This Intermediate-level Step class was actually one of my favorite routines. It got a lot of nice comments from my class. I have taped all of the breakdowns for the entire class. The first one will be posted shortly, and the other 2 will follow as soon as I can get them done, but I hope they will be posted by the end of the coming weekend.
Enjoy!
Dana
Choreography
Combo 1
Mambo off the end (4)
Abduct, cross on top, exit, 1 stomp (8)
L-Step (8)
Tap Wide x1 (4)
Revolving Door (8)
Double knee and drop into 3 squats, rock back (12)
Tick-Tock & Shuffle/walk to the front (8)
Cut the Corner (4)
Tie the Knot (8)
Combo 2
"Stall Across" (6)
Box on the floor (4)
Stomp-Elvis-Stomp (6)
"Stomp & Twist" (8)
Diagonal Crossover Cha-cha (8)
Combo 3
Up & Lunge for 3, 1 stomp (12)
Abduct x1 (4)
3 Hamstrings on Top (8)
Glute Flye Over, x2 (8)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Easy Intermediate Step, 12/23/2008
Well, I taped a bunch of videos just before my Christmas break, and now I'm in the process of producing them. Here is the Easy Intermediate step routine. Also to come are an intermediate-level class with complete breakdowns.... yes, I broke down the entire class!! I still need to tape my current advanced class and the breakdowns for that one, too.
Today I taught my last Sunday class of 2008. My Sunday class consists of people with a wide range of abilities, and these are the routines that I label "Intermediate Step." I couldn't bring myself to teach the same routine that we've been using in December, so I looked through my notes from 2008 and put together a class from all of my favorite parts of various classes from the whole year. I was a bit spacey today and I didn't teach as well as I'd hoped for the last class of the year, but overall it went fine, I guess.
Choreography notes are below the video. Have fun!
Dana
Choreography
Combo 1
L-Step, x2 (16)
1 Hamstring and walk, spin, or shuffle to the front (8)
Glutes, x2 (8)
Lunges, x6 and exit at Home (16)
Mambo cha-cha, x2 (8)
Walk or chasse all the way around the step (8)
Combo 2
Hangover Hamstring repeater (8)
Diagonal crossover cha-cha (8)
Double Knee & Walk back, 1 Knee walk up, Double knee (16)
Jump & Clap Repeater, x2 (16)
V-Step, x2 (8) *Second V-Step can be a squat, "tap dance", backwards V on the floor, etc.
Split Basic (8)
Combo 3
Kicks around the world (16)
T-Step (8)
Up-up and Double Squat off the front, exit home (8)
1 Knee & Mambo Cha-cha (8)
Chasse Rock, x2 (8)
Double Stomp, Single Stomp (8)
Knees, x2 (8)
Today I taught my last Sunday class of 2008. My Sunday class consists of people with a wide range of abilities, and these are the routines that I label "Intermediate Step." I couldn't bring myself to teach the same routine that we've been using in December, so I looked through my notes from 2008 and put together a class from all of my favorite parts of various classes from the whole year. I was a bit spacey today and I didn't teach as well as I'd hoped for the last class of the year, but overall it went fine, I guess.
Choreography notes are below the video. Have fun!
Dana
Choreography
Combo 1
L-Step, x2 (16)
1 Hamstring and walk, spin, or shuffle to the front (8)
Glutes, x2 (8)
Lunges, x6 and exit at Home (16)
Mambo cha-cha, x2 (8)
Walk or chasse all the way around the step (8)
Combo 2
Hangover Hamstring repeater (8)
Diagonal crossover cha-cha (8)
Double Knee & Walk back, 1 Knee walk up, Double knee (16)
Jump & Clap Repeater, x2 (16)
V-Step, x2 (8) *Second V-Step can be a squat, "tap dance", backwards V on the floor, etc.
Split Basic (8)
Combo 3
Kicks around the world (16)
T-Step (8)
Up-up and Double Squat off the front, exit home (8)
1 Knee & Mambo Cha-cha (8)
Chasse Rock, x2 (8)
Double Stomp, Single Stomp (8)
Knees, x2 (8)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Breakdown of Intermediate Combo from October
Hi everybody! This is the breakdown that I used for the first 32 counts of my October Intermediate Step routine. This breakdown was requested, and I have (finally) found the time to get it taped and produced. I think the video is self-explanatory, but as always, feel free to ask questions if you have any.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Easy Intermediate Step, 12/2/08
Finally! I've had this routine in my computer for the longest time, and finally got it produced. This is an easy intermediate routine. In the choreography notes, I'll try to give you the base moves for the trickier moves -- just look for the * after the move, then below I'll provide the base move/progression.
