06.12.11 READY STEADY GO (Gaye Teather) My last class before a slightly extended Christmas break so wanted something on the easier side of intermediate without being too simple. This fitted the bill perfectly and received a good response. I like the double heel, triple toe tap bit and also the way the rolling vines connect the end of the dance with the start of the next wall. Good track with a strong beat as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQqF9jczBOQ
Also danced tonight: Prince Charming, Good Girl, Just A Kiss (to Last Christmas by Wham), There She Goes, If You Were Mine, One More Night, Caribbean Pearl, On The Edge, Rock The House, Live This Life, The Rush, She Comes To Me, Lady Luck, Mr Mysterious, No Llores, & Mr Wonderful.
29.11.11 ONE MORE NIGHT (Robbie McGowan Hickie) Seems a little early to be teaching the Daffodil Dance for 2012 but I only have one more class before the Christmas break. This dance is bound to do really well, its a sprightly pop track by Inna although there is an alternative by Bouke (who is an Elvis/John Dean soundalike) if you prefer something a little gentler on the ear. Classic Robbie steps in this 64 count, 4 wall dance. I’m gonna enjoy this one and it looks like the class will too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxOUxqo98k0
29.11.11 NO LLORES (Ria Vos) A funky latiny little dance this. Just 32 counts but a nippy little 3/4 turn in the middle followed by another 3/4 turn & point. There is also a 3/4 sailor at the end of the dance. Didn’t like the track the first time I heard it but it fits the dance well even if it is a little too long for a 32 count dance. Not too hard once you know which walls you should be heading to! Made a little error when first teaching it, so had to correct that before we danced it again. Possibly not for everyone but quite a few are teaching it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khtgLhzQ6ek
Also danced tonight: All Of Me, Devotion, Jealousy, The Stomp, There She Goes, If You Were Mine, Rock Your Body, mr Wonderful, Inspiration, Caribbean Pearl, Wet, Live This Life, The Rush, What About My Dreams, and Don’t You Remember.
For dances previously taught…..
22.11.11 MR WONDERFUL (Craig Bennett) This would have been last week’s dance but had to clarify a few step sheet errors before teaching it. Its a 64 count 4 waller with one tag and restart. Enough to occupy the more demanding dancers but not so hard that everyone can’t soon master it. A mid-paced summery sounding track that is very catchy. Good response from the class and this should be a big hit everywhere sooner or later. Just hope the step sheet issues don’t put people off. The link below is to the choreographer doing the correct steps!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVx_int-kr0
15.11.11 LIVE THIS LIFE (Neville Fitzgerald & Julie Harris) Have to admit up front that I’m not a fan of James Morrison, I don’t really like his style of singing but I do like this dance. Its an 8&1 offbeat cha-cha that fits the track well, has an easy opening couple of sections but then a couple in the middle with a few more turns. A neat sweep into coasters bit too! You dance one wall before the beat really kicks in and the dance seems to travel a little from front to back. No tags or restarts and 64 counts/2 wall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiMODCSXcVE
08.11.11 This week I celebrated 10 years of teaching line dancing so the class had a free night and a few chocolates. Thanks for your continued support!
