|
|
Round Dance Tips by
Tim Eum—
Two Picture
Figures
Back to Slow Promenade Oversway (Waltz – Phase 4)
“Me & My Sister” is a phase 4 waltz written by Kay & Joy Read
and in 2015-2016 was the number 6 dance in the phase 3-4 ICBDA Top 15
list. A very interesting figure in this dance is the “Back to Slow
Promenade Oversway.” It is a two-measure (i.e., six-beat) combination
and a slight modification of the standard phase 4 figures “Promenade
Sway” and “Oversway."
Start in banjo facing DRW (Diagonal RLOD and Wall) with trail foot free
(man’s right and lady’s left) and step back (lady forward) blending to
CP and begin turning left face. After having turned ¼ LF, step side
left (lady right) to SCP (semi-closed position, which is what ballroom
calls “promenade” position) to end facing DLW (Diagonal LOD and wall).
Note that after these first two weight-taking steps, there are no more
steps; the remaining four beats of music are all done only with the
body and head.
On beat 3, go into the “Promenade Sway” position by first rising high
onto straightened lead legs, stretching the man’s left side of body
(lady’s right side) and looking forward and up but then tilting the
upper body frame forward and down and looking in that down direction.
This “tilt” should now stretch man’s right side and lady’s left without
compressing the man’s left side and lady’s right side thus leaving the
couple “high”. That’s a lot to do in one beat, but it can and should be
done quickly and smoothly and if necessary you can lag a bit and use
some of the next beat.
On beat 4, complete the “Promenade Sway” if you haven’t already and
begin to lower by relaxing in your lead leg (man’s left, lady’s right)
and beginning to go from SCP to CP.
On beat 5, slightly rotate the upper body frame LF about an 1/8 and
complete going into CP (lady’s head now looks left).
Finally on beat 6, end the rotation in “Oversway” position with the
upper body frame slightly tilted with lead elbows higher than trail
elbows. This can also be described as “stretching the man’s left side
and lady’s right,” but this time in CP instead of SCP as in step 2 of
this figure.
Note that in beats 3 through 6 the trail foot is free. Keep the trail
foot pointed side and back (changes to side & forward for lady)
throughout these four beats. The lady’s foot should be parallel or even
slightly pointed away from the man’s -- not pointed in between the
man’s feet.
This figure is enhanced if the couple can maintain a good steady upper
body frame throughout – no matter the changes from BJO to CP to SCP to
CP.
Right Lunge (Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango -- Phase 4 )
The Right Lunge is a “picture figure” but there are things you need to
do to make it a beautiful picture. Roundalab describes this as a “side
& slightly forward” lunging step for the man (“side & slightly
back” for the lady using the man’s right foot and lady’s left foot).
This is unfortunate because this description leads to couples doing an
unattractive dipping to man’s right side with the man stepping
“outside” of lady’s left foot and remaining separated (perhaps even in
Butterfly position). Note that the Right Lunge is only properly done in
Closed Position.
To make this attractive, first realize that you should begin in a very
snug Closed Position and remain in a very snug Closed Position
throughout the Right Lunge. In other words, maintain a good attractive
upper body frame.
Then realize that when the man steps into the right lunge with his
right foot that it should go between the lady’s feet on the “inside” of
the lady’s left foot and thus the man’s step is more forward than side.
However, it will feel like a “side” step because while moving forward
the couple will turn their upper body frame LF (i.e., the man moves
forward with a right shoulder lead). Note that doing this will have the
man’s right leg come in contact with the lady’s left leg.
The man does turn his head from looking over the lady’s right shoulder
to looking over her left shoulder and “rolls” the frame into a sway to
the man’s right – similar to a Same Foot Lunge.
Remember to “relax” the lead leg to lower just before moving the trail
foot forward & side (back & side for lady) into the Right
Lunge. If you also remember to maintain frame throughout, turn the
frame LF, roll the upper body into a sway to the man’s right – you will
have a beautiful Right Lunge.
Tim
Eum has
prepared many Round Dance Tips for Calls 'n' Cues,
WASCA, for his weekly Rocket Rounds email reports, and for
other
publications. DRDC is
grateful for permission to collect and reprint. A Tim Eum archive.
|