Choreography:
Combo 1:
2 Alternating Hamstrings, hangover style (4)
Mambo (or 360 Pivot) on the floor (4)
Across the long way (4)
1 Hamstring (on the step, or on the floor facing the back of the room) (4)
Across the long way (4)
1 Hamstring (on the step or on the floor facing the back of the room) (4)
Double knee, Jazz square (8)*
1 Knee & Walk Back, 1 Knee & Walk Forward (8)
Rocking Horse (8)
Repeater Knee (8)
Hamstring singles, x2 (8)
Combo 2:
Double Stomp & Pivot (8)*
3 Squats & a Rock back (8)*
1 Lunge & 1 Stomp (8)*
Kicks, x2 (8)
Glute Flye Over & Shuffle home (8)
Charleston Kicks (8)
Jump Shots Around the World (16)
Combo 3:
V-Slide, Mambo cha-cha (8)*
Curb Walk (8)*
Chasse Rock, x2 (8)
Abduct, x2 (8)
***********
Base Moves/Progressions:
Double Knee Jazz Square: This is a variation of a Repeater Knee. Start with a Repeater Knee. Modify to a Repeater 2 and 4 marches. Modify the marches to be a Jazz Square.
Double Stomp & Pivot: This is a variation of a Double Stomp/Single Stomp. Start with that (and add a repeater if you want the breakdown to change lead legs). Next, move the single stomp down to the floor instead of stomping on the step. Last, Change the single stomp on the floor to a pivot on the floor.
3 Squats & a Rock back. Here's my progression for this move:
1. 2 Basics + a repeater to change leads.
2. 1 Basic & 1 Mambo (where the first count is on the step) + a repeater to change leads.
3. 1 Straddle & 1 Mambo + a Repeater.
4. 3 Squats in place & a Rock back (the rock back is the last 1/2 of the Mambo) + Repeater.
5. 3 traveling Squats & a Rock back + Repeater.
1 Lunge & 1 Stomp: This is a variation of a Repeater. My progression goes like this:
1. Repeater Knee
2. Repeater 2 & 1 Stomp on the same corner with the opposite foot than was doing the knee), then exit
3. Change the Repeater 2 to Up-Up-1 Lunge. The stomp stays on the same beat as in Layer 2.
V-Slide Mambo Cha-Cha:
1. 1 Basic + 1 Knee
2. 1 Basic + Mambo cha-cha on the floor
3. 1 V-Step + Mambo cha-cha on the floor
4. Slight variation to the V-step so that it slides off the end of the step into the Mambo cha-cha.
Curb Walk:
1. 2 Basics + a Repeater to change leads.
2. 1 Basic + 1 Mambo + Repeater Knee to change leads.
3. 2 Stomps + 1 Mambo (all using the same leg) + Repeater. So, now you essentially have 3 stomps on the step & a rock back (then the repeater).
4. Modify the 2nd stomp to be on the floor on the front side of the step.
5. If you want to show the variation shown in the 2nd run-through on the video, I just do this as a "Show & Go" since it's just an option on the move I just taught.
Choreography:
Combo 1:
2 Alternating Hamstrings, hangover style (4)
Mambo (or 360 Pivot) on the floor (4)
Across the long way (4)
1 Hamstring (on the step, or on the floor facing the back of the room) (4)
Across the long way (4)
1 Hamstring (on the step or on the floor facing the back of the room) (4)
Double knee, Jazz square (8)*
1 Knee & Walk Back, 1 Knee & Walk Forward (8)
Rocking Horse (8)
Repeater Knee (8)
Hamstring singles, x2 (8)
Combo 2:
Double Stomp & Pivot (8)*
3 Squats & a Rock back (8)*
1 Lunge & 1 Stomp (8)*
Kicks, x2 (8)
Glute Flye Over & Shuffle home (8)
Charleston Kicks (8)
Jump Shots Around the World (16)
Combo 3:
V-Slide, Mambo cha-cha (8)*
Curb Walk (8)*
Chasse Rock, x2 (8)
Abduct, x2 (8)
***********
Base Moves/Progressions:
Double Knee Jazz Square: This is a variation of a Repeater Knee. Start with a Repeater Knee. Modify to a Repeater 2 and 4 marches. Modify the marches to be a Jazz Square.
Double Stomp & Pivot: This is a variation of a Double Stomp/Single Stomp. Start with that (and add a repeater if you want the breakdown to change lead legs). Next, move the single stomp down to the floor instead of stomping on the step. Last, Change the single stomp on the floor to a pivot on the floor.
3 Squats & a Rock back. Here's my progression for this move:
1. 2 Basics + a repeater to change leads.
2. 1 Basic & 1 Mambo (where the first count is on the step) + a repeater to change leads.
3. 1 Straddle & 1 Mambo + a Repeater.
4. 3 Squats in place & a Rock back (the rock back is the last 1/2 of the Mambo) + Repeater.
