Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The Base Move Is... A Double/Single Stomp

I've been working on this for quite a while now, and finally got the time and inclination to make this video. I've had a lot of fun in my classes coming up with new ways to modify the Double Stomp/Single Stomp, and I thought that this might give some folks some inspiration to do some creating, too.

The video is a long one -- I had to edit it down just to make it fit into the 10-minute time limit, so what is shown in the video is not every move that I could come up with as a variation on this Base Move.

Essentially, what I figured out is that if you take a 5-count lead changing move and combine it with a 3-count lead changing move, you can use a Double Stomp/Single Stomp as the Base move, since it also has the same configuration.

I attempted to put the following information into the video, but it was in table format and it just wasn't legible on the video. So, I'm listing as many 5-count lead changers as I could think of (most are in the video if reading them doesn't make sense) and 3-count lead changers. Simply take any two moves and put them together. Hey, you can even put the 3-count move first for something different!! Just be sure that the final move doesn't change lead legs, or else your Base Move won't be a Double Stomp/Single Stomp.


5-Count Lead Changers

  1. Double Stomp, exit
  2. Rock on Top, exit
  3. Tick-Tock, exit
  4. Flick-kick, exit
  5. Stomp Over, on Top, exit
  6. Any of the above moves with a straddle exit
  7. Stomp Wide and Spin over to the front
  8. Stomp Wide and Spin into a straddle
  9. Stomp off the end & go Across, step down
  10. Chasse over, Chasse over & exit
  11. Add Syncopation (hold one step longer and then double-time 2 other steps)
  12. Stomp & Switch going up onto the step, chasse across, step down


3-Count Lead Changers

  1. 1 stomp, exit
  2. 1 stomp, straddle
  3. Stomp on the floor instead of on the step
  4. Stomp on the floor on the front of the step, but exit at home
  5. Pivot on the floor
  6. Crossover & march (Jazz Square)
  7. Kick-Ball-Change
  8. Drag


Here's the video.... Sorry for the white legs!! Oh, and can you spot my friend, and excellent Step instructor, Leslie, in my video????

Monday, May 26, 2008

More 6-Count Lead Changers

I have been compiling more 6-count lead changers for quite a while, and I figured I had enough to make a decent video. So, here you go. Hope you have some sunglasses to shield your eyes from the blinding white of my legs! :-) Enjoy.






Friday, May 16, 2008

Easy Intermediate Step Routine, May 16, 2008

Hi everyone! Here's another easy Intermediate Step routine. I put in a few options at the end. Hope you can use some/all of this.



Choreography:

Glutes, x2 (8)
Stomp & Pivot (4)
Shuffle Straddle (4)
Chasse Rock, x2 (8)
Jump Shots, x2 (8)
Knee lift over, x2 (8)
Double knee Jazz Square (8)
Double Lunge (8)
Inner Thigh, x2 (8)

Basic Over (4)
1 Kick (4)
3 Hamstrings on top, exit at home (8)
2 V-Steps (8)
Repeater Knee (8)
4 Squats going over (8)
Rocking Horse (8)
1/2-L-Step (4)
Across x2 (8)
Knee exit (4)

Rock on Top, x2 (10)
Alternating stomps (6)
L-Step (8)
2 Basics (8)
Abduct Around the World (16)
Tap out wide x2 (8)
1 Knee mambo cha-cha (8)

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Easy Intermediate Routine, May 13, 2008

Here is an easy intermediate routine. It's based on a harder routine that I posted on March 4th (or near that date). I had a request for a simpler version of that routine, and here's what I came up with. Hope you can use some or all of this.

Dana



Choreography:

Hamstring Hangover (4)
Cross on top, and exit (4)
Kick straddle (4)
Cut the Corner (4)
Lunges for 6, straddle (16)
Knee lift over, x2 (8)
1 Mambo, 1 Pivot (8)
Double stomp, single stomp (8)
Kicks, x2 (8)

Revolving Door (8)
Repeater Knee (8)
Glutes 1/2 Around the World (8)
Diagonal to home, pivot & walk to step (8)
Basic Over (4)
1 Basic facing the back of the room (4)
Abduct, x2 (8)
Knees 1/2 Around the World (8)
2 V-steps (8) *optional jump into squat on 2nd V-step

Quick over, x2 (4)
Inner Thigh (4)
V-slide, Mambo cha-cha (8)
L-Step (8)
Hamstrings, x2 (8) *optional 4 hamstrings on the floor in a box around the step

Saturday, May 3, 2008

SJ's Advanced Step, May 2, 2008

It's been a while since I posted anything, so I've been busy taping various classes. I hope you can use some of this stuff my brain dreams up!

Leslie and I had a great time in Houston!! We took many of the same sessions, and the ones we didn't were great opportunities for sharing knowledge between us. While we were there, we attended Josh's class (megaman80 on YouTube) which was a total BLAST!! He's a genuinely nice person, and his class was a lot of fun, and really quite challenging for me, which I loved! The people in Houston are very nice -- very friendly!

So, here's my latest advanced class, which has some Manuel Velazquez flair, as well as a bit of Joan Altisen... and the rest is all me. Let me know if you'd like breakdowns and I'll see what I can do.



Choreography:

Mambo off the end (4)

Shuffle Straddle (4)

Rock back, Spin (4)

Up & Lunge 2, exit into Tango (13)

Reverse Turn (4)

1 Stomp (3)

Chasse Spin over (4)

Reverse up, 2 hams on top (4)

Stomp floor, reverse Straddle & Drag (8)

Knee switch 3 (6)

Box at home (4)

Knee walk back/switch (6)

Kick-ball-change straddle (4)

Repeater (knee, switch, rock back, switch, exit) (8)

Basic Over (4)

Abduct/Rebound (7)

½ Curb Walk (5)

Cut the Corner (4)

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Breakdown of Intermediate Step, March 30, 2008

Wow, it's April already! Only 16 days until I go to Houston with my friend Leslie (Lethal Leslie) for DCAC Houston. I'm really looking forward to it -- and actually being able to TAKE some classes from some of the greats in Step! We're planning to go to Megaman80's class while in Houston, too, so it will be fun to meet him.

Anyhow, here's the first breakdown video for my Intermediate Step class from March 30, 2008. So far, I haven't taped any of the other parts of the class, so let me know if there are certain parts you'd like me to break down, and I'll do my best.

Dana


Monday, March 31, 2008

Intermediate Step, March 30, 2008

I got a chance to tape my latest Intermediate routine yesterday. I also taped the breakdown of the first 32 counts, which will be posted shortly, so check back for the video with the same background. Have fun!!

Dana

Choreography:

Quick Over x2 (4)
2 Toe Taps (or one stomp) (2)
Up-Up & lunge 3, exit home (10)
Cut the corner, x2 (8)
1 Knee & Walk Back (8)