WHAT ABOUT MY DREAMS (Dee Musk) Upbeat Eurovision entry from earlier in the year that we had learnt at a weekend event from the choreographer. Some steps you have to think about but others you soon slip into. Quite quick but only 3 minutes in length. The song is by Kati Wolf who has a strong voice and she hits some high notes. 2 wall 64 count with one restart. Reasonable response from the class.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMzzOnVUmIo
08.11.11 We made it a double Dee night as at the end of the class I also taught DON’T YOU REMEMBER (Dee Musk). This is one that came out earlier in the year but its now one of the dances nominated in the advanced category for the Linedancer Magzine awards. I’d been asked to teach a slow dance after several faster ones just recently. Its a marmite track, by Adele and the dance twists and turns nicely with the flow of the music. 32 counts, 2 wall and 3 restarts. Some didn’t stay behind to learn it and others only danced it once but a healthy percentage stayed with it. Some seemed to rush it a little in places so more work next week on the timing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsse-QD5_10
01.11.11 THE RUSH (Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs) Great track by latest boyband sensation, The Wanted, but I found the dance just slightly lacking in excitement. A tag each time you come back to the front wall and one restart but no really challenging steps. Having said that some were having problems with the speed of the full turn after the step half pivot and before the 1/4 turn into the weave. They just did two walks instead. I think this will be a hit dance though as its easy enough for everyone to soon master and will no doubt be a popular song. After 3 weeks at mine, its a floor filler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkfjfzMbiJc
25.10.11 THERE SHE GOES (Neville Fitzgerald & Julie Harris) This is a great mainstream intermediate dance. Starts off easily enough but gets a bit more twisty/turny in the second half. Seemed to go quite well with the whole class and possibly one that they will be wanting to dance for some weeks and months to come. 64 count/2 wall and one easy tag. An enjoyable track from Taio Cruz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5TegHnmLvA
18.10.11 CARIBBEAN PEARL (Maggie Gallagher) This is actually like 2 dances in one, starting off with a viennese waltz introduction, before the main dance kicks in. A bit tricky getting the timing spot on with the transition between the two parts. A full-on instrumental track so nothing to sing along to but the footwork is easy enough when you’ve got used to the speed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNHj2YerOdo
18.10.11 SXE (Rob Fowler) Back to 2002 and Liberty X – 9 years ago for this month’s oldie which I revised at the end of the class. Only a couple in the class had never danced it before. This was a hard dance in its day – seems a litle easier now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH6NWpE2Opg
11.10.11 IF YOU WERE MINE (Maggie Gallagher) I plumped for this nightclub 2 step for a change of pace this week after several faster dances. As with a lot of slower dances, it sometimes take a few listens to the music to really get into them. This isn’t a hard dance though, only 32 counts and no restarts or tags and just 3 minutes long. Also nice to have something a little less challenging to teach on a night when I personally wasn’t feeling 100%. Decent song too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vIIx_vHeK8
04.10.11 RABIOSA (Kate Sala) A distinctly salsary feel to this new song by Shakira featuring Pitbull. A little bit manic in places, especially the double-speed rocking chair tag – possibly the fastest tag ever? I love how Kate has hit the vocals perfectly in the track with the knee pop/hip bump part at the end of section 2. Again this part is quick and perhaps feels a little rushed at first till you’ve got used to it. The second half of the dance is fairly straight forward though, just the foward coaster and big turn at the very end. the dance is 2 wall, 64 counts with one restart and one tag.
http://www.copperknob.co.uk/stepsheets/rabiosa-ID84452.aspx
27.09.11 WET (Craig Bennett) I think this will be another hit for Craig, a 64 count, 4 wall dance with one easy tag/restart – after 14 counts on wall 6, not 12 counts as stated on the original step sheet. There are one or two other minor errors on the step sheet so best to watch the video below if you need any clarification. Slightly suggestive lyrices in the song by Nicole Scherzinger but a strong dance beat and steps not to hard. Sections 6 and 7 are possibly the most interesting with another couple of sections that have been lifted from his other dances – On The Edge and Good Girl. Went well with my class.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_7-kgiPb58
27.09.11 LONELY AGAIN (Neville Fitzgerald & Julie Harris) 32 count 4 waller with 3 restarts but all at the same point of the dance. Perhaps not a dance for everyone at my class – some didn’t like the music – but the vast majority stayed to dance it again. Music by Ne-Yo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th3zyFc6bkM
20.09.11 JEALOUSY (Karl-Harry Winson) An upbeat 64 count, 2 wall dance to Will Young’s latest single with no tags or restarts! Although not particularly tricky, section 4 was the part which needed a little more practice, but this is then followed by the easiest 8 counts within the dance. I think they really liked this one and it has enough in it to be interesting without being too much of a challenge. Worth checking out.
