PSRBalboaNotes110504

Austin Balboa Weekend

11.5.04

"Balboa Boot Camp"

The Hold

• "Nestle" the follow against your right side.

  • Before doing this, empty your right pocket.

  • The follow should be connected all along your right side.

    • At least along the hip & thigh.
  • The two of you should form an acute "V."

• Your right hand/arm curls around the follow's back.

  • Note that squeezing the follow like a tube'o'toothpaste is not a good idea.

  • The hand might curl around the follow's right side.

    • Therefore, the connection here might be just through the forearm or might include the hand as well.

• The left hand is in a "ballroom"/"thumb-to-thumb" hold.

  • Be sure to keep it off of your body some.

• Notes on stance....

  • Break slightly at the knees and the ankles.

    • Don't bend either joint enough to crease your slacks.

  • This allows for a slight but noticeable 'bounce.'

    • Less of a bounce than in lindy, but it's still there.

The Basic

• 1: Step backwards on your left foot.

  • This step should be casual, of natural size.
  • Make sure this step is neither small nor timid.

• 2: Step backwards on your right foot.

  • There should be a natural lateral distance between your feet at this point.

  • Your feet should line up horizontally at this point.

    • Make sure your right foot is not behind your left foot.

• 3&4: Left foot slides forward and comes back.

  • Left foot doesn't get any weight.
  • Think of 3 as a very limp, small, slidey kick.

• 5: Step forward on your right foot.

  • Again, a smallish-sized step.

• 6: Step forward on your left foot.

  • Again, there's some lateral distance there
  • Your feet should line up horizontally at this point.
  • If you imagine a box snapped around the dance steps, then 1 & 5 are along the (horizontal) center of the box, while 2 & 6 are at the corners.

• 7 & 8: Right foot slides back and returns

  • The right foot actually hooks slightly behind the left foot.
  • Again, it's a limp & small & slidey movement.

Break Time

• 1-2: As normal.

• 3: Step on your left foot.

  • Note that this step is probably not going to be a 'hard' step.
  • Instead, think of yourself as 'stepping through' the 3, with continuous motion and a continuous weight shift.
• 4: Hold
• 5-8: As normal.

Break Turn

• 1: Step backwards on your left foot.

  • Prepare a bit for a clockwise turn.
  • Make absolutely sure this step is neither small nor timid.

• 2: Step backwards on your right foot.

  • Except, that foot is turned 90º to the right.
  • Be sure to take your weight with you on this step.

• 3: Step together on your left foot

  • Continue the clockwise drift.
  • (Is there any lateral distance between your feet? Dunno.)

• 4: Hold on your left foot.

  • Continue the turn by pivoting clockwise.

• 5, 6: Step on right foot, step on left foot.

  • This starts finishing out the rotation.

• 7 & 8: As normal.

  • If necessary, complete the rotation on these beats.

Footnotes