Intermediate Vertical Step, 1/1/2010

Finally! It's time for some new videos for the new year! I thought that this time I would provide you my breakdown notes for this routine. I know, I know... it's really hard to decipher someone else's choreography notes.... but I am hoping that if you follow along with the video, it will all make some type of sense. Please keep in mind that I film my videos without notes, and so there may be small variations in the breakdown from what is presented below.

As you read through my notes, the boldfaced elements are what has changed since the last layer. All other elements remain the same, including staying on the same beats and on the same leg as the previous layer.

So, with that said, let's work on the first combo!

Combo 1:



Final Choreography:

3 Hamstrings on top (6)
Walk/Spin to the Opposite Side (4)
Alternating Stomps (6)
1 Knee Walk Back (8)
Cut the Corner, x2 (8)
Rebound & Stomp (8)
Tick-Tock Straddle, Drag (8)
Charleston Kicks (8)
Split Basic

Breakdown:

4-Hamstring Repeater (10) + Alternating Stomps (6)
3-Hamstring Repeater (6) + March 4 (4) + Alternating Stomps (6)
3 Alternating Hamstrings on top (6) + March 4 (4) + Alternating Stomps (6)
3 Hams on top (6) + Walk/Spin to the other side (4) + Alternating Stomps (6)
3 Hams on top + Walk around + Alternating Stomps + Single Knees x2 (8) + 2 Basics (8)
3 Hams on top + Walk around + Alternating Stomps + 1 Knee on the step, 1 Knee on the floor (8) + 2 Basics (8)
3 Hams on top + Walk around + Alt Stomps + 1 Knee & Walk back, 1 Knee & Walk up (8) + 2 Basics (8)
3 Hams on top + Walk around + Alt Stomps + 1 Knee Walk back/Up (8) + Revolving Door (8)
3 Hams on top + Walk around + Alt Stomps + 1 Knee Walk back/up + Cut the Corner x2 (8)

So, there is the first 32 counts. Since my first combo is 64 counts, we start fresh with the next 16 counts:

Repeater Knee (8) + 2 Basics (8)
Repeater 2 + 1 Stomp (8) + 2 Basics (8)
Rebound + 1 Stomp (8) + 2 Basics (8)
Rebound + Stomp (8) + Double Stomp (5) + Single Stomp (3)
Rebound + Stomp (8) + Double Stomp Straddle (5) + Drag (3)

(*Note in the video, I hold this move at the front so that the class can see what I'm doing. This is different than I would do this in a horizontal step class because in horizontal the class could see it. )

Rebound + Stomp + Tick-Tock Straddle (5) + Drag (3)

The above 16 counts changes lead leg, and so does the next 16 counts, so I teach them independently, then I put them together after both halves have been learned. So, here's the last 16 counts of combo 1:

Kick Repeater (8) + 2 Basics (8)
Charleston Kick (8) + 2 Basics (8)
Charleston Kick (8) + Split Basic (8)

Assemble parts already learned: Rebound & Stomp (8) + Tick-Tock Straddle, Drag (8) + Charleston (8) + Split Basic (8)

This doesn't change lead, so I then return to the beginning of the combo and repeat, repeat, repeat the entire 64 counts. This gives everyone a chance to remember the beginning of the combo, and it provides practice time for the final 32 counts that were just learned.