. Some of the most common moves in Rueda include: Dame, Enchufle, Vacila, and Sombrero.

Para al medio: Watch from 3:18 in video 1.
Para abajo: Watch from 4:15 in video 1.
Dame: Watch from 1:40 in video 1. Watch video 4 also.
Side breaks: Watch from 4:35 in video 1.
Exibela: Watch from 3:43 in video 2.
Exibela doble: Same as Exibela, but done twice. Watch from 0:36 in video 3.

Video 1:

Video 2:

Video 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTC9_80kMfU&feature=BF&list=PL5FCDDAFBF6728714&index=2

Video 4:

Tuesday, 7 December 2010

Cha Cha Walk on 3

In 31st class, we learnt Cha Cha walk on 3.
After doing a simple step:
2: Simple step 2.
3: Male partner lifts and puts his right foot a bit behind.
Cha: With weight on right foot, he lifts his left foot and puts it behind right foot.
Cha: With weight on left foot, he drags his right foot behind.
1: With weight on right foot, he lifts his left foot and puts it behind right foot by around a foot.
Cha: With weight on left foot, he lifts his right foot and puts it behind left foot.
Cha: With weight on right foot, he drags his left foot behind.
2: With weight on left foot, he lifts his right foot and puts it behind left foot by around a foot.
Cha: With weight on right foot, he lifts his left foot and puts it behind right foot.
Cha: With weight on left foot, he drags his right foot behind.
3: With weight on right foot, he lifts his left foot and puts it behind right foot by around a foot. Weight is shifted on left foot and right foot becomes free.

2: Both partners do a walk around turn. He turns towards his left (counter clockwise), while she turns towards her right (clockwise). He lifts his right foot and places it crossing his left foot. His direction changes by 90 degrees.
3: He rotates 180 degrees to his left sliding on both of his feet.
Cha: Simple Cha step.
Cha: Simple Cha step.
1: Simple step 1.

Both partners again do complete simple Cha Cha steps (2-3-Cha-Cha-1). Then he does forward Cha Cha walk.

2: His right foot goes back.
3: He shifts his weight on left foot.
Cha: He lifts his right foot and places it in front of left foot. Weight is shifted on it.
Cha: With weight on right foot, he drags his left foot ahead a bit, such that its heel gets lifted, but base remain touched down.
1: With weight on left foot, he lifts his right foot and puts it in front by around a foot.
Cha: He lifts his left foot and places it in front of right foot. Weight is shifted on it.
Cha: With weight on left foot, he drags his right foot ahead a bit, such that its heel gets lifted, but base remain touched down.
2: With weight on right foot, he lifts his left foot and puts it in front by around a foot.
Cha: He lifts his right foot and places it in front of left foot. Weight is shifted on it.
Cha: With weight on right foot, he drags his left foot ahead a bit, such that its heel gets lifted, but base remain touched down.
3: With weight on left foot, he lifts his right foot and puts it in front by around a foot. Weight is shifted on right foot and left foot becomes free.

2: Both partners do a walk around turn. He turns towards his right (clockwise), while she turns towards her left (counter clockwise). He lifts his left foot and places it crossing his right foot. His direction changes by 90 degrees.
3: He rotates 180 degrees to his right sliding on both of his feet.
Cha: Simple Cha step.
Cha: Simple Cha step.
1: Simple step 1.

Thursday, 2 December 2010

Salsa Hand Switch

In 30th class, we also learnt Salsa Hand Switch steps.
After doing one set of basic steps,
1: Male partner does open break. Female partner does basic step.
2: He does step 2, but he puts his right foot extended ahead towards front left direction. This is an indication to her that he wants her to do a hand switch. He also raises her left hand above her head.
3: He brings his left foot ahead and place it near right foot. He takes his left hand and her right hand behind her back and then catches her right hand with his right hand from other side (kind of making a ring around her).
5: He has to go other side changing his direction, so he can either do this be open break or basic step. In open break, he will put his right foot behind and turning to his right direction (clockwise). If he opts for basic step, then he will put his right foot ahead, turning to his right. She will start rotating 180 degrees to her right (clockwise), with her left hand pointing upwards in an erect position. He does these steps making a C curve and turning right. She turns by crossing him in straight line.
6: He displaces his left foot (either back or ahead based on what he chose in previous step) and continue rotating. She also keeps on rotating clockwise.
7: Both partners now complete 180 degree turns and end up facing each other. While completing this step, he makes an inverted C with his right hand, so that her right hand does not remain twisted.

