Couples Latin Dance - 6 Weeks of Salsa - Term 4 2021

Class Details

• Wednesdays 7:45pm to 8:45pm
• From 13 October to 17 November 2021
• Kenmore State School Hall
• We are learning Salsa on 1 (Street Latin Salsa)
• For more info about Salsa, click here to go to my Salsa webpage

PRACTISE, PRACTISE, PRACTISE!

I invite you to practise as much as you can together. Even five minutes can make a difference to building your muscle memory and getting you feeling confident and comfortable with the steps.

• If you watch TV, have a quick dance during the commercial breaks.
• Add a quick dance to your morning routine. Have a short practice whilst you're waiting for the kettle to boil or anchor it to another habit you're already doing such as brushing your teeth.
• Or even adding it to your evening routine. It could be a good way to have some non-screen time with your partner before bedtime!​

Salsa Playlist

Choreography #1

• Forward & Back – in two handed hold
• Left Turn Follower – going from two handed hold into closed frame
  • Leader moves both hands across to Leader’s Left then back to his Right to lead the follower into Left Turn
  • Release right hand mid-turn and keep left hand with follower’s right
  • Recapture follower as she’s finishing her turn with right hand on her back
  • Follower does arm lift flourish above her shoulder in the air after leader recaptures her
• Cross Body Lead in closed dance frame, moving into two-handed hold (right hand from follower’s back to her hand)
• Leader’s Right Turn Change Hands Behind the Back on 1-2-3
  • Leader does Forward Left, Replace Right, Together Left (1-2-3)
  • Leader has Left Hand (with Follower’s Right) and changes to Right Hand (with Follower’s Right)
  • Follower does Half Basic with Left Hand on her Waist
• Follower’s Right Turn on 5-6-7
  • Leader leads Follower into Right Turn with his Right Hand (Right-Right Hand Hold)
• Leader’s Right Turn 1-2-3
  • Leader puts Follower’s Right Hand on his Chest/Waist/Tummy as he turns then goes into Two Handed Hold
  • Follower does Half Basic and keeps her hand on Leader’s Body
• Half Basic 5-6-7 in Two Handed Hold
• Follower’s Right Turn with Man’s Head Loop (Half Basic then Turn)
  • Leader Turns Follower with his Left Hand and Loops Himself and Release Left Hand
  • Follower’s Right Hand Drops into Leader’s Right Hand and Leader Catches Left Hand Underneath (so R-R on top and L-L below)
• Forward & Back Basic with Head Loops
  • Leader Head Loops Lady with Right Hand on “3”
  • Leader Loops Himself with Left Hand on “5”
  • Goes into Closed Frame
• Half Basic & Body Wave
  • Half Basic
  • Body Wave 5-6-7 in Closed Frame

Lesson 1 - Wednesday 13 October 2021

• Started Choreography #1
• Learned Forward & Back Step in Two Handed Hold
• Learned ​Left Turn of Follower in Two Handed Hold​

Lesson 2 - Wednesday 20 October 2021

• Revised Lesson 1:
  • Forward & Back
  • Left Turn of Follower
• Added Left Turn of Follower into Closed Frame with Follower's Arm Flourish
• Learned Cross Body Lead

Lesson 3 - Wednesday 27 October 2021

• Revised sequence to date:
  • Forward & Back in Two Handed Hold
  • Left Turn of Follower with Follower's Arm Flourish into Closed Frame
  • Cross Body Lead in Closed Frame moving into Two Handed Hold
• Learned Right Turn Combination:
  • Leader's Right Turn with Change Hands Behind the Back and change to Right-Right hand hold (1-2-3-4)
  • Follower's Right Turn using Leader's Right Hand (5-6-7-8)
  • Leader's Right Turn with Hand on Belly - making sure Leader's Left Arm is ABOVE his Right Hand (1-2-3-4)
  • Half Basic in Two Handed Hold (5-6-7-8)

**** VIDEOS ****

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Choreography #1

Step 1. Forward & Back Basic Step

This video includes three basic steps in Salsa - (a) Forward and Back, (b) Side Step and (c) Open Out (called Half Swing or Cumbia in this video)

​The video below explains the Forward & Back Basic Step in greater detail.

Step 2. Left Turn of Follower

Step 3. Cross Body Lead

Below are two videos for the Cross Body Lead.

Step 4. Right Turns of Leader and Follower

​This video shows the Leader Turn with Change Hands Behind the Back.

This video shows the Right Turn for Both Leader and Follower.

This video provides a detailed explanation for the Right Turn.