Link to step sheet – http://www.bigdavegastap.com/Jealousy.rtf
13.09.11 LOVE 2 DANCE (Simon Ward & Niels Poulsen) Another track by Pitbull, this time with guest singer Marc Anthony. A 64 count 2 waller with 1 restart on the easy side of intermediate. Nothing too hard in this, section 5 was the only bit you really had to think about it. Went well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwR2S1QNqNw
13.09.11 PAINTED WINDOWS (Neville Fitzgerald & Julie Harris) Classic Nev and Julie dance to the Pussycat Dolls track which I revised as an oldie at the end of the class. I can’t believe its only 2 years since this came out, seems much longer ago. About half stayed behind for this and several said how this was one of their favourite dances.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUnLEqjrgw8
06.09.11 2 NITE (Will Craig), quite a funky one with music by Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo. Only a 32 count dance, with a 16 count tag danced twice and that includes 4 counts of arm movements. A bit of a long track for a 32 count dance so may need fading out. Not sure how many will still be dancing it a few weeks down the line.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCjWBJA_iKQ
06.09.11 CRAZY GIRL (Dee Musk) Only needed a 5 minute teach for this improver level waltz to a pleasant country track from the Eli Young Band. This seemed to be the better received of the 2 new dances tonight. Great for explaining the difference between a cross-rock-recover step and a twinkle! The down side is that, as with many waltzes, a lot of the steps in this dance also appear in Still Got The Blues which we are dancing every week so could get a bit confusing for some.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc31UJ66dPU
30.08.11 ROCK YOUR BODY (Francien Sittrop) I did have something else lined up to teach this week but dropped it when I came across this dance. Glad that I did as this proved a big hit with the class. A catchy understated track, and a dance that has a good mix of familiar combinations and some interesting new choreography. Section 4 is my favourite which I christened “the robot section”. This is possibly the trickiest section in the dance as you have to remember to keep the weight on the right after the swivel turns, although section 5 also feels quite fast at first. There are no big or fast turns in the dance so its not a hard slog – most intermediates can pick it up pretty quickly. If my class are anything to go by, it should do really well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcRX1aRv6pE
23.08.11 LA LUNA (Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs) Everyone seemed to think its a great track, and most liked the dance but one or two said it felt more like walking than dancing in places. I like the wiggly weave/figure of 8 section the best. Music by Prince Royal, a top version of the classic “Stand By Me” song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwxbLsBkrIk
23.08.11 HITCHED (David Spencer) Taught my own dance to the Bruno Mars track “Marry you” at the end of the normal class finish time.
16.08.11 SOMETHING IN THE WATER (Niels Poulsen) Although just a beginner dance, this is such a happy upbeat song I decided to cover it as an extra warm-up dance. Everyone on the floor twice, so a success. They are also enjoying themeselves in this video but think its only 2 claps at the end!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RM9TzynYfY
16.08.11 THE STOMP (Robbie McGowan Hickie) One of Robbie’s new dances – 64 count, 4 wall with one restart. Lots of opportunity to get stomping! Moving from section 6 into section 7 proved to be the hardest part of the dance. Good reception from the class.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIze1_O4ct0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N54ph-rg02k
09.08.11 ALIENS & UFO’s (Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs) I really wanted something easier this week after a hard one last week. I’d been considering Maggie G’s Wildflower but wasn’t sure I liked it enough to want to dance it for the next 8 weeks! In the end I went with Aliens & UFO’s – again a fairly challenging first teach – 68 counts, 2 walls and 3 restarts in the 2nd half of the dance plus its fairly quick. When I asked at the end if they liked it – some said they did, some didn’t. By week 2 though it was a lot easier andeveryone seemed to be more comfortable with it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOsRMaOJRNQ
02.08.11 LADY LUCK (Niels Poulsen) This one took 45 mins to teach and dance. I built it up slowly, teaching the first 32 counts and dancing them a couple of times to music and then dancing the whole of wall 1 a couple of times to music, before starting on the 2nd wall and finally the tag. As its quite quick with lots of “&” counts and direction changes I was pleased that nearly all had it mastered after a couple of goes. For a change, its a dance that perhaps deserves the “advanced” description on the step sheet. Didn’t help that tonight was probably the hottest and stickiest night of the year! Music by Jamie Woon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCYqkhNKDNA
Oldie revised – NO PLACE TO GO (Ann Wood) Taught at the end of the night. A 2005 dance to Engelbert’s “Radio Dancing”.
