Alabama Workshop in April

I'm happy to announce that registration is OPEN now for my April 21-22 workshop in Athens, Alabama, which is in the Huntsville area.  I'm debuting a new workshop that weekend, "Resurrecting Freestyle Step," where we will discuss how to bring back a thriving Step program at gyms where the Step program has dwindled or been eliminated.  I'm also going to be teaching my very comprehensive workshop, "Step Junkie's Secrets for Teaching Step" where we will talk about everything an instructor needs to know to teach a top-notch Step class.

Early Bird rates are now in effect until March 17!!!   Please visit my website at: www.stepjunkie.com to read about the new workshop, or to register for the workshop.  Space is limited at this workshop, so registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

I hope to see you there!!

Dana

Advanced Step -- IN CLASS, with Breakdown!

Okay, my friends.... finally I got permission to tape my class while I teach. Many of my class members signed an agreement to allow me to tape them, and I was so pleased with their support! They are just the most wonderful people, and marvelous steppers, too! The videos below contain Combo1, 2, and 3. Then, the last video, with the background of the green pond, is the final routine assembled together and with written choreography at the bottom. Enjoy!

Final Choreography:

Combo 1:
Stomp & Switch into a Drag over (5)
Tango (5)
Stomps 1/2 around the world (6)
"1-3-6" (8)
Repeater Knee (8)

Combo 2:
1 Hamstring and slide off the end (5)
Step up & Tick-Tock (3)
Box (4)
Rock on Top, straddle (5)
Chasse Turn (3)
2 Quick Overs (4)
Cut the Corner (4)
Scissor over (4) *Optional Drag & 2 Heels

Combo 3:
Up-up, Lunge Single (flip), Lunge Double, exit home (10)
Drag & Pivot (6)
Up & Twist, Switch feet & exit home side (7)
Kick & Rock (5)
1 Knee (4)

Combo 1 Video:


Combo 2 Video:


Combo 3 Video:


Final Assembled Routine:

Intermediate Step Routine, May 20, 2009

Well, it's been a very long time since I posted a new video. I've been busy with work, and have been having some pain in my hips, so I've been a little nervous about taping... but, I got myself together and taped 4 routines in one day! This is an Intermediate-level Step class. There are a few options on the second run-through. I MAY (I HOPE) be able to provide the entire breakdown of this routine in a "live" class environment! I was granted permission to tape my classes, as long as I get written permission from the people who are visible. I taped my Advanced class on Monday this week, so I hope to get those videos online very soon.



Here's the choreography for this Intermediate routine:

Rock on Top, Straddle & 1 Stomp (8)
2 Squats, go over to the home side and grapevine away, and towards the step (10)
Alternating Stomps (6)
Curb Walk (8)
Chasse over & Rock back, x2 (8)
Shuffle & Drag over (4)
L-Step (8)
Up & Lunge for 4, exit home side (12)

Kick-Stomp-Box Repeater (8)
Hangover hamstrings (4)
Cross on top & exit home side (4)
1 Knee & walk/shuffle/spin to the front side (8)
Glute Fly Over, Pivot (8)

V-Slide into Tango (9)
1 Stomp (12)
Mambo or Pivot (4)
Repeater Knee (8)
"1 & 6" (8)

Intermediate Step, April 7, 2009

Hi everyone,

This is an intermediate routine that I did quite a while ago. I have actually just finished another newer intermediate routine and have to create a brand new one for my next Intermediate class, which, with Sunday being Easter (therefore no classes), is next Wednesday. Should be plenty of time, yes? Except my kids are on Spring Break right now, and I'm off work trying to do things with them to keep them busy! :-)


Choreography:

Quick Over (2)
Abduct, Tick-Tock (6)
Stomp & Pivot (4)
Repeater Twist (8)
Shuffle Straddle, x2 (8)
Basic Over (4)
Reverse Elvis + Box on the floor (8)
Kicks, x2 (8)
One Lunge (6)
10-ct Mambo (10)*

"1&6" (8)
L-Step (8)
Hangover Hamstrings (4)
Across (4)
2 Knees on Top (4)
Straddle & Rock Back at the home side (4)

Straddle (4)
Stomp, Box Cha-cha (6)
Drag, x2 (6)
Knees halfway Around the World (8)
2 Side Lunges & exit at home (8)

*This move is based on 2 double stomps. Several options are shown in the video, including
1) a plain old double stomp
2) Reverse & do One Stomp
3) Jump up with feet together & Twist heels - I got this one from my friend "Lethal" Leslie.

