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 - Class #2 of Session J
Closed PositionI need to practice a little more here.
- Basic, Side Step, Swing Step
- Getting back into closed position after a Full Turn is still a bit rough and needs more practice.
- Tap Step always. Even during the full turn. Even in closed position.
Three Point Turn- Remember, this is 3 full turns. She turns, He turns. then on 3rd turn the Lead goes 3/4 of the way around and with the wrong hand (with the right hand) turns her in her last full turn. Follows hardly notice a difference, but Leads have lots of work to do, if they want to get it right.
- Tap step thru the whole thing.
- I need to practice being a better lead in that last turn. After the 3/4 part, in the next split second, think of it as three pieces for my feet: Hook-Step-Step.
- First the footwork, the main point of which is NOT to break your rhythm and be Mr. Mush Foot: Hook means right foot goes back and "hooks" behind you left to do the last 1/4 turn. Step Step means after you've completed the 1/4 turn, tap the left foot, then the right, in place. You are now poised to do something with your LEFT foot, such as "Forward Left" into the Basic.
- Finish the 3/4 part: Keep your right arm low. Look to the right at your Follow's eyes, or over her head, so you observe how tall she is (and how high your arm will be going in the next half second)
- Hook. As I hook my right foot, simultaneously I should raise my arm, which was low (above). The sequence is: A) Finish-3/4-Arm-Low. B) Hook-Step-Arm-High.
- Step. Do not limply turn her. Use energy to force a little turn above her head. You are in charge so take charge.
- Step. Finish the turn with your arm high before you lower the arm. Do not lower her arm before she finishes her turn.
Sombrero- Going into it, practice holding onto the Follow's hand with my right, so she does not slip out as if doing a full turn. Plus a firmer grip signals to her that its a Sombrero.
- Next, I need to practice keeping my right hand low behind her back.
- Next, think of the rock step as Tap right, Rock left, Tap right:
- Tap right - My Left hand holds hers in the middle.
- Rock left - My Left hand extends to the side and PUSH back (Weak area - practice more!)
- Tap right - Bring my left hand back to middle as you go into the un-wrap turn to get her out of it. By the way, I need to be more authoritative as I pull her out of this turn. Instructor told me this, and when I really spun three Follows and asked if I'd twisted their arm out of the socket they all said no not at all, and the extra bit of leading was much appreciated (and made the dance more fun).
Sombrero Combo #1 - Simpler- Full Turn.
- Basic
- Two Point Turn
- Basic
- Sombrero
- Wrap
- As I swing "Back Right" on fourth wrap, decide whether to go back to basic right away (more difficult for me), or do two swing steps and go back to basic (for me this is easier). Decide, then clearly lead one or the other. Going back to basic right away looks better, but I find it more difficult.
Sombrero Combo #2 - More Fun
- Full Turn.
- Basic
- Two Point Turn
- Basic
- Three Point Turn
- Sombrero
- Exit Sombrero & go into Four Point Turn: A) inside turn your follow, B) "Hand Over Heart, Right Hand "shake hands"): C) Inside turn the Follow D) Inside turn self - hands behind back at pockets then grasp both Follow's hands as you . . .
- . . . .go into The Wrap
- As I swing "Back Right" on fourth wrap, go back to basic right away.
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