Come out Swinging

Since last post:
Two practices with Samantha, each two hours.
Two practices with Jacqueline, total of five hours.

We are learning Swing, which is the most labor intensive of all the dances so far. Tons of frenetic footwork and I'd say the most difficult of the dances we've done so far.

Our Swing Routine:

Basic (in closed hold)
Lady's Underarm Turn Left
Lady's Underarm Turn Right
Basic (single hand connection)
American Spin
Basic (open two hand hold)
Sweetheart
Basic (single hand connection)
Right Side Pass (to closed hold)
repeat from top

W 217.6

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Four Hours

Three weeks until the Utah competition. I am up at Valhalla (Timber Lakes). I have a private room with a balcony that overlooks the valley, dappled with the colors of autumn. First, a full round of weights (18-18): Bentover Rows Overhead Presses Bicep Curls Goblet Squats with extensions (I call them "Holy Grails") Tricep Extensions Hammers (my favorite, the sexiest of the curls) Farmer's Carry Lunges Reclining Flies Crush Presses Reclining Presses Then an hour of swimming, various strokes as well as doing the whole routine in shallow water. I ate six twinkies in rapid succession. One of the most spiritual experiences of my life. I drove down in light rain to Salt Lake to make dance training, 4-6pm. Samantha and I completed the cha cha routine: Basic Butterfly Walkaround turns Triple Cha Lady's Underarm turn and back to the top As usual I am completely lost when learning the new routine. Time for hundreds of repetitions! Jacqu...

Saturday, October 6th- Practice Shoes

Fresh back from the mountains of Timber Lakes I had a two hour dance training. From one day to the next I seemed to have forgotten part of my routine. Jacqueline showed up right on time as usual. She was wearing a yellow scarf that her beau picked up in France. Got a new pair of practice shoes. Got to break them in with 5000 repetitions. We finished up and practiced the cha cha routine. Samantha gave me a taste of what it looked like at full speed, and I could barely keep up. No matter, I am determined to learn it all to the best level. At the end we spent some time on the Waltz, just learning the complete basics from the beginning. I am completely lost. This dance has all sorts of odd angles. But as always I'm ready to get it down. Twelve days until the local competition and I still don't have outfit, and no prospects. repeat from here (the top) Basic Crossover Breaks Crossbody Lead Basic Sepa...

Good Round

I worked with Samantha on swing basics for an hour, then Jacqueline arrived and we practiced various items for two hours. We got some basic swing moves down. Most of that time we had the room to ourselves and we had several breakthroughs. My rumba walks are improving and my foot movements are looking more like latin prowling rather than a leaden golem clomping around. Jacqueline has been practicing her rumba walks for many weeks now and her movements are very elegant and curved. We do our original routines without thinking too much about it-- muscle memory. Doing them under the pressure of public performance makes them cement harder in the mind. The last hour was... harmonious. A timeless space. Movement as art. Beginner's mind. W 218.2

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