Today we focused on turns, adding the Arabesque turn. We added on turns to the end of the routine we learned last week.
Our routine: Rush by Ferras
Balancé Right
Balancé Left
Chassé Right
Lyrical Drag Left Foot To Right
Step Right Foot To Right
Lean Down
Lyrical Drag Clockwise
Lyrical Drag Clockwise
Arabesque Left Foot Up
Coupé Plie
Tombé (Typically a beginning movement. For a tombé en avant, the dancer begins with a coupé front and then, after extending the leg from the coupé in fourth position front (or second or fifth back, if the tombé is to be done on the side or backward), switches the weight distribution and leans on the extended leg, which is placed on the floor in a deep plié. This leaves the working leg straightened but lifted slightly off the floor. Often this movement is used before executing traveling steps such as a pas de bourrée.)
Great news from today! I could do PK turns! I practiced turning yesterday and realized what I needed to do to do the turns. I had to bend my back knee to push myself off and give me the momentum to turn. The only thing is that I need to practice spotting as I got really dizzy because I forgot to do so. This is what I used as a guide to learn how to turn:
Hillary, Derek’s assistant, pointed out also that I need to elongate my arms. I find that my arms are clumsy when I dance so I need to work on that as well.
A huge part of learning how to dance lyrical is learning the vocabulary.
Technique:
Picka Turn (Across The Floor)
Chaînés + Chassé (On Floor)
Passé (Next To Wall)
Compass Turn (Across The Floor)
Routine:
Today was the first day we learned a routine. I would’ve left the class very content if it weren’t for my failure in attempting the compass turn which we just learned today and failing to do the routine very well.
Derek Mitchell is an awesome teacher! He is funny and entertaining. He’s attractive and charming. He has technique, he has experience, he has great choreo and chooses the best songs to dance to!
So before I forget, he’s breaking down the class to technique first, then lyrical style, then emotion in dance.
Warm ups were a bunch of stretches. Demi-pliés and Grand pliés. Stretching up and down and to the sides, keeping the body as close to the legs as possible. We did lunges. We did push ups and sit ups. We stretched our feet pointed and flexed up to our bodies as much as we could. This hurt and it just shows me I’m still not as flexible as I’d like to be but at least this class works on it.
He taught us the ballet steps 1, 2, 4 and 5. We practiced sweeping our feet forward, to the side and to the back. Rond de Jambe (sweep) + Tondu (point)
In the middle of the class, we learned to train our tip toes by doing the Relevé (raise on one foot) Passé (point other foot to knee)
We did a lot of going across the floor type learning:
Grand Pliés
Step across and hold tip toe on one foot up.
Chassé
Relevé
Chassé and Relevé (turning with spotting then chassé)
I had a great time at the class. I didn’t even want it to end. I felt good about getting the technique down but still being challenged (especially at the end). I still need to work on my spotting. I’ll be practicing my relevés. I’m really looking forward to next Sunday already!
I finally got the choreo down! I don’t seem to have the energy anymore to pull it off but I wrote it out o.Oa.
Breakdancing Class 2: Superbad by James Brown
First 8 count: indian step toprock front with a kick on the transition.
1 kick over left, step on left foot, 2 kick right foot out, step right foot down
3 kick over right, step on right foot, 4 kick left foot out, step left foot down.
5 kick over left, step on left foot, 6 kick right foot back, 7 hop back on left foot, 8 step right foot down over left.
Second 8 count: hopscotch
1 kick left foot forward towards left.
2 kick left foot sidewards towards left scissor legs open.
3 kick left foot sidewards towards front scissor legs open.
4 twist counterclockwise. kick right foot sidewards towards front scissor legs open.
5 twist clockwise. kick left foot sidewards towards front scissor legs open.
6 turning clockwise around, march step with left foot up, march step with right foot up
7 facing forward, jump with legs shoulder width apart.
8 jump feet together
Third 8 count: Hustle
1 step right foot towards right, bring left foot towards right.
3 kickball change right foot out
4 kickball change left foot out
5 kickball change right foot out
6 “I got soul” left hand from chest towards up.
7 “And I’m Super Bad” left hand down, right hand rises into fist,
8 head nods.
Fourth 8 count: Kick Outs
1 hands on floor towards right side, kick left then right foot up
2 corkscrew right foot to behind left knee
3 jump into squat
4 kick out both feet onto heels then back into squat
5 twist kick out both feet onto toes then back into squat
6 cici left then quickly into squat
7 cici right then quickly into squat
8 freeze
So yesterday was the first day I took Ms. Vee’s Beginner Breakdancing class at Broadway Dance Center. Actually, this is only my second class at BDC so far. The first one was Ginger Cox’s Beginner Contemporary class (taught by substitute Michelle Barber) which totally utterly kicked my butt. Henry, Karen and Carol were with me and they all did so much better. This first class was very discouraging and continued to intimidate me thenceforth. Needless to say, I was incredibly nervous. I was on my own this time and as always with any new experience, I was excited and scared.
The class was held at Studio 3 (sprung maple floor) and there were probably about 25-30 students there. Apparently this was a huge number compared to Ms. Vee’s usual as she was surprised with this. Anyway, on with the class. It was being held from 9pm to 10:30pm. So the first half hour consisted of warm ups. It was completely a cardio workout and I was sweating bullets. She went through top rocking, stretches, sit ups, wrist stretching, push ups and planking. She went a bit fast on the top rock so I was so glad I knew the basics pretty well thanks to Henry! The planking kicked my arse though! I was in pain holding my body up in awkward angles but I knew that this is only going to help me get better.
The second half hour was more technique and learning the six step. I have also attempted this multiple times before so I was no stranger to it. It’s all about trying to do it faster and making it look good now. I think besides the pain, its the attempt to make everything I do go faster and look good that kicks my arse.
The third half hour was learning choreography and executing it. We learned three eight counts to Sugar Hill Gang’s Apache (Jump On It). The moves were pretty basic. I had to bring back and exercise my muscle memory again. It wasn’t as easy to pick up moves as it used to be but at least it worked enough that I was able to do the jist of it towards the end of the class. She also added some freestyle at the beginning and end of the song. I felt better when she said we could just do the toprock and six step we went over if we didn’t know how to do any other freestyle. I knew I didn’t look pretty but I felt good and I think if I keep at it, I will definitely improve.
All in all, I think I will continue to take this class every week until my Lyrical classes start (June 12 – Aug 30). I’m excited to build on my breaking foundation and maybe learn how to freestyle better =].
