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, March 15, 2007

Chips - Session J, Week 3

Hug And Toss "El Fernando"

Each instructor has the freedom and flexibility to use his or her own style in teaching the various combos. This is the style of the Hug and Toss, as taught by Fernando.

    1. Sombrero. Make sure that I:
      • step to the left as I lead it to give her room,
      • do the tap step throughout,
      • actually do the rock part of the rock step,
      • push with the left hand during the rock step to signal the turn which will unwind the Sombrero, and
      • do NOT angle my body to face my follow during the rock step (continue to face straight forward)
    2. First Hug. As I exit the Sombrero, I do something (I can't remember what - edit required here) to indicate she will keep turning left (inside), and I bring her into the first "hug" of the hug and toss.
    3. When I am fully in the hug position, Rock Back R and keep facing forward; my Follow should be parallel to me facing 180 degrees the other way.
    4. Exit (unwind) the first hug: push with left hand to signal unwind is coming, as I Rock Back L (resist the temptation to Swing L, it should be a Rock Back L at this point). As she finishes her unwind, it is a Rock Back Right (Edit needed: is this correct? Back right?).
    5. Second Hug. Keep the tension in my hand, and keep your L Hand high, as you lead her into the second hug. Exit the second hug as before, with a push on Left H to signal the exit the second hug (unwind it). Footwork during the exit is (as above) Rock Back L.
    6. Inside Turn. Your footwork is Swing back R as you initiate the inside turn, and you complete the inside turn with Swing Back L. (Edit needed? Double check this footwork and number 7 below)
    7. One Swing Back Right
    8. Back to Basic: Forward L

    Interrupt Combo "Low" El Fernando

    As taught by Fernando.

    1. H.O.H. Right (shake hands position)
    2. Interrupt 1.
      • Keep R. hand low so she knows its not going to be a complete inside turn. The follow's initial footwork is the same whether an inside turn or an interrupt, so I don't need to signal this at an earlier time. Simply keeping the R hand low at the time of the "shake hands" will suffice.
      • No thumbs. Keep R. Hand as fingers only, (otherwise I'll twist her arm off at the elbow. Ouch!)
      • J motion, like opening bus door. I need to make an effort to be smoother, and find a balance between yanking her hand down in the J and limply-wimply letting my hand mush thru the motion.
      • "Show the Hand" with your left hand. She takes my L hand.
      • Footwork is Swing Back R as I interrupt the turn, then Swing Back L after I interrupt the turn
      • As I swing Back L, I continue to hold both of Follow's L and R hands, signalling the interrupt will not be exited at this time (will be repeated).
    3. Interrupt 2. Same as above, but you start holding the left hand, and in the middle of it, you drop (toss?) the left hand to signal that the interrupt will end soon, with an exit strategy to be led by my right hand.
    4. Exit Strategy: Inside Turn, Right hand led, followed as usual by lead's inside turn (sw hands behind the back at pocket level) and then a left hand led inside turn of the follow.
    Hug and Toss - El Steve-o
    Dan: add more notes here after tonight's lesson!


    Interrupt Combo "Low" El Steve-o

    As taught by Steve at tonight's lesson.


    Cross Reference
    I am taking Chips Session J for the second time. My January 19 post contains my notes from the first time I took it. Looks like I was pretty confused!
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