13 November 2011
Happy Hoppers Newsletter #10
11/13/2011
From Steve and Susan:
Sherrie, Loren, Sherbie, we missed you Monday night and hope you are feeling better. Evelyn, we missed you too and hope you are having a great time with your sister.
First, Saturday night (11/19) is the Happy Hoppers dance. You are all invited. You get in for free too! It will be half Mainstream and half Student Level. You will be able to dance all the Student Level tips. During the Mainstream tips you can watch for some of the moves that we will be learning in the next few weeks. Steve and Larry and I as well as all the Hoppers hope to see you all there.
The dance is at the Stillaquamish Senior Center, 18308 Smokey Pt Blvd, Arlington. Pre-rounds begin at 7:30 p.m., squares start at 8:00 p.m. Here is a link to a Google map: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
It was a good class Monday night! Everyone is doing great!
One of the things that we talked about is how to fix squares when they break down. As Steve said find a partner and make a line. It doesn’t matter if it is your original partner or not. You can sort that part out later. The important thing is to keep dancing.
Now the other people in your square may have different ideas about how to make lines. Be flexible. Cooperate. One way is to just get a partner of the opposite sex and make lines facing either the head walls or side walls. Another way is to quickly make a square. Have the Head ladies take their partner by the hand (that should be automatic) and their corner by the hand (Hint: he is already holding his partner by the hand) and then slide into lines. Wait until you hear “Lines Forward and Back” and get back to dancing. And don’t forget to laugh!
Squares break down for a variety of reasons; someone didn’t hear the call, someone forgot how to do a move, a shoelace came untied, a badge fell off, the caller made a mistake, or some other reason. The point is to get back to dancing as quickly as possible. That’s why you are there. So we laugh at whatever happened and keep dancing.
Stay warm and dry and we’ll see you Saturday night!
Happy dancing,
Susan and Steve
Week #10:
8 c. Wrong Way Grand: Same as RIGHT AND LEFT GRAND except in opposite direction. Still starts with the right hand. WRONG WAY GRAND – 10 steps.
21. c. All 8 Circulate: As an individual dancer move to the next position on your circulating path. For example, if you are a center in an ocean wave, you remain a center. If you are the end in an ocean wave, you remain an end. ALL 8 CIRCULATE – 4 steps.
33. Slip The Clutch: In a Thar Star, the centers keep their star and let go of the outsides and start walking forward. The outsides let go of the centers and continue walking forward. Walk forward the designated distance to complete the next command. SLIP THE CLUTCH – 2 steps.
35. Box The Gnat: This is one of the few moves that actually require a boy and a girl. With the person you’re facing join Right hands (by the fingertips. Boys palms up girls palms down). Raise the joined hands Girls turn left face under the forming arch, boys step across behind the girls. Both end in the others starting position and facing direction. Right hands joined. BOX THE GNAT – 4 steps.
36. Trade Family:
36 c. Partner: Directed dancers change places with their partner. Every TRADE includes a reversal of facing direction. PARTNER – 4 steps;
37 b. Ocean Wave-Balance: In an ocean wave, take a small step forward and then back to place. OCEAN WAVE-BALANCE – 4 steps.
42. Extend: From an OCEAN WAVE across the center of the square, those in the wave step straight ahead and form a new wave with the outside dancers. The centers (those in the original ocean wave) stay centers; those on the outside (ends) stay ends. For smooth dancing all dancers move forward half the distance toward those they are facing. EXTEND – 2 steps.
49. Trade By: Couples in the center facing each other PASS THRU while the outfacing dancers do a PARTNER TRADE to face in. TRADE BY – 4 steps.
Sherrie, Loren, Sherbie, we missed you Monday night and hope you are feeling better. Evelyn, we missed you too and hope you are having a great time with your sister.
First, Saturday night (11/19) is the Happy Hoppers dance. You are all invited. You get in for free too! It will be half Mainstream and half Student Level. You will be able to dance all the Student Level tips. During the Mainstream tips you can watch for some of the moves that we will be learning in the next few weeks. Steve and Larry and I as well as all the Hoppers hope to see you all there.
The dance is at the Stillaquamish Senior Center, 18308 Smokey Pt Blvd, Arlington. Pre-rounds begin at 7:30 p.m., squares start at 8:00 p.m. Here is a link to a Google map: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
It was a good class Monday night! Everyone is doing great!
One of the things that we talked about is how to fix squares when they break down. As Steve said find a partner and make a line. It doesn’t matter if it is your original partner or not. You can sort that part out later. The important thing is to keep dancing.
Now the other people in your square may have different ideas about how to make lines. Be flexible. Cooperate. One way is to just get a partner of the opposite sex and make lines facing either the head walls or side walls. Another way is to quickly make a square. Have the Head ladies take their partner by the hand (that should be automatic) and their corner by the hand (Hint: he is already holding his partner by the hand) and then slide into lines. Wait until you hear “Lines Forward and Back” and get back to dancing. And don’t forget to laugh!
Squares break down for a variety of reasons; someone didn’t hear the call, someone forgot how to do a move, a shoelace came untied, a badge fell off, the caller made a mistake, or some other reason. The point is to get back to dancing as quickly as possible. That’s why you are there. So we laugh at whatever happened and keep dancing.
Stay warm and dry and we’ll see you Saturday night!
Happy dancing,
Susan and Steve
Week #10:
8 c. Wrong Way Grand: Same as RIGHT AND LEFT GRAND except in opposite direction. Still starts with the right hand. WRONG WAY GRAND – 10 steps.
21. c. All 8 Circulate: As an individual dancer move to the next position on your circulating path. For example, if you are a center in an ocean wave, you remain a center. If you are the end in an ocean wave, you remain an end. ALL 8 CIRCULATE – 4 steps.
33. Slip The Clutch: In a Thar Star, the centers keep their star and let go of the outsides and start walking forward. The outsides let go of the centers and continue walking forward. Walk forward the designated distance to complete the next command. SLIP THE CLUTCH – 2 steps.
35. Box The Gnat: This is one of the few moves that actually require a boy and a girl. With the person you’re facing join Right hands (by the fingertips. Boys palms up girls palms down). Raise the joined hands Girls turn left face under the forming arch, boys step across behind the girls. Both end in the others starting position and facing direction. Right hands joined. BOX THE GNAT – 4 steps.
36. Trade Family:
36 c. Partner: Directed dancers change places with their partner. Every TRADE includes a reversal of facing direction. PARTNER – 4 steps;
37 b. Ocean Wave-Balance: In an ocean wave, take a small step forward and then back to place. OCEAN WAVE-BALANCE – 4 steps.
42. Extend: From an OCEAN WAVE across the center of the square, those in the wave step straight ahead and form a new wave with the outside dancers. The centers (those in the original ocean wave) stay centers; those on the outside (ends) stay ends. For smooth dancing all dancers move forward half the distance toward those they are facing. EXTEND – 2 steps.
49. Trade By: Couples in the center facing each other PASS THRU while the outfacing dancers do a PARTNER TRADE to face in. TRADE BY – 4 steps.