Private Latin Dance Lessons - Jenifer & Craig @ Pullenvale

Lesson 1 Bachata - Saturday 14 August 2021


LESSON PLAN:
​
  • ​Basic Step in Closed Dance Frame
  • Turning Basic Step in Closed Dance Frame
  • Changing from Closed Frame to Open Frame (Two Handed Hold) - either palm to palm or fence post hold
  • Flick Turn​

SEQUENCE:
  • Basic Step (Closed Position to Two Handed Position)
  • Flick Turn
    • Turn on 1-2-3-4
    • Half Basic on 5-6-7-8

​See below for various Bachata videos. For more videos, go to my Bachata webpage here.

Bachata Music

Lesson 2 Bachata - Saturday 21 August 2021


LESSON PLAN:
​
  • Revised last week's lesson - Basic Step and Flick Turn
  • NEW MOVES:
    • Learned Single Arm Turn of Follower to Follower's Right
      • ​Leader lifts his Left Arm Up on "8" of Basic Step
      • Refer to "Basic Follower Turns" video below for the version starting around 0:50
    • Learned Turn of Leader to the Left with Change of Hands Behind the Back
      • ​Refer to "Basic Leader Turns" video below for the version starting about 0:50

Lesson 3 Bachata - Sunday 5 September 2021


LESSON PLAN:

  • Revised steps to date:
    • Basic Step
    • Flick Turn
    • Turn of Follower (Single Arm with Leader's Left Arm & Follower's Right)
    • Turn of Leader (Change Hands Behind the Back)
  • NEW MOVES!
    • Learned Cradle/Cuddle/Wrap In and Out.
      • Refer to the "Cuddle/Cradle/Wrap" video and notes below.

SONGS RECOMMENDED:

Here are the two main songs we used in our lesson that were faster and had a good beat. Both songs are in the Bachata playlist above.
​

Lesson 4 Bachata - Saturday 18 September 2021

LESSON PLAN:
  • Revised previous moves - Basic Step, Turning Basic, Flick Turn, Leader Turn Change Hands Behind Back (anti clockwise), Single Arm Turn of Follower (clockwise), Cradle/Cuddle (clockwise in and anti-clockwise out)
  • MOVE VARIATIONS:
    • Learned the moves on the OPPOSITE side - all of the moves start with Half Basic then we start these moves on "5". Refer to additional notes with each video below for each version:
      • Flick Turn - to Leader's Right and Follower's Left
      • Leader Turn (Change Hands Behind the Back) - to Leader's Right
      • Single Arm Turn of Follower - to Follower's Left
      • Cradle/Cuddle

Lesson 5 Bachata - Monday 11 October 2021

LESSON PLAN:
  • NEW MOVES:
    • Learned Cuddle/Cradle with Walk and Kick/Pony/Knee/Tap on BOTH sides

Lesson 6 Bachata - Saturday 6 November 2021

LESSON PLAN:
  • ​Revised Cradle/Cuddle - both sides
  • Revised Cradle/Cuddle with Walk and Kick/Pony/Knee/Tap - both sides
  • NEW MOVES!
    • Learned Cross Hand Matador
      • ​We started with changing to crossed-hand position from Basic Step (two hand hold). 
      • Then we combined the Leader Turn (to Leader's Left) with Change Hands Behind the Back - where Leader ends up with Right-Right hand hold then captures Left hand underneath to get into Cross Hand Hold.
  • ​​You can access the Bachata Spotify list at the top of this page - or click here for the direct link to Spotify. I've set up the playlist from slower songs to faster songs. 
  • The song that Brian enjoyed having a boogie to is "Te Amo Tanto (Bachata Version)" by Grupo Extra, which is in the Bachata playlist or click here for the direct link.

