19 September 2010
Hopper Newsletter #2
09/20/2010
Welcome once again! What a great class! Everyone is doing just great!
Don't forget that everyone learns in different ways. Be patient with yourself and with each other. If you learn by reading, you will find the books and definitions helpful. If you learn by watching, listening, or doing, you may find reading the books ahead of where we are confusing. Don’t do it! Wait until you have learned the call. Use the list I send as a way to refresh your memory before coming to class the following week.
Next week is the first Student Level Dance. Student level dances are dances which are geared to our new dancers. The calls will be ones that we have covered in class. At least most of the time. Classes start at a variety of times. Some classes will be ahead of us and some will be behind. Don't be surprised if the caller at a dance calls something we haven't had before. Inbetween tips, let the caller know that you don't know that particular call. They will either teach it or they will not call it again.
The important thing about Student Level or New Dancer Dances is to go. You will have an opportunity to dance what we have learned in class. You will meet other dancers who are just starting out too. You will also meet dancers who have danced for years. And you will have tons of fun!!!!
Michael will have a list for you on Monday of all the student dances that we know about. Club members will come with you as often as they can. Larry and I will come to many of them also.
These are the dates to plan on for October:
October 1: First Friday Fun Fest at the Hayloft in Lynnwood
October 22: Halloween Student Level Dance at the Juanita Community Club in Kirkland. Costumes encouraged.
Next Monday is the last open enrollment week. Feel free to bring friends, family, co-workers, etc. to class. I will review and reteach what we have danced so far so they can easily catch up.
Happy dancing,
Susan
Week #2:
4. Swing: Dancers step toward each other in ballroom dance position; leaning back slightly, walk around each other; the boy ends facing the direction of the next call; the girl rolls out to dance position on his right side. SWING – 4-8 steps at callers discretion.
11. Half Sashay Family:
11 c. Ladies In Men Sashay: In any circle of boy/girl couples with the boy on the left and girl on the right circling left, the girls step forward, the boys step to their left and the girls step back to a new empty place. If the dancers are circling right, it is the opposite. Can also be done from a line. For variety, the call can be Men In Ladies Sashay. LADIES IN MEN SASHAY – 4 steps.
15. Courtesy Turn: Girls (or right hand dancer) sticks out left hand in front palm down, places right hand in small of back, palm out; Boys (or left hand dancer) offers left hand palm up to girl, place right hand on her right hand; gently guide her forward, while backing up, turning as a couple to face opposite direction or the center of the set. COURTESY TURN – 4 steps.
16. Ladies Chain Family:
16 a. Two & Four Ladies Chain: Two (or four) girls step toward the center to make a right hand star; turn 1/2 way; offer left hand to opposite boy for a COURTESY TURN; end as couple facing center of formation. While girls are staring the boys take a step to their right to be in correct position for COURTESY TURN. TWO & FOUR LADIES CHAIN – 8 steps.
21. Circulate Family:
21. a. Named Dancers Circulate: Named dancers can be boys, girls, centers or ends. The indicated (active) dancers move along the circulate path to the next position. NAMED DANCERS CIRCULATE – 4 steps.
23. Grand Square: (32 beats of music) Each individual dancer tracks the four sides of a square in their quadrant on the floor. Command is “Sides Face, Grand Square.” GRAND SQUARE – 32 steps.
Next week: Star Thru, Dive Thru
Don't forget that everyone learns in different ways. Be patient with yourself and with each other. If you learn by reading, you will find the books and definitions helpful. If you learn by watching, listening, or doing, you may find reading the books ahead of where we are confusing. Don’t do it! Wait until you have learned the call. Use the list I send as a way to refresh your memory before coming to class the following week.
Next week is the first Student Level Dance. Student level dances are dances which are geared to our new dancers. The calls will be ones that we have covered in class. At least most of the time. Classes start at a variety of times. Some classes will be ahead of us and some will be behind. Don't be surprised if the caller at a dance calls something we haven't had before. Inbetween tips, let the caller know that you don't know that particular call. They will either teach it or they will not call it again.
The important thing about Student Level or New Dancer Dances is to go. You will have an opportunity to dance what we have learned in class. You will meet other dancers who are just starting out too. You will also meet dancers who have danced for years. And you will have tons of fun!!!!
Michael will have a list for you on Monday of all the student dances that we know about. Club members will come with you as often as they can. Larry and I will come to many of them also.
These are the dates to plan on for October:
October 1: First Friday Fun Fest at the Hayloft in Lynnwood
October 22: Halloween Student Level Dance at the Juanita Community Club in Kirkland. Costumes encouraged.
Next Monday is the last open enrollment week. Feel free to bring friends, family, co-workers, etc. to class. I will review and reteach what we have danced so far so they can easily catch up.
Happy dancing,
Susan
Week #2:
4. Swing: Dancers step toward each other in ballroom dance position; leaning back slightly, walk around each other; the boy ends facing the direction of the next call; the girl rolls out to dance position on his right side. SWING – 4-8 steps at callers discretion.
11. Half Sashay Family:
11 c. Ladies In Men Sashay: In any circle of boy/girl couples with the boy on the left and girl on the right circling left, the girls step forward, the boys step to their left and the girls step back to a new empty place. If the dancers are circling right, it is the opposite. Can also be done from a line. For variety, the call can be Men In Ladies Sashay. LADIES IN MEN SASHAY – 4 steps.
15. Courtesy Turn: Girls (or right hand dancer) sticks out left hand in front palm down, places right hand in small of back, palm out; Boys (or left hand dancer) offers left hand palm up to girl, place right hand on her right hand; gently guide her forward, while backing up, turning as a couple to face opposite direction or the center of the set. COURTESY TURN – 4 steps.
16. Ladies Chain Family:
16 a. Two & Four Ladies Chain: Two (or four) girls step toward the center to make a right hand star; turn 1/2 way; offer left hand to opposite boy for a COURTESY TURN; end as couple facing center of formation. While girls are staring the boys take a step to their right to be in correct position for COURTESY TURN. TWO & FOUR LADIES CHAIN – 8 steps.
21. Circulate Family:
21. a. Named Dancers Circulate: Named dancers can be boys, girls, centers or ends. The indicated (active) dancers move along the circulate path to the next position. NAMED DANCERS CIRCULATE – 4 steps.
23. Grand Square: (32 beats of music) Each individual dancer tracks the four sides of a square in their quadrant on the floor. Command is “Sides Face, Grand Square.” GRAND SQUARE – 32 steps.
Next week: Star Thru, Dive Thru