26.07.11 MOVE A LIKE (Ria Vos) Rather a strange title but a great dance to a catchy track by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera. 64 counts, 2 wall and one easy restart. I liked it and told the class beforehand that they had to as wel, but I think they really did anyway!! Some neat holds, knee pops and turns keep it interesting and a chance to “Move Like Jagger” if you want to add extra styling in a couple of sections.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srrxrm0o7pM
19.07.11 DEVOTION (Maggie Gallagher) A bit of a challenge at first but one that I’m sure will be easier on week 2. 56 counts, 2 walls, a tag and 2 restarts with a slight step change! Fits really well to the music by Sanna Nielsen who sounds a little like the Bee Gees in places. The sheet for this will be out next week. Good reaction from mine after a patient teach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwtZBw3A-l4
19.07.11 TELEPATHY(Chrissie Hodgson) Stella kindly taught this one for me. Nice and easy 64 counter 2 waller to a pleasant Toby Keith track. A good one to wind down a little to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9fPRZYJgvs
12.07.11 ALABAMA SLAMMIN’ (Rachael McEnaney) Yes another dance of Rachael’s this week! I knew a couple of others were teaching this in the area this week so thought I’d give it a whirtl too. Its another country with attitude track from the same singer (Laura Bell Bundy) as I’m No Good. Only 48 counts and 2 walls with no tags – went OK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyKC1vbA95k
12.07.11 STILL GOT THE BLUES (Niels Poulsen) My class have always liked waltzes but I wasn’t sure everyone would like the blues/guitar based track for this viennese waltz tempo dance. I needn’t have worried though as they loved it! Its 96 counts with two restarts so took a while to teach (I did it in sections of 12 counts) but as I always tell them, there are only so many things you can do in a waltz so its just a case of remembering the order. A definite hit!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSTOQF7jSIo
05.07.11 MR MYSTERIOUS (Rachael McEnaney) A 64 count 2 wall dance with an 8 count tag danced twice. Several weren’t keen on the music as they thought it “didn’t go anywhere” but the dance wasn’t hard and they picked it up quite quickly. Others came up at the end and said they did like it so a classic “mixed response”really.
28.06.11 – NO CLASS
21.06.11 ONLY THE WIND (Kath Dickens) One or two in my class don’t always likethe slow country ballads so I taught this at the end of the evening so they could make an early exit. Its got a Missing Link/Amazing Faith type feel to the steps. Enough in it to keep it interesting (I like the last 8 counts best) but not too hard. As with all nightclub two-steps you also have to think about the timing too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HixZ_hqwRTE
21.06.11 MR SAXOBEAT (Daniel Whittaker) As there is no class next week I wanted something a little easier and love this track by Alexandra Stan, especially when played loud! The only tricky section is the last 8 counts of the 32, and getting used to the weight change on the restart. There is also an easy tag that is danced twice. It feels quite quick at first but at just two and a half minutes, it doesn’t go on too long. It got a very good response from the class.
