About Chicago Salsero
I'm Dan. I'm taking Salsa lessons at LSD (Latin Street Dancing) in Chicago. I'm taking two classes, Taste and Chips. I find that I need to take notes so I can practice. If I don't write down the right way to practice, then I will either fail to practice at all, or (even worse) will practice wrong.These notes are from the perspective of a Lead (sorry Follows!). They also reflect the fact that I'm a bit of an un-co-ordinated klutz, and I need to spell out details that simply come naturally to those who are more gifted musically, or who are more graceful physically.
Confusing Terminology
Music is not in my blood and I have no formal dance training. A lot of the jargon confused me at first, usually because they explain it verbally and I forget (I'm a visual learner - I have to write things down), and sometimes because they just use the terminology and assume everybody understands. These definitions might help you.
Break. They use this term but I don't know what it means. They never explain it (or if they do I just don't listen closely enough!). But thats totally OK. Its not a critical term. I mean, nobody ever says "now here is where you are supposed to break", and expects you to understand what it means.
Tumbao (pronounced doom, BAH-oh). You will learn to hear this particular conga drum beat in the music. A written definition has no value. Once you hear it, you will understand what it means.
Open Position - This just means holding hands (well, finger tips) facing each other, a comfortable distance apart. This is the only position taught in Taste. "Open" is as opposed to hand on partner's shoulder, which is "closed position" and isn't taught until Chips.
Combo means "combination", i.e. a series of dance moves one after the other.
Basic, Half Basic. Some instructors say "basic" and mean all eight counts, meaning forward/back-to-center as well as back/back-to-center. To them four counts is a half basic, either a forward half basic, or a back half basic. Other instructors refer to the full eight counts as "two basics" because they use the word "basic" to mean just four counts. I have no idea which is correct or incorrect, and in fact since Salsa is still young and evolving as a dance form, they are probably both right. Simply get used to your particular instructor's terminology, and if you get a little confused when you do a makeup or fill-in class with a different instructor, don't worry about it. Just keep smiling!
Other Terminology
- Full Turn - 1st Class of Taste
- Two Point Turn (as opposed to three point turn or multiple turn or inside turn) - You lead the Follow into a full turn then the Lead does a full turn.
- Three Point Turn - 2nd Class of Chips. Starts as a Two Point Turn, then lead the Follow into the last turn using the "wrong" hand. See 2/7/07 Post.
- Four Point Turn. Unlike the above, this does NOT start with a full turn. It is one of two Hand Over Heart (H.O.H.) combos. This is H.O.H.- Right (i.e. "shake hands) + 3 more.
- Inside Turn - means you grasp the follow's right hand and lead the follow to turn to her left (inside) 360 degrees. I think this is taught at the end of Taste.
- Hand Over Heart Turn - LEFT. (Chips). After a turn or a swing, H.O.H. turn, come out with LEFT hand, and lead your Follow into an inside turn.
- Multiple Turn - Taught in Chips, Session F. H.O.H.-LEFT as above, but continue with 2 more inside turns.
- Cross Step means _?__
- The Wrap. Week 4 of Taste.
- Rock Step. Taught in Chips, but some instructors think you had it in Taste.
- Chips Session J and Session F. I use "J" to mean the January/March/May (etc.) sequence and F to refer to the February/April/June (etc.) classes.
Chips - Session J - Week 3
This post needs more editing - it is incomplete in many respects.
Table of Contents:A. Introduction to Interrupts
B. SWIC-3 (Sombrero, Wrap, Interrupt Combo - 3 ways to exit)
C. Hug and Toss
A. Introduction to Interrupts(Edits needed here)
B. SWIC-3 (Sombrero, Wrap, Interrupt Combo - 3 ways to exit)Here is an overview of the steps for this combo.
- Basic. Do one, or two if you wish.
- Sombrero. As I unwind it, I need to stir my follow more authoritatively.
- 3 Swing Steps. Back Right. Back Left. Back Right but hold both hands to signal . . .
- . . . Wrap turns. Wrap self then her. Wrap self then her.
- Swing Step Back Right, to prepare for the H.O.H. turn
- H.O.H. - Right (i.e. "shake hands"). But instead of inside turning her, instead you . . .
- . . . . Interrupt. Your RH pulls her across into the start of an inside turn and while her back is to you your RH touches her R shoulder to "interrupt", while you rock step Back Right. Then your RH pushes back (while you swing left).
- Interrupt, a second time. (Edit needed - Do we do something before we proceed to the next step and exit?)
- Exit. There are three ways to exit from this:
- Spin Left. Let go with L Hand, as you go Rock Back R. Next, as your footwork goes Forward L, you push Left (across your chest with your R Hand. Think of a J-twist as if opening a bus door.) (Is this correct? Do I have the footwork wrong?) Then Back to Basic. One which is easiest to learn - is this it?
- Spin Right. Let go with R. Hand, as you go Rock Back R. Next, as your footwork goes Forward L, you hang on with your L Hand, and lift it over her head, and pull her into an inside turn. (Is this correct? Do I have the footwork wrong?)
- Something Else I can't remember. (Need some edits here. Something about two full wrap turns, then back to basic? Not sure.....)
C. Hug and Toss
(Edits needed Here)
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