After my delightful week of dancing with my friends, I had an epiphany.
Instead of looking at specific dances, I should focus more on specific dance moves instead so that I can easily catch on when asked to dance.
So, I am scrapping my entire original plan. Cue gasp.
I decided to start with learning the basic waltz steps--a MUCH easier dance as I discovered in my last video. Then, I will learn the basic cha cha steps and then the basic salsa steps. These are at least my goals for now--they could change! But, as I'm finding out with this project, that's okay!
This week, I focused on mastering the basic waltz steps and rhythm. One of the things I struggled with last week was these basic steps and, although I had a fantastic lead, there will be times that I won't have that and will need to learn quickly on my feet (pun intended).
Instead of looking at specific dances, I should focus more on specific dance moves instead so that I can easily catch on when asked to dance.
So, I am scrapping my entire original plan. Cue gasp.
I decided to start with learning the basic waltz steps--a MUCH easier dance as I discovered in my last video. Then, I will learn the basic cha cha steps and then the basic salsa steps. These are at least my goals for now--they could change! But, as I'm finding out with this project, that's okay!
This week, I focused on mastering the basic waltz steps and rhythm. One of the things I struggled with last week was these basic steps and, although I had a fantastic lead, there will be times that I won't have that and will need to learn quickly on my feet (pun intended).
So, I found a diagram of the basic waltz steps that clearly laid out for me what I was supposed to do. As a girl, I was wondering why I had to step backwards on the first step since my first inclination was to step forward. By looking at the diagram, I immediately saw why: I am not the one leading. Then, things started to make sense. I stepped back, he stepped forward, he stepped to the right, I stepped to my left. I saw a pattern--it was almost like a box step that I had done in the "I Know You Want Me" video from a few weeks ago! Where one foot went, the other followed. This was a LOT easier than I had made it out to be. So, the pattern goes, back step right foot, left step left foot, left step right foot, left foot forward, right foot right, left foot right, right foot back and we're back to where we've started! And we're going in a box step!
A waltz is a basic 3/4 time, which is where my piano knowledge came in handy. The rhythm is slow, quick quick, slow, quick quick. It reminded me of the play The King and I where Anna is trying to teach the king to dance.
A waltz is a basic 3/4 time, which is where my piano knowledge came in handy. The rhythm is slow, quick quick, slow, quick quick. It reminded me of the play The King and I where Anna is trying to teach the king to dance.
When I put these ideas together, voila! I now have a better understanding of the basic waltz steps!
Next week I will work on putting these ideas into practice. Wish me luck!
Next week I will work on putting these ideas into practice. Wish me luck!