PSRBalboaNotes110604a

Austin Balboa Weekend

11.6.04

The Transition Step and Lalees

The Transition Step

• 1, 2: As normal.

• 3: Move your left foot.

  • Turn it 90º to the left.

    • You yourself are also turning in that direction.
  • Move it slightly out to the left.
  • Start to extend the hold from 'nestled' to 'out a bit.'
• 4: Put your weight down on your left foot.

• 5: Step back on your right foot.

  • Note that you're still turned 90º to the left here.
  • Make sure this step transfers your weight.
  • Your arms/hold should be at their maximum extension on this beat.

• 6: Step together with your left foot.

  • Make sure this step transfers your weight.
  • Start bringing the follow back in towards a 'nestled' hold.

• 7: Step forward with your right foot.

  • At this point, really go 'forward' as in 'towards the follow.'

  • You go in a direction that would take you past the follow.

    • Note that you don't pass the follow completely, as that would break frame.
    • At the end of 7, you and the follow should still be able to make eye contact.
  • Continue bringing the follow back in towards a 'nestled' hold.

• 8: Hold.

  • Note that on this beat, you should not be all the way 'nestled' again.

    • If you like, you can use another 8-count basic to return to the usual closed position.

Crossover Steps

• First, do a transition step.
• 1: Back on left foot.
• 2: Together with your right foot.

• 3: Forward on your right foot.

  • This takes you in a direction that would send you past the follow on the left, if you continued it too far. :)
  • Note that all three of these beats should carry your weight.
• 4: Hold.
• 5-8: These steps are a horizontal mirror image of steps 1-4.
• Then, you can repeat 1-4.

• To escape, you can do a break-time turn on beat 5.

  • You could do 4 counts of turning 180º, another 4 counts of turning 180º, and then 4 counts of resuming the basic.
• Note that elbows should be loose & down, as opposed to a 'push-ups' position without any give.
• Ideally, you should be able to pivot towards the follow slightly on 3 & 7.

A Crossover Variation (from 11/7)

• 1-8: Do the transition step.

• 1-8: Do two crossovers.

  • On the second crossover, put your right hand on the follow's left shoulder.

• On the subsequent crossover, lead the follow through a counterclockwise rotation.

  • You do the same footwork as usual.

The Roll-Out

• This is a variation on the break-time turn.
• 1-4: As normal.

• 5: Step down on right foot.

  • Start to let the follow's clockwise 1 rotation 'unfurl' her into a Charleston-like side-by-side position.

• 6: Step down on left foot.

  • Get the rest of the way to side-by-side.

• 7: Kick your right foot towards your left.

  • The kick should be small but clear, with a clear [and follow-able weight shift, and a slight turn away from the follow.

• 8: Bring the right foot back in and step down on it.

  • Bring yourself back in as you do so.
• You are now set up to do lalees.

Lalees

• The main thing to remember here is "Tap, Step, Kick, Step."

• You're in a more-or-less side-by-side position with the follow.

  • (However, you keep rotating into and out of this position as you go.)

• 1: Tap with your left foot.

  • Rotate clockwise towards the follow slightly as you do so.
• 2: Bring back your left foot, step down on it.

• 3: Kick with your right foot.

  • Rotate counterclockwise away from the follow slightly as you do so.
• 4: Bring back your right foot, step down on it.
• 5-8: Repeat 1-4.

Escape from the Lalees

• 7: Kick with the right foot (as usual)

  • Let go with your right hand.

  • At this point, the follow's clockwise rotation should rotate her into her (still-connected) right arm.

    • (This is the 'oops-I-almost-dropped-my-towel' pose.)

• 8: Step down on your right foot.

  • Aim the foot towards the follow.

  • Let go with the left hand.

    • Ideally, the follow will receive a body lead directing her forwards just before you let go of that hand.

• 1-4: Step step step hold.

  • Slowly circle the follow (going clockwise).
  • Start (smoothly) catching the follow's back in your right hand on beat 2.

• 5-8: Step step hold step

  • By this point, you've got the follow's back in your right hand.
  • This is the same footwork as the balboa basic.
  • You are finishing up the clockwise rotation on these counts.

Footnotes

1 Throughout these notes, "clockwise," "counterclockwise" and any angles or turns are, by convention, as described by someone looking down on the dance floor from above.