NB In the link below, the dancers are doing the correct steps and tags etc but they have the wrong version of the music. It fits much better to the UK radio edit that it was choreographed to!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGIqHOG00Ts
14.06.11 ON THE EDGE (Craig Bennett) Several dances to tracks from the new Lady Gaga album out at present. Can’t believe this states “advanced” on the sheet – it really isn’t. Yes, it does have 3 restarts but the class picked it up very quickly and its no harder than a normal intermediate dance. Love the track but after half a dozen walls where the dance fits the music perfectly, the track goes off on an instrumental break so you just have to tell yourself to keep dancing the steps without using the vocals as a guide. Several said at the end how much they like it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbZhdJ1mZXw
07.06.11 PAPI (Rachael McEnaney) A great beaty Jennifer Lopez track for this 64 count 2 wall dance. I think the steps fit the music really well. Love the ball cross-hold steps and the options on the sheet allow people to decide for themselves whether they wish to add hip bumps or body rolls or just keep it simple. Some had a few problems at first getting the weight on the correct foot in the last 2 sections. Its a solid intermedate dance, although the sheet suggests high int/advanced. Certainly one that needs to be danced with attitude!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJA81QvfU3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSs57ogaHPk&feature=related
07.06.11 Oldie revised – NEVER GONNA LEAVE (Neville Fitzgerald) I’d forgotten how slow this dance was but what a lovely song by Daniel Bedingfield from 2003. Some big turns combined with rock steps and pivots, and the two 1/4 turn tags change it smoothly into a 4 wall dance. A great full unwind as an ending too! Retaught this right at the end of the night and over half the class stayed on to learn it….and they wanted to dance it again before going home.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf19e3Tdptc
31.05.11 THE FLUTE (Maggie Gallagher) A 3 wall line dance to a completely instrumental track – that’s different! Feels a bit fast at first especially the “out-out cross” steps at the end of the first section but later in the dance there are plenty of holds which help the flow of the steps. Was well received but I do have some concern as to whether people may soon tire of the music. Like the modified T Bone steps in the 3rd section.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8VWQxr118c
31.05.11 INSPIRATION (Robbie McGowan Hickie) I’ve always liked this classic Tracy Byrd track but have to say this dance didn’t really go down that well at mine on the first week. As both the first and last sections contain a mambo step, a shuffle and a coaster it seemed quite easy to forget where you were. To be fair it is an improver level dance and sometimes at mine the intermediates don’t find them challenging enough. However, on the 2nd week some were saying they were now enjoying it so we will keep it going.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_vdIowUs7Y
24.05.11 NO CLASS
17.05.11 ALL OF ME (Maggie Gallagher) A nightclub two-step but by no means a slow dance. As with all dances of this style, the timing is just as important as the footwork so for a 32 count dance it actually took a while to teach. The hardest part for the instructor is trying to count it in correctly! Much easier to just tell everyone to start on the vocals! This was was better received than I expected with several saying they like the music and the dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW20EFymntA
10.05.11 MARIA MARIA (Francien Sittrop) I just love this summery sounding mainstream track by Mark Medlock. Quite a few chasse 1/4 turns in the first half of this dance so you have to take care and remember where you are at first but it all fell into place pretty quickly when the music came on. A few mouths dropped to the floor when I announced the 2nd tag is 48 counts long but as all sections are virtually repeated on the opposite foot it keeps it fairly straightforward. A definite thumbs up after we’d danced it a couple of times. 64 counts 2 wall, a short tag and a long tag! There are other dances to this track but for an intermediate class, this one is ideal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzSVCPUVdmo
03.05.11 1-2-3-4 (Niels Poulsen) – a very country voice but a toe-tapping upbeat track backing it up so good to dance to. Despite a couple of tags, restart and ending its actually a fairly easy improver level dance and seemed to down pretty well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0iGNR_E_so
03.05.11 SHE COMES TO ME (Maggie Gallagher) This is another great atmospheric county track (by James Otto). I personally love the track and Maggie has been doing very well with a whole batch of recent hit dances at my class. This has a couple of sections (3 and 4) where you have to concentrate on the timing as well as the steps but it also has a couple of easier sections either side to balance it out. Flows nicely and well worth checking out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc7NoyLX7Cs
