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Class Description
All classes are held at
Ripley-Grier Studios in midtown Manhattan. It is a new, top-of-the-line
rehearsal studio, well-equipped with balanced sound systems, ample A/C and
ventilation, full-length mirrors for all rooms, and clean, comfortable
restrooms and changing areas. For a look at my studio, click onto
www.newyorkspaces.com and check out room 17D.
BASIC
BEGINNER
(Taught in a 2-month cycle*)
MONDAYS 6:30-8 pm and TUESDAYS 6-7pm
This level is for those people who have never taken classes in this style of
mambo "On-2", or who are simply interested in learning a different style of
salsa. To get you started, I cover both open footwork (called "SHINES") and
partnerwork. I personally demonstrate how to lead and to follow.
In the course of the 2-month cycle, you learn different steps to embellish your
dancing, such as Suzy-Q, Front Double Cross, Side Basic, Spiral, Double
Crossovers, etc. You will learn how to turn right and left in partnership,
execute a Cross-body, L-turn, Cross-hand turn combinations, etc.
* During your transition from Basic Beginner to
Advanced Beginner, it is often helpful to take the Basic class in conjunction
with the Advanced Beginner class, in order to reinforce your basic footwork,
and solidify your basic partnering technique. I recommend taking the Basic
class again from the 3rd or 4th week on.
ADVANCED
BEGINNER
(Taught in a 2-month cycle **)
MONDAYS 8-9:30 pm and TUESDAYS 7-8 pm
This level requires that you are comfortable with the basic steps and basic
partnership.
Turn patterns will be longer and involve more changes of position and turning
for both Leader and Follower. You learn turns such as the Copa, Whip, Basket,
etc.
The Shines here are more sophisticated, involving a wider mix and speed of
footwork, more styling and connecting slightly longer combinations.
The Monday class is 1 1/2 hours of pure patterns and Lead/Follow practice. This
will accustom you to a social dancing atmosphere and give you a chance to
assimilate patterns into your natural flow of movement. I highly recommend this
class to advance you to the next level.
** With practice and repetition, you may advance to the next level for the
following cycle, although it is often beneficial to take 2 Advanced Beginner
cycles (especially for Leaders) to make your dancing smoother and feel more
natural.
INTERMEDIATE
PARTNERWORK
TUESDAYS, 8-9:30 pm
This 1 1/2 hour class will teach you to link different patterns and transition
from one to the other more quickly. You will get plenty of practice dancing to
different tempos of salsa, and you will learn how to effectively CONNECT with
your partner.
For this level, I choose one or two technical ideas for each class and develop
them throughout the session. Towards the end of class, I reinforce these ideas
by having you execute them in different variations within a longer turn figure.
Double-turns will be emphasized and occasionally broken down. You will begin to
experience more complex partnering ideas such as Dips, Hesitations and Open
Breaks.
Ladies/Followers learn how to use hands during partnerwork. Both Leaders and
Followers learn various embellishments of footwork during partnering.
I
recommend this class to advance you to the next level on Wednesday,
Intermediate I.
INTERMEDIATE
I
WEDNESDAYS 6-7:30 pm
As a consistent intermediate dancer, you continue at this level to refine your
partnering skills, sharpen your style and make all shines and patterns a
natural part of your dancing.
The first half of the class will involve shines that are more intricate in
timing, balance and weight-change. I go through several songs, combining many
shines. I will break down 2 or 3 shines, and possibly mix them with some others
to create shine choreography.
The partnerwork portion involves more challenging lead changes and sharper
following reflexes. I will enforce practice with different - especially higher
- speed tempos of music, and help refine footwork for multiple spins and other
more advanced partnering moves, such as variations on Dips, Hesitations and
Lunges.
At this stage you are able to move from learning technique to being able to
connect more completely with your partner and the music, and taking learned
patterns and tailoring them to your own expression of the rhythm of mambo.
INTERMEDIATE
II
WEDNESDAYS, 7:30 - 9pm
This is currently the most challenging level I teach. Dancers at this level
should be completely in control of their leading and following so they can
focus on more difficult and/or unusual partnerwork ideas.
Shines involve sophisticated steps, with syncopations, playing on different
musical ideas, and danced to quick tempos.
You learn to execute more technically advanced patterns, which will involve
multiple spins, dips, lunges, etc. Detailed attention will be paid to
embellished footwork, body movement and arm styling.
INTERMEDIATE SHINES
THURSDAYS, 7-8 pm
I break down 5 or 6 shines for each class, working on timing and style, and
varying your practice with different speeds of music. You learn the more
commonly used mambo steps as well as some of my own mix of shines.
This class prepares you for the shines in the 6 pm class on Wednesday.
In
each class you learn the beauty of turns and patterns that show you how to
consistently connect with your partner and make him/her feel great while you
dance. Above all, I want you to have fun when you dance, connect with and enjoy
your partner, and feel the music. I encourage you to take whatever you learn in
my classes and make it your own.
In
each class you learn the beauty of turns and patterns that show you how to
consistently connect with your partner and make him/her feel great while you
dance. Above all, I want you to have fun when you dance, connect with and enjoy
your partner, and feel the music. I encourage you to take whatever you learn in
my classes and make it your own.
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