5. 3 traveling Squats & a Rock back + Repeater.
1 Lunge & 1 Stomp: This is a variation of a Repeater. My progression goes like this:
1. Repeater Knee
2. Repeater 2 & 1 Stomp on the same corner with the opposite foot than was doing the knee), then exit
3. Change the Repeater 2 to Up-Up-1 Lunge. The stomp stays on the same beat as in Layer 2.
V-Slide Mambo Cha-Cha:
1. 1 Basic + 1 Knee
2. 1 Basic + Mambo cha-cha on the floor
3. 1 V-Step + Mambo cha-cha on the floor
4. Slight variation to the V-step so that it slides off the end of the step into the Mambo cha-cha.
Curb Walk:
1. 2 Basics + a Repeater to change leads.
2. 1 Basic + 1 Mambo + Repeater Knee to change leads.
3. 2 Stomps + 1 Mambo (all using the same leg) + Repeater. So, now you essentially have 3 stomps on the step & a rock back (then the repeater).
4. Modify the 2nd stomp to be on the floor on the front side of the step.
5. If you want to show the variation shown in the 2nd run-through on the video, I just do this as a "Show & Go" since it's just an option on the move I just taught.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Making Videos
Over the past 2 years, I've received several questions about how I make my videos. I work for a gym that doesn't allow me to video tape my actual classes, so when I decided to start making videos, I had to come up with a way to do it that didn't involve taping in a gym. My husband was familiar with some video-producing software, so he set up a green screen in our basement, put my step in front of it, and we were off!
I tape my routines on my video camera, bring the video into my computer, and then tell the software that everything that is the color of the green screen is to be "clear." Then, I underlay a photograph in the background (pre-modified to add my name), and the software knows that wherever the green screen is actually shows the photograph instead. That's why sometimes in my videos it looks like I'm stepping on something in the photograph -- that's when I have stepped onto my green screen, which does extend onto the floor.
Next, I overlay the music, carefully aligning the beats so that it looks like I actually used that music when I was taping. Last, I put in the words, and render the video into the format required by the websites I use. The whole process can take about an hour, depending on whether I goofed during the taping and need to cut and splice parts together. That can be very time consuming, so I try really hard to be perfect when I do the taping!!
I've had a lot of fun making these videos... selecting the background pictures, figuring out how to sneak my name in somewhere onto the photograph, and selecting the music. So, that's how I do it!
I tape my routines on my video camera, bring the video into my computer, and then tell the software that everything that is the color of the green screen is to be "clear." Then, I underlay a photograph in the background (pre-modified to add my name), and the software knows that wherever the green screen is actually shows the photograph instead. That's why sometimes in my videos it looks like I'm stepping on something in the photograph -- that's when I have stepped onto my green screen, which does extend onto the floor.
Next, I overlay the music, carefully aligning the beats so that it looks like I actually used that music when I was taping. Last, I put in the words, and render the video into the format required by the websites I use. The whole process can take about an hour, depending on whether I goofed during the taping and need to cut and splice parts together. That can be very time consuming, so I try really hard to be perfect when I do the taping!!
I've had a lot of fun making these videos... selecting the background pictures, figuring out how to sneak my name in somewhere onto the photograph, and selecting the music. So, that's how I do it!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Intermediate Step, Nov. 17, 2008
Hi Guys!
Here's an Intermediate Step class for you. I really had fun with this one, and my class commented several times that they enjoyed it, and said it was a "really good workout." Yeah -- I hope so -- that's why we do this, right? :-)
Choreography:
Rock on Top, exit & Pivot (8) *be sure you are at the end of the step when you pivot
Shuffle & Walk away, pivot, and walk back to the step (8)
Tick-Tock 3, exit front & stomp & exit (8)
Hamstrings 1/2 around the world (8)
Turn & Stomp the Floor, x2 (6)
Up & lunge x3, exit home (10)
"Stomp & Twist" (8)
Shuffle forward & straddle, shuffle backwards & straddle (8)
Knee Lift Over, x2 (8) *see notes below
Hamstring exit (4)
Glute Flye Over (4)
"L-Stomp" (8) - this is just a syncopated double/single stomp (aka 8-ct mambo)
Chasse Rock (4)
Reverse Turn (4) - this can also be a mambo, a pivot with or without propulsion
1 Knee, 1 Elvis (4)
Across the long way & box on the floor (6)
Repeater 2 (6)
Revolving Door (8)
1 knee & walk back/forward (8)
*Note: If your class can handle more syncopation, check the video for the 2nd run-through. The Knee Lift Overs are syncopated together and condensed from 8 counts to 6, then you have to do a double hamstring exit to make up the extra lost beat. Everyone will do the last hamstring together, so if you have different levels in the class, they will all meet up again on that last hamstring.