Lesson 7 Bachata - Monday 22 November 2021

LESSON PLAN:
  • NEW MOVES!
    • Learned Inside Turn & Neck Loop - refer videos and notes below
    • Learned Caminito Hip Twist - refer video and notes below​

Lesson 8 Bachata - Monday 10 January 2022

LESSON PLAN:
  • Reviewed Cradle/Cuddle Regular and with Walk/Kick - working on entry and exit of Craddle/Cuddle
  • Reviewed Caminito Hip Twist
  • Learned Caminito Hip Twist with 4 x Lady Crosses
  • Learned Half Basic & Slide
  • Learned Double Slide

***** VIDEOS *****

Bachata Basic Step (Side to Side Step)

Practising the Basic Turns Without Your Partner

Flick Turn

  • Referred to as Rollaways in this video. This video does the Flick Turn back to back.
  • FLICK TURN Version 1 (on 1-2-3-4):
    • Start with Full Basic with Leader's Right Arm out to Side on "8"
    • Flick Turn on "1-2-3-4" (to Leader's Left and to Follower's Right), then Half Basic on "5-6-7-8"
  • FLICK TURN Version 2 (on 5-6-7-8):
    • ​Start with Half Basic on "1-2-3-4" with Leader's Left Arm to Side on "4" (as the lead for the Flick Turn)
    • Then Leader turns clockwise (to his Right) and Follower turns anti-clockwise (to her Left) on "5-6-7-8"

Basic Follower Turns

  • SINGLE ARM TURN OF FOLLOWER Version 1:
    • Start with Full Basic and Leader's Left Arm Up on "8"
    • Turn Follower Anti-Clockwise with Leader's Left Arm to Leader's Left and Follower's Right on 1-2-3-4
    • Then Half Basic on 5-6-7-8
    • This version is the FOURTH version in the sequence shown in the video below: from 0:50 in side view and from 2:45 in back view.
  • SINGLE ARM TURN OF FOLLOWER Version 2:
    • Start with Half Basic on 1-2-3-4 with Leader's Right Arm Up on "4"
    • Turn Follower Clockwise with Leader's Right Arm to Leader's Right and Follower's Left on 5-6-7-8
    • This version is the THIRD version in the sequence shown in the video below: from 0:37 in side view and from 2:30 in back view

Basic Leader Turns

  • LEADER TURN Version 1
    • Start with Full Basic then Leader does Change Hands Behind the Back Turn on 1-2-3-4 (Leader turns Anti Clockwise to his Left) finishing with Half Basic on 5-6-7-8
    • Refer to FOURTH VERSION in video below - (a) side view from 0:50 and (b) back view from 1:50
  • LEADER TURN Version 2
    • Start with Half Basic on 1-2-3-4, then Leader does Change Hands Behind the Back on 5-6-7-8 (Leader turns Clockwise to his Right)
    • Refer to THIRD VERSION in video below - (a) side view from 0:37 and (b) back view from 1:36

Cuddle/Cradle/Wrap

  • CUDDLE/CRADLE Version 1:
    • Start with Full Basic in Two-Handed Hold and Leader lifts his Right Arm Up on "8"
    • Turn Follower Clockwise into Cuddle/Cradle/Wrap position on 1-2-3-4
    • Then Turn Follower Out of Cuddle Anti-Clockwise on 5-6-7-8
    • Refer to the FIRST MOVE shown in the video - (a) side view from 0:10 and (b) back view from 1:09
  • ​CUDDLE/CRADLE Version 2:
    • Start with Half Basic in Two-Handed Hold and Leader lifts Left Arm Up on "4"
    • Turn Follower Anti-Clockwise into Cuddle/Cradle/Wrap position on 5-6-7-8
    • Then Turn Follower Out of Cuddle Clockwise on 1-2-3-4
    • Finish with Half Basic on 5-6-7-8
    • Refer to SECOND MOVE shown in the video - (a) side view from 0:17 and (b) back view from 1:15

Cuddle/Cradle with Walk and Kick/Pony/Tap

Here are three videos for you. The first two videos are quite sterile and none of the three do not show exactly what I taught you.
  • The first video calls the move Cradle Promenade. They don't extend the arm straight to lead into the walk (ie the "promenade"). They also just to do a small tap/hip movement at the end of the walk.
  • The second video calls the move Bachata Cuddle. They also don't extend the arm straight to lead into the walk. They do a bit of the pony "flick" at the end of the walk.
  • The third video shows the "prancing pony" at the end of the walk (IGNORE the other moves as this will confuse you). Refer to the video between 1:00 and 1:10.

​VIDEO 1: CUDDLE/CRADLE WITH WALK
  • The first video calls the move Cradle Promenade. They don't extend the arm straight to lead into the walk (ie the "promenade"). They also just to do a small tap/hip movement at the end of the walk.