Have fun!
Dana

Advanced Step 3/16/2009

Here is an advanced Step class for you. My class had a lot of fun with this one. I haven't taped the breakdown, and things are pretty busy with me at work at present, so I may not be able to tape the breakdown. However, if you have questions about how I broke anything down, just ask!

Dana



Choreography:

"Wide 6" (Stomp, Ball-change, Stomp & Pivot) (6)
2 Abducts on top & Straddle (6)
Reverse Flye Over, Drag-Ball-Change-Drag (8)
1 Kick (4)
Cut the Corner (4)
Scissor over (4) *Video shows option: Drag & 2 heels

Spider (8)
Shuffle & Rock (8)
Abduct-Chasse into Tango (8)
Rhythm Straddle (5)
Chasse Turn (3)

Up & Switch feet 3 times, exit front & Pivot on the floor (10)
1 Lunge & Box to Home (7)
Reverse Turn (4)
Reverse Stomp (5)
Repeater 2 (6) *Video shows Chasse Box

Have Fun!!!!

Breakdown of Combo 3!!

Here's the video showing the breakdown I used for Combo 3 of my latest Advanced class. I'm actually way behind in taping my classes now, after that big project at work. Maybe I can do some on Friday or this weekend. I hope you enjoy this breakdown and can try it out in your classes. Don't forget... if the Advanced choreography is too much for your classes, you can still use the breakdown and simply STOP at any other layer that you like... even I find that sometimes the "pro's" go one or two layers too many for me, so I just leave those layers out and use what I like... I hope you do the same. The most important thing is to give your classes what they can handle, and feel successful, and yet also give them a challenge (and of course, a workout!). Have fun -- that's what Step is all about!

Breakdown of Combo 3 from Intermediate Step 12/23/08

Finally, here is the breakdown for Combo 3. I think it's self-explanatory. Drop me a note if you have questions!! Advanced Step coming soon......

Breakdown of Combo 2 from Intermediate Step 12/23/08

And, here is the breakdown I used for Combo 2. This one's a lot shorter because the combo is only 32 counts instead of 64 as in Combo 1. Have fun!!!!

Dana

Breakdown of Combo 1 from Intermediate Step 12/23/08

Happy New Year!

Well, my classes at the gym are changing slightly with the new year. I've been teaching an Intermediate class on Sundays and Wednesdays, and an Advanced class on Mondays. My "Easy Intermediate" routines were the ones I was teaching on Wednesdays, which I did because our gym didn't have any "beginner" level Step classes and I wanted those people to have a place to go.

Starting this week, I will be teaching a Beginner Step class. So, my "Easy Intermediate" routines will now be "Beginner" but I will attempt to provide some options on some of the moves to give it a bit of "intermediate" flair.

And, with that administrative junk out of the way, here's the first of the breakdown videos from my most recent Intermediate step class. This is the first time that I've taped the entire breakdown for the whole class for an intermediate routine. I hope you can use something from this!

Dana

Intermediate Step Class, 12/23/2008

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)

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.

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.

Easy Intermediate Step routine, 10/30/08

Here's another easy intermediate step class. And that's all I have to say about that. Have fun!!!



Choreography:

Double stomp & pivot (8)
L-Step (8)
Scissor & 2 Jacks (8)
Over the Top Grapevine (8)
Shuffleturn x2 (8)
3 Squats & Rock back (8)
Abduct, x2 (8)
Revolving Door (8)

Diagonal Crossover Cha-Cha (8)
1 Knee & Walk back (8)
Chasse Over, x2 (8)
Jump Shots, x2 (8)
Lunge for 6 (16) (exit the front)
Knees half around the world (8)
Tap Wide x2 (8)

Split Basic (8)
Rocking Horse (8)
V-Slide mambo cha-cha (8)
Repeater Knee (8)

Breakdown of Combo 1 from Oct 21, 2008 Advanced Step Routine

Okay... Here you go. This is the way I broke down the first 32 counts of the Advanced Step routine from October 21, 2008. It's pretty straightforward, I think. Have fun with it!