You kick your right (or left)
leg slightly forward, step down on the ball of that same foot for one beat,
then quickly "change" weight to the opposite foot thus creating the
kick-ball-change.
+Step to the right (or left)
with the appropriate foot for the direction that you are going. So for a
Grapevine Right: Step to your right with your right foot (putting your weight
on your right foot). Step behind your right foot with your left foot (putting
your weight on your left foot). Step again to the right with your right foot
(weight on right) and touch your left foot next to your right (with your weight
staying on the right foot). For a Grapevine Left repeat the above going left
but switching to the other foot.
A
VINE is generally a three count move
though it is often finished with a fourth count via a "TOUCH",
"SCOOT", "BRUSH", "HEEL TAP" "STEP",
"KICK" or a number of other steps. See Glossary Of Terms. When
writing up a dance, Dance Steps Should be annotated as either a
"Grapevine" (ie. The Conventional 3 Count Step Move) or, if more than
three counts are involved, as a "Four Count", "Five Count"
Grapevine, Etc.
Right/take right heel and
touch forward, take the right foot and bring it upward in front of the right
shin, touch right heel down in front and return next to left foot. Count:
forward heel-1, up to shin-2, return heel-3, return "home"-4.
There are two types of Cha Cha steps: * Triple Steps * Shuffle Steps [See Section 5.9]
All Cha Cha steps are counted 1&2, 3&4 etc and its basically a quick weight change from foot to foot. For example a forward right foot (right-left-right) Cha Cha (Triple Step) involves: 1 - Step forward on the right foot & - Then on the ball of the left foot (placing your weight on the left foot) 2- Then immediately place your weight on the right foot moving forward, backwards, or sideways Simply reverse the above for a left-right-left forward left foot Cha Cha
Differences In Technique Between
A Cha Cha Cha & A Triple Step
A CHA CHA CHA can move forwards, backwards or from side to
side in either direction. A TRIPLE STEP will move only forwards. Both the Cha
Cha Cha and Triple Step incorporate three steps in two beats requiring one of
the beats to be split. How the beats are split gives the rhythm. The rhythm of
a Cha Cha Cha and Triple Step are differentiated as follows: CHA CHA CHA 1/2
1/2 1 TRIPLE STEP 1 1/4 3/4 The footwork of the forward moving Cha Cha Cha and
Triple Step are similar: Step 1 Ball flat
Step 2 Ball only Step 3
Ball flat
However, in the first step of
a Triple Step, the standing foot may rise in preparation to give a downward
impetus to the first step. This never occurs in a Cha Cha Cha action which is
entirely flat.
Unlike the Triple Step, the Cha Cha
Cha movement may be danced backwards. This affects the footwork as
follows: Step 1
Ball only Step 2 Ball flat Step 3
Ball flat
When dancing a Triple Step,
dancers often advance the same side of the body as the moving foot giving a
right side lead to a right foot Triple Step and a left side lead to a left foot
Triple Step. In standard Cha Cha Cha, the body remains square to the line of
travel. However, it is possible, and often desirable, to adopt a similar
leading side as with the Triple Step. In this case, the dancer will often
choose to allow the foot to cross loosely on Step 2. When this occurs in the
Cha Cha Cha, the foot and knee will be turned out slightly. In Triple Steps,
the feet will tend to close or almost close, in which case, the feet will
remain parallel.
In a
sideways moving Cha Cha Cha, the footwork will be ball flat throughout.
Hip
action in the Cha Cha Cha will result from the correct use of the leg and knee
action with the knee tending to straighten a little as the weight is transfered
onto it. There is no hip action in the Triple Step because the knees are flexed
throughout.
Contributed
By Paul Bottomer (Four Times Latin American Dance World Champion)
Right Pivot Turn 1 - Step forward on the right
foot (weight is forward on the right foot) 2 - 1/2 turn on the right foot to the left (weight is now on the left foot) 3 - Step forward again on the right
foot (weight is forward) - 1/2 turn on the right foot to the left (weight is on the left foot)
This type of combination is done following OR preceding 4
other counts to a total of 8 counts of a pattern. Left Pivot Turn 1 - Step
forward with left foot (weight is
forward on left foot)
2 - 1/2 turn to the right (weight is on right foot) 3 - Step forward with left foot (weight is forward on left foot) 4 - 1/2 turn to the right Again this would follow 4 other counts or go before 4 counts. For example the Ski Bumpus Line Dance has two sets of these pivot turns. The Military Pivot turn is also called by, PIVOT, MILITARY TURN, STEP TURN & STEP-PIVOT (See Glossary "STEP TURN").
Right Jazz Square 1 - Step forward with right foot 2 - Cross left foot over right foot (weight is on left foot) 3 - Step straight back with right foot (weight is on right foot) 4 - Bring left foot next to right
(home position) Most Jazz Squares are 4 counts and, as with pivot turns, follow or go before 4 other counts. Just reverse the foot work going to the left.
JAZZ
SQUARES are also called by JAZZ BOX (See Section 5B Glossary)
A three step sideways sequence in two beats. Described in
New England as the "Sailor Step" but sometimes referred to as the
"Sailor Shuffle" or "Cross-Ball-Change". Sailor Step to the
right - 1&2 = L,R,L 1 Step Left foot
behind Right & Step Right beside
left
2 Step Left beside Right For Sailor Step to the Left, simply reverse the foot
order. Because the steps cause the dancer's body to sway, some people think
this looks like a sailor trying to keep balanced on a pitching deck. Variations Of The Sailor Step Exist.
Sometimes The Step Is Described As Follows:
1 Right hook left (right step behind left to left side)
&
Left step in place on ball of foot 2
Right step next to left
1. With your weight on the
balls of your feet, swivel heels apart.
2. With your weight on the balls of your feet, swivel heels back together again.
Heel
swivels do not necessarily mean that the heels go apart and then together, it
can mean that they both go in the same direction: 1. With your weight on the balls of your
feet, swivel both heels left. 2. With your weight on the balls of your feet,
swivel heels to the centre. 3. With your
weight on the balls of your feet, swivel both heels right.
4. With your weight on the balls of your feet, swivel heels to the centre. This move is also called by SWIVETTES. Extracted From "Oldies But Goodies - A
Country Western
The Shuffle is three steps to two beats of music: 1. Step forward with your left foot.
& Quickly bring your right foot next to your left foot and step down 2. Quickly step forward with your left
foot Just
reverse these steps for a right foot lead. This move is sometimes refered to as
a step-together-step or even a Polka step. The Shuffle step differs from the
CHA CHA Step in that there is NO rocking motion involved. Extracted From "Oldies But Goodies - A
Country Western Line Dance Reference
Handbook"
The
SHUFFLE STEP is also called by TRIPLE STEP
In many ways the Shuffle Step
is similar to the Triple Step and Cha Cha Cha. The main difference, however, is
that it remains facing the line of travel and does not have a side lead as may
be used in the Triple Step. Ankle action is not as pronounced as in the Triple
Step with the feet being slid along the floor hence its similarity to
"shuffling". The rhythm is 1/2, 1/2, 1 (Half, Half, One).
WASHBOARD RUB
In the dance Dirty Laundry
choreographed by Sandra Mailman & Dawn Randall, there is a Washboard Rub.
This movement is critical to the correct rendition of that dance.
Hands
are placed in front of the body, arms slightly bent at the elbows and an up and
down movement is made, as if you were scrubbing clothes on an old washboard.
EXAMPLE: Vaudeville Hop
to the left
(Start with L heel to the left)
& Step ball of L behind R
1 Step R to the left
& Step Left to the left
2 Touch R heel to the right