Here's an Intermediate Step class for you. I really had fun with this one, and my class commented several times that they enjoyed it, and said it was a "really good workout." Yeah -- I hope so -- that's why we do this, right? :-)
Choreography:
Rock on Top, exit & Pivot (8) *be sure you are at the end of the step when you pivot
Shuffle & Walk away, pivot, and walk back to the step (8)
Tick-Tock 3, exit front & stomp & exit (8)
Hamstrings 1/2 around the world (8)
Turn & Stomp the Floor, x2 (6)
Up & lunge x3, exit home (10)
"Stomp & Twist" (8)
Shuffle forward & straddle, shuffle backwards & straddle (8)
Knee Lift Over, x2 (8) *see notes below
Hamstring exit (4)
Glute Flye Over (4)
"L-Stomp" (8) - this is just a syncopated double/single stomp (aka 8-ct mambo)
Chasse Rock (4)
Reverse Turn (4) - this can also be a mambo, a pivot with or without propulsion
1 Knee, 1 Elvis (4)
Across the long way & box on the floor (6)
Repeater 2 (6)
Revolving Door (8)
1 knee & walk back/forward (8)
*Note: If your class can handle more syncopation, check the video for the 2nd run-through. The Knee Lift Overs are syncopated together and condensed from 8 counts to 6, then you have to do a double hamstring exit to make up the extra lost beat. Everyone will do the last hamstring together, so if you have different levels in the class, they will all meet up again on that last hamstring.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Video Site is Down
Well, the website where I posted my breakdown videos is now, evidently, out of business. Rest assured, I have all of the videos on my computer, but it will be some work for me to post them onto YouTube and then link to here. So, hang in there, and I'll see about working backwards in these videos to get them to where they work again.
I apologize for the inconvenience.
Dana
I apologize for the inconvenience.
Dana
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Experiment with Quicktime video
Here's an experiment for us. I'm going to embed the latest breakdown video two different ways. First, I'll use Quicktime. You'll have to press the "Play" arrow at the bottom of the box to make the video play. Second, I'll embed a thumbnail link. Please let me know if you can or can't see either one of these videos by adding a comment to this blog entry. If one of these methods seems to work for most people, then I'll try using that method in the future instead of the Flash version. Unfortunately, Flash seems to be better quality than Quicktime.
*Note: I removed the links to the video. Stop by soon for new working links. ~Dana
*Note: I removed the links to the video. Stop by soon for new working links. ~Dana
Friday, October 31, 2008
Problems with Videos not Displaying
So, I've been notified that my videos aren't showing up -- they appear as a broken link box instead. Well, this is no good. No good at all! Now first off, let me assure you, I'm not a Microsoft Basher! Hey, years ago, I even earned my Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer certification, and I worked as a computer technician fixing issues exactly like this!! But..... despite my usual enthusiasm and unbiased view of Microsoft products, this issue with videos not showing up appears to be, well, a Microsoft issue.
I personally haven't been having any trouble with it, so when I was told that the videos weren't showing up, I did some research. I noted that not only are the videos not showing up on MY blog, but they are not showing up on several of my video-posting buddies' blogs either!
Unfortunately, I can't tell you why the videos are showing up as broken links, but I can tell you that this ONLY happens when I use Internet Explorer. When I view my blog (and the other blogs) using my Firefox browser -- NO PROBLEM! When I tried it using the Opera browser, again -- NO PROBLEM! So, while I don't have a fix for this (yet! -- but I'm still convinced it is somehow related to the Flash plug-in and Microsoft Internet Explorer), if you would like to try the Firefox or Opera browsers, they are free. And, then you can watch all sorts of fabulous breakdown videos that aren't on YouTube!
I personally haven't been having any trouble with it, so when I was told that the videos weren't showing up, I did some research. I noted that not only are the videos not showing up on MY blog, but they are not showing up on several of my video-posting buddies' blogs either!
Unfortunately, I can't tell you why the videos are showing up as broken links, but I can tell you that this ONLY happens when I use Internet Explorer. When I view my blog (and the other blogs) using my Firefox browser -- NO PROBLEM! When I tried it using the Opera browser, again -- NO PROBLEM! So, while I don't have a fix for this (yet! -- but I'm still convinced it is somehow related to the Flash plug-in and Microsoft Internet Explorer), if you would like to try the Firefox or Opera browsers, they are free. And, then you can watch all sorts of fabulous breakdown videos that aren't on YouTube!
Breakdown of Combo 2 - Advanced Step
Finally! Here's the breakdown that I used for Combo 2 of my most recent advanced step class. I was actually surprised at how short this breakdown is -- the whole video only takes a little over 4 minutes. Typical breakdowns for advanced classes are generally between 6 and 8 minutes. But, that just means it contains less layers to remember! I hope this is helpful! Enjoy!! ~Dana
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