Level 2
I wasn’t there at Camberwell last week, but we were still in the Lindy version of the Rueda de Casino. Apparently last week they did a Coca Cola with a Cherry on Top, and I Iearnt what it was, but goodness knows if I can follow it on the social floor.
Dame
Basic tuck turn to the left and pass on to the next person.
Reverse Dame
Basic tuck turn, but lead catches follow in lead’s left arm on 6, sends follow in opposite direction to the right, with palm back, on to the next person.
Dame dos
Tuck turn, send follow to the left, but skip the person next to you and send follow to alternate person. Interesting test of lead’s accuracy with direction and follow’s ability to, well, follow.
Coca Cola
Lead takes follow into a tuck-turn. Blocks follow’s right leg with his left on 4, sends her to the right on 5, causing follow to spin off to lead’s right to the next person.
Coca Cola with a cherry on top
Same as above, but lead catches follow with lead’s right arm on 6 and passes follow to the left to the next person.
Revision: switches
Kick-ball change for the follows. Staying on toes makes it easier.
Tacky Annie moves for the leads.
Amoeba
All holding hands, leads and follows alternating. Follows do first 4 counts forwards, next 4 counts backwards. Leads do first 4 counts backwards, then next 4 counts forwards, therefore the ‘Amoeba’ effect.
Then leads take the follow to their right, and do this move that I CANNOT remember (BLAH!) that sends the follow back to their right.
Repeat amoeba.
Afterthoughts
Was good fun, and the repeated “DAH MAAAY! DAH MAAAAY!” yells cracked me up. Especially when Steph yelled out Dame 3 times in a row followed by a Reverse Dame. That got the flock bamboozled!
Level 3
Texas Tommy variations, and spins for the follows.
Texas Tommy variation 1
Lead switches follow’s hand behind follow’s back on 4 instead of 5, holds follow in that position for the rest till 8, goin in a circle. Keep frame and right arm strong to let follow know they ain’t going nowhere.
Texas Tommy – indian rope
Continuing with the texas tommy variation 1, with follow’s hand still behind back, a bit of a tuck turn, unravel follow until ‘all the bits click together’ in (Jamie’s words), then up and around the follow’s head, ‘polishing the halo’ above the follow, and as many spins as one desires. Helps for leads to keep their eye on the follow’s hand.
Rotating rock step, something else
Damn all this terminology. Rotated rock step in cross-hand, lead ensures that follow is being sent out and around to her right rather than straight back.
Lead creates a dynamic flow, bring follow back to her left (his right) in a curve. Follow continues stepping through until her frame is near breaking point. By this time, this has created so much energy, that when lead brings his hand back to his left to spin the follow, there’s plenty left to all the spins in the world. Almost.
Afterthoughts
There were more and I can’t quite recall then now.
Anyway, I am thrilled that spins were in order this time. Again, great practice in maintaining frame, making sure that the arm doesn’t flex beyond what’s comfortable. And when arm’s above my head, not breaking the barbie arm there, and keeping my hand before my face.
Apparently I appear to be resisting my lead’s hand and spinning, hardening up rather than relaxing and letting the connection remain light and springy. Noted and noted.
By the end of the night, I was doing double and triple spins. And to think that a week ago, I couldn’t even do one.
Plus for the first time, I didn’t come away from a Level 3 class deflated, but with a sense of accomplishment. And was able to approach leads for a dance feeling relaxed, rather than with trepidation.
Man I love dancing.