​VIDEO 2: CRADLE/CUDDLE WITH WALK & KICK/DECORATION
  • The second video calls the move Bachata Cuddle. They also don't extend the arm straight to lead into the walk. They do a bit of the pony "flick" at the end of the walk.

​VIDEO 3: CRADLE/CUDDLE WITH WALK AND KICK/DECORATION
  • The third video shows the "prancing pony" at the end of the walk (IGNORE the other moves as this will confuse you). Refer to the video between 1:00 and 1:10.

Crossed Hand Matador

  • Start with Cross Hand Hold with Right Hands on Top
  • Full Basic in Cross Hand Hold 1-2-3-tap, 5-6-7-tap
  • Turn Follower to Lady’s Right, Leader’s Left and end up with Leader’s Left hand behind Follower’s Back (with her Left hand) and Right-Right hands between couple (keep forearms parallel to each other in the end position) 1-2-3-tap
  • Loop Right-Right over Follower’s Head 5-6-7-tap
  • Free turn of follower 1-2-3-tap – Leader releases Left hand and uses Right hand on Follower’s shoulder to lead the free turn of follower as Leader does Basic or Cross Behind
  • ½ Basic in Closed (or Open) Frame 5-6-7-tap

Inside Turn & Neck Loop

  • ½ Basic Closed Frame 1-2-3-4/tap
  • ½ Basic to Open Frame 5-6-7-8/tap with Leader's Right Arm Up on "8" 
  • Turn Follower to Leader’s Left using Leader’s Right Hand 1-2-3-4/tap
  • Leader Neck Loops himself using his Leader’s Right Hand into Closed Frame - whilst doing Half Basic 5-6-7-8/tap 

Hair Combs & Neck Loops

 The video below explains the arms for the hair combs and neck loops for leader and follower.

Caminito Hip Twist

Please note that the video below shows multiple dance moves. Refer to the video from approx 0:25 to 0:36 for the Hip Twist Move. In the video, the leader turns himself clockwise at the end instead of doing the Half Basic that I showed you in the lesson.

  • ½ Basic (open frame) 1-2-3-4/tap
  • Turn Follower into Cuddle 5-6-7-8/tap
  • Walk 1-2-3 with Straight Arm Facing the Side (as per Cuddle with Kick) 1-2-3
  • Hip Twist on “4” for Lady - Leader puts Left arm on Lady’s Shoulder 
  • Walk Back facing the other direction 5-6-7
  • Hip Twist on “8” for Lady
  • Unwind Follower 1-2-3-4/tap
  • ½ Basic 5-6-7-8/tap (in the video, the Leader does a Clockwise Leader Turn here)
 
Note: Hip Twists: the lady keeps her feet close to the ground; there isn’t a knee lift. It’s a pivot and tap together. 

Caminito Hip Twist with Lady Crosses x 4

  • This move is shown in the video from 0:35. In our lesson, I taught you a DIFFERENT (and simpler) version than what is shown in the video.
  • Start with Go into Caminito Hip Twist:
    • Half Basic 1-2-3-4 (arm up on 4)
    • Enter into Cuddle/Cradle 5-6-7-8
    • Walk 1-2-3 and Hip Twist on 4
    • Walk 5-6-7 and Hip Twist on 8
  • Then do Lady Crosses x 4 (in the video, they only do 3 Lady Crosses)
    • Followers:
      • Cross Forward Right on “1”
      • Cross Forward Left on “3”
      • Cross Forward Right on “5”
      • Cross Forward Left on "7"
    • Leaders:
      • Transfer weight Left on “1”
      • Transfer weight Right on “3”
      • Transfer weight Left on “5”
      • Transfer weight Right on "7"
      • Lift arm up on "8"
  • After the 4th Lady Cross:
    • Leader unwinds Follower (as per normal Cradle/Cuddle exit) 1-2-3-4
    • Half Basic 5-6-7-8
​

Slide - Two Variations

The video below shows multiple beginner moves. 

1. Double Slide (first move shown in video below)
  • Start with Full Basic 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8
  • Slide - step to side on 1, slide on 2-3, then tap together on 4

2. Half Basic & Slide (not shown in video)
  • Half Basic 1-2-3-4
  • Slide - step to side on 5, slide on 6-7, then tap together on 8