1: He does open break. She does basic step. Both have their right hands in partner's right hand and left hands free.
2: Both partners shift legs and weights.
3: He rotates 90 degrees to his right (clockwise) on his right foot and places his left foot in side of right foot (around a foot away). Complementing this, she rotates counter-clockwise 90 degrees (to her left) on her left foot and places her right foot in side of left foot (a foot ahead).
5: His left hand comes behind her left shoulder and pushes her forwards, giving her momentum to complete a 270 degrees clockwise underarm turn. He picks up his right foot and crosses his left foot with it, putting it in left of his left foot. He also lifts his right arm and starts rotating her under it. He does these steps making a C curve and turning right. She turns by crossing him in straight line.
6: He picks up his left foot and puts it in left of his right foot, turning bit more towards his right. He keeps on rotating her clockwise.
7: He picks up his right foot and places it near his left foot such that both come in line and he has completed 180 degrees clockwise turn from step 1 direction. She also completes her 270 degrees underarm clockwise turn and both partners bring their right hands down.

1: He does open break. She does basic step.
2: He does open break step 2. She does basic step 2. He pulls her right hand towards himself.
3: He does open break step 3. Both partners come close to each other and form a W with their right arms. Female partners have to make their arm stiff, so that they can receive a nice momentum in next step. For this she should lean on her right hand.
5: Male partner pushes her right hand with his right hand. Both partners leave their right hands and start making a 180 degrees clockwise turn. He does these steps making a C curve and turning right. She turns by crossing him in straight line.
6: He displaces his left foot (either back or ahead based on what he chose in previous step) and continue rotating. She also keeps on rotating clockwise.
7: Both partners now complete 180 degree turns and end up facing each other. At end both partners again hold their partner's hands.

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

Merengue Alternate Wraps Step

In 29th class, we also learnt Merengue's Alternate Wraps Step.
After a basic step,
1: He raises his left arm and she follows by start rotating counter clockwise. Instead of moving sideways, he picks up his left foot and places it at the same place.
2: She completes the turn and both the partners start facing same direction. She ends up in his left.
3: Both the partners should come in same line, if not then they use 3 and 4 steps to do so.
4: Step 4.
1: They both move forward, male partner with left foot and female partner with right foot.
2: Continues moving forward.
3: Continues moving forward.
4: Continues moving forward.
1: He raises his left hand and she starts unwinding / rotating clockwise. He also starts rotating, but to his left by 90 degrees. She rotates at her position.
2: He completes another 90 degrees of turn, thus facing opposite direction to initial direction. She also completes her clockwise turn (a total of 180 + 360 degrees), so that she also face same direction as him and ends up in his right.
3: Basic step 3, but at same place.
4: Basic step 4, but at same place.
1: They both move forward, male partner with left foot and female partner with right foot.
2: Continues moving forward.
3: Continues moving forward.
4: Continues moving forward.
1: He raises his right hand and she starts unwinding / rotating counter clockwise. He also starts rotating, but to his right by 90 degrees. She rotates at her position.
2: He completes another 90 degrees of turn, thus facing opposite direction to previous direction. She also completes her counter clockwise turn (a total of 180 + 360 degrees), so that she also face same direction as him and ends up in his left.
3: Basic step 3, but at same place.
4: Basic step 4, but at same place.
1: They both move forward, male partner with left foot and female partner with right foot.
2: Continues moving forward.
3: Continues moving forward.
4: Continues moving forward.
1: He raises his right hand and she starts unwinding / rotating clockwise. Now he does not rotate. She also moves so that she will end up in his front.
2: He leaves her left hand by his right hand, so that she can complete the turn. She completes her clockwise turn (a total of 180 + 360 degrees), so that they both face each other.
3: Basic step 3, but at same place.
4: Basic step 4, but at same place.

Following video shows Pretzel move, which is quite different to alternate wraps, but first step is similar: