Intermediate Step

I'm late in posting this video, but I hope you'll enjoy it. I came up with this routine sort-of by chance. I was driving to work in February, and it was a long drive (45 minutes each way), and -- as always -- I had some Step music playing from my favorite mixer, 32mix. As I listened to the music, Step moves just started popping into my head. I was fiddling around with some variations on repeaters, and I thought, "Hey, I could do a class that was nothing but repeaters!" Of course, you can't have a whole class that is nothing but repeaters because then you have no lead changes. Once I figured that out, I decided to create a class that was "mostly" repeaters. This routine is mostly repeaters that have been modified, with Basics or Alternating Lifts to round out the 32-ct phrase and ensure the combos change lead.

I hope you enjoy it!



Choreography:

Hangover hamstrings (4), Chasse forward & pivot (4) *
Mambo off the end (4)
Abduct, Cross on top, exit & Stomp (8)*
Knee Straddle (4)
Knee Walk Back (8)
Kick, x2 (8)
1 Lunge & 1 Stomp (8)*
Stomp Across (aka Spider) (8)
Over & Toes Repeater (8)*

10-ct Revolving Door (10)
Elvis (6)
Diagonal Crossover Cha-cha (8)*
Stomp & Twist (8)*

Full-Circle Turnstep (8)
L-Step (8)*
Tap-tap, Quickover, Box (8)*
2 Squats & 1 Knee Repeater (8)*

*These moves are based on Repeaters.

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 Videos - Combos 1 & 2

I taped this breakdown video a LONG time ago -- before that big project at work started. So I am finally getting around to producing the videos and posting them. Two of them are here, and I'll get the last one produced (I think) sometime this week.

Remember -- the breakdowns have the same background picture as the original video... just makes it easier to know what goes with what!!

~Dana

Combo 1:


Combo 2:

Long Time No Blog! Advanced Step for ya!

Hi everyone!!!

I've finally finished a huge project at work that had me working every day, night, and weekend for the past 3 weeks. Whew! I taped this routine (plus the breakdown of my previous Advanced routine) over a month ago, and am just now getting the time (and inclincation) to produce them and get them posted. I now have at least 2 more intermediate routines and at least 1 new advanced routine to tape, too. Must get busy! On another note, I no longer teach an Easy Intermediate class, but instead teach a Beginner Step class. I'm not sure there's a need for me to post Beginner step routines. Let me know if you feel differently.

Enjoy!
Dana

Choreography:

Rhythm V-Slide & Spin to the front (5)
Shuffle & Rock (8)
Drag (3)
Reverse "1-3-6" (8)
Stomp Across (8)

Chasse Spin Over (4)
Reverse & Stomp the floor (3)
Delay over into Tango (9)
Revolving Door (8)
Curb Walk (8)

Kick & Rock (5)
Reverse Flye Over, Drag-Ball Change-Stomp (8)
Up & Twist (6)
Up, Switch & hold, Switch & exit (7)
Quick Over, Box home (6)

Best of 2008 Intermediate Step Class

At the end of 2008, I was really ready for a new routine, but also was hoping to give my classes a new class starting in the new year. I didn't have a lot of time, so I thought I'd try a "best of" class where I picked out some of my favorite moves and combinations from all of my 2008 classes. This is the routine I came up with. Actually, the first combo started out as something old, but then I figured out a way to make it new, and I liked it, so I kept it. My classes have really enjoyed this routine, so I ended up keeping it and will be trading it out this week for something new. I hope your classes like this, or parts of it, too.

Dana



Choreography:

Mambo off the end (4)
Stall across (4)
Step down & shuffle up, shuffle down into a Box on the floor (8)
L-Step (8)
Tap Wide, x2 (8)
Over & Toes Repeater (8)
Split Basic (8)
Repeater Knee into an Elvis (8)
Cut the corner (4)
Glute Flye Over (4)

1 Knee, 1 Squat off the end (4)
Tick-Tock, Cross on top, exit & Stomp (8)
Knee Lift Over, x2 (8)* see notes below
Hamstring exit (4)*
Drag, Box, Cha-cha (8)

Revolving Door (8)
L-Stomp with a pivot (8)
Shuffle & Tango (8)
Knees, x2 (8)

*Note: in the video, I did the syncopated version of this, which uses only 6 counts. To make up the extra 2 counts, I did a 2-hamstring repeater to exit. Both ways work -- it just depends on if your class likes syncopation.

Advanced Step

As promised, here is a new Advanced Step routine. The notes are below the video.
Hope you can use something! Enjoy!

Dana


Choreography:

Up, Up, Switch Feet x2 (4)
Step down & pivot (3)
Shuffle down the step, twist on top (5)
Spin or walk to home side (4)
Up & Lunge for 2, exit front (8)
Drag into a Tango (8)

Reverse Flye Over, Drag-Ball Change-Stomp (8)
Tick-Tock & Shuffle to the front (8)
"Rhythm Over" and stomp or pivot (8)
Revolving Door (8)

Repeater Knee (8) *see notes below
"1 and 6" (8)
Mambo off the end (4)
Shuffle up, Shuffle down (4)
Across & stomp (4)
Box (4)

*I got this repeater from a video on YouTube. I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't remember whose video it was. :-(

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