26.04.11 GAMBLING MAN (Maggie Gallagher) 72 counts but no “&” counts and quite a few holds. Its not the footwork but the speed of the steps in the early sections that took them by surprise at first. Think this will be a fairly easy teach on the 2nd week though. Music by The Overtones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atznlkk0Rnc
26.04.11 PERFECT (Guton Mundy) Directionally challenging best describes this dance. Once you get used to where you should be heading for, its fairly straightforward. Even those who prefer to leave some of the turns out were still able to join in with this dance which I taught late at the end of the class. Wasn’t sure about the music by Pink at first but its a grower.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l7a7r_GiKY
19.04.11 ROLLING IN THE DEEP (Maggie Gallagher) Playing catch up with this one as its already the no 1 line dance in the country. They seemed to like it including some in the class who I didn’t expect to! A little bit like Michael Flatley at first though when we tried to run the end of the dance into the beginning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIS_io1i7EM
12.04.11 BEYOND YOUR EYES (Peter & Alison) A double bill of P&A dances tonight. Although this one is only 32 counts, I think it took some a while to get used to the directional changes. No real big turns but apart from section 3 there are combinations of smaller turns throughout the other parts. Two dead easy tags. A fairly relaxed pace latin type feel which is reminiscent of Ain’t It Funny. Not a hard dance but it takes some thinking about at first.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rGKPNv4qPw
12.04.11 NEXT TO ME (Peter & Alison) I’ve had this one on the “to-do” pile for a number of weeks and never quite got round to it. Seeing it printed in this month’s Linedancer magazine prompted me to finally go with it. Glad I did, as its a lovely country track and despite the 80 counts, its really not a hard teach. Lots of rocks and shuffles especially towards the end of the dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDeyFkEJqNM
05.04.11 PARTY FREAK (Kate Sala) There are several different dances to various versions of this Jennifer Lopez/Pitbull song which heavily samples the old Lambada track by Kaoma. I found Kate’s dance best suited my class – intermediate but one that everyone can manage. At first I wasn’t sure about the quick steps in section 7 but after dancing it a few times, I really got to enjoy them. In the same way, I think the class were, at first, not sure about the dance but by the end of the night after dancing it 3 times they had definitely warmed to it. Certainly a very catchy track that you soon find yourself humming!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VUnLoB6roE
29.03.11 GET UP DANCE (Maggie Gallagher) A sort of 80’s disco feel to this track. Quite quick but not hard once you mastered the 1/2 turn and full turn sequence in the middle along with remembering to keep the weight on the right after the 3/4 cross unwind towards the end of the dance. Seemed to be fairly well received. 64 counts and one easy tag – unfortunately the video below finishes at the start of wall 5 so doesn’t show the 4 count hip bump tag at the end of that wall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dtKXuXUOGE
29.03.11 ROCK THE HOUSE (Dan Morrison) A 48 count, 4 waller with one restart. All of a sudden this is floor filler at local socials. Most improvers could probably cope with this and it only needed a quickish teach. Not sure how long it will stay around though as some might find the music a bit repetitive after a while.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w61jPFPp_uw
22.03.11 PRINCE CHARMING (Kate Sala & Rob Fowler) Don’t worry its not a dance to the old Adam & The Ants track! This is another dance to a track by Edei (same artist as last week’s new dance). It got a bit of a muted response – the general feeling seemed to be that it was OK but perhaps nothing special. 64 counts with plenty of holds and no “&” counts. A couple of combination turns but apart from that not too much else to find challenging. It has been taught by others in the East Midlands so we will see it played out at socials.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oYN1rhrTbg
22.03.11 BURLESQUE (Norman Gifford) Had a request to teach this but a lot in the class already knew it or weren’t interested in learning it so it was an end of class teach. Only about 10 or 12 stayed behind to learn it but I think they really enjoyed it. Someone commented it was nice to have a different rhythm to dance to, and you can certainly go to town on the styling in this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O5d8UFSBH0
15.03.11 TO BE LOVED (Robbie McGowan Hickie) Another 64 counter without any tags or restarts. But this is classed as higher intermediate as its a fast 8&1 cha-cha. First week some found it a little rushed in places but it went much better on week 2. Concentrate on getting the steps to the beat and the speed of the music first and then try bringing in the little styling suggestions on the sheet after that. I like the little box turn sequence. No video of the dance yet so here’s a link to the music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UGA7JfIzbI
