Chicago Salsero

My Notes To Myself - So I Can Practice

About Me

Chicago, IL
* Married. * Two daughters. * Uncoordinated but determined Salsa dancer. * Marathon runner.

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.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Chips - Session F, Class 3 - The Tornado

Practice Tips for the Tornado

To get into the Tornado, you need to be in open position, with your hands crossed in the middle. Lead's right on top. There are tons of ways to get into that position. Three are listed below.

Getting Into Position

Method 1 - Three Point Turn.
  1. Do a three point turn. (Full Turn; He Turns 3/4; then "She Turns" is "cross led" with R. Hand)
  2. Lead "Shows the hand" with left hand underneath, but does not let go with his R Hand.
  3. Now you are in open position, with your hands crossed in the middle, right wrists above the left.

Method 2. Two Full Turns - Second Cross Led.
  1. Full Turn. As usual, at the end of the turn, her R Hand is in your L Hand, as normal.
  2. You "steal the hand" while you are momentarily "back to center", taking her R Hand with your R Hand.
  3. Then with your R Hand, you do the setup, and the lead, into a second Full Turn.
  4. "Show" your L Hand below the right. Observe that your hands crossed in the middle, right wrists above the left.
  5. While she is doing these two full turns, Lead's footwork is just The Basic.

Method #3. Fancy. I think this is what we learned in class.
  1. Do some swing steps then go into a H.O.H. coming out with your LEFT. At this point you would normally go "Forward Left" then inside turn her, but don't! Instead . ..
  2. Go "Forward Left" then Setup / Full Turn her, leading with the left hand as normal
  3. Then do steps 3, 4 and 5 under Method 2 above.

No matter what method you use, you're now all set up to do the Tornado
because you are in open position, with your hands crossed in the
middle, right wrists above the left.

The Tornado

  1. Do a half basic as you lead in to a full turn. You are doing the setup with TWO HANDS.
  2. Lead the Full Turn with TWO HANDS.
  3. Your R Hand will need to lbring her hand to you, and drape you. It can either "drape" behind your hair, or if you are tall bring your R Hand to your R Shoulder and she gracefully "drapes" there.
  4. Closed Position. Do a couple of basics while you re-adjust and get into closed position properly.
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