08.03.11 SHAKE THE BOM BOM (Ria Vos) A tag and restart free 64 counter, 4 wall dance on the easier side of intermediate. Just love this track which has the feelgood factor when you are dancing to it so I’m hoping it will do well. It got the vote of approval from my class! Thanks to Michael for bringing this to my attention.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1e2nUTRNJc
01.03.11 I’M NO GOOD (Rachael McEnaney) Great little country track with attitude. The 64 count, 2 wall dance falls around improver/easy intermediate level with nothing too taxing, you just have to remember to cross behind after the 3/4 turn right. I love the 4 little step 1/4 pivots which make up the tag. I think this might catch on big style as it has the feel good factor!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myBF2c7q7XU
01.03.11 BUMPY RIDE (Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs) Had this already to teach at the end of the November and then the bad weather arrived and classes were cancelled throught the following month. Some in the class had learnt it elsewhere in the meantime but it was too good to miss so fitted in a late teach at the end of the class for those who wanted to stay behind. It definitely got a thumbs up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D06Bi5sLP8c
22.02.11 DON’T BE A DRAG (Neville & Julie) Several dances out to this new Lady Gaga track called Born this Way. This dance suited my class fine – a two wall 64 counter, with and easyish tag and restart. Slightly easier steps than we sometimes expect from these choreographers to keep it well within the mainstream intermediate range. Some commented how well it fitted to the music and it certainly has a heavy beat that’s easy to dance to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDEEEkIjWe4
22.02.11 SLEEPING CHILD (Maggie Gallagher) Finally got round to covering this improver level dance for those who like something less taxing. Only needed a 5 minute teach at the start of the class. If you like Blue Night Cha, you’ll probably enjoy this one too. An improver level 32 count 8&1 cha-cha to a gentle track by Michael Learns to Rock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzFpjT3K4GU
15.02.11 FAHRENHEIT (Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs) Still dancing Ambitions almost every week and this is another track from Joe McElderry’s album. I thought the steps fitted well to the track but one or two weren’t sure about the rolling turns into the rocks and ball cross sequence in sections 3 and 4, which I quite like! This dance does have a few different step combinations and its a mainstream pop track – reminds me of the Scissor Sisters. Everyone up for the third and final dance of it at the end of the night. The tag – an 8 count hold with just arm movements didn’t appear to cause any problems.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQgXYiY32xQ
25.01.11 LOOKING FOR A GIRL (David Spencer) This is my latest dance to a track of the same name by Teddy Thompson. Its 64 counts, 2 walls with one tag and one restart.
08.02.11 NO CLASS – Gone skiiing!
01.02.11 DIRTY BIT (Shaz Walton) We hadn’t done a funky one for a while and its good to have a bit of a more testing one every so often. I didn’t expect everyone to like it and some turned their noses up a bit when I announced what the new dance would be this week. however, to be fair, most admitted to being won over after dancing it several times by the end of the night. Like many, I wasn’t too sure of the music after first listen but its definitely a grower! The middle sections with the lock steps in proved to be the tricky parts along with the final 8 counts. Got a much better reaction from the class than I anticipated.
18.o1.11 BITTERSWEET MEMORY (Ria Vos) Tonight I taught 2 dances that I’ve had on the “to-do” pile since the bad weather meant class cancellations at the beginning of December. First up Ria’s nightclub two-step which reminds me of her You’re My Sunshine dance from last year – that was another lovely track too. A 32 count, 4 waller with an easy tag. Flows nicely with plenty of syncopation and a good few turns.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBevw6_r4dc
Also taught NO GOODBYES (Robbie McGowan Hickie) which has a similar dreamy, laid back type of feel to it. Music by Maroon 5 & Lady Antebellum. Fairly easy footwork so although 64 counts and 2 walls plus a tag, it turned out to be a fairly easy teach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwK5IvDCtns
Others played Undercover, Grundy Gallop, Missing Link, Unpredictable, You’re Amazing, Another Heartbreak, We Belong, Knee Deep, Aphrodite, Lucky Punch, I Run To You, Make You Sweat, Hold My Hand, Ambitions, Tonight I’m Loving You, Nothin’ Better.
11.01.11 DANCING TONIGHT aka The Daffodil Dance (Robbie McGowan Hickie) A very catchy, if slightly repetitive track and a typical flowing dance from Robbie. Some good, not too hard combination turns and an 8 count section of footwork that is repeated in the 2nd half of the dance. Very well received by the class and surely another big hit for Robbie. Music “Dancing Tonight” by Kat DeLuna and there is also a country alternative.
Don’t think the dance sheet is on general release yet and no video so far, but here’s a link that gives background information on what The Daffodil Dance is all about.
http://www.dancing-times.co.uk/dance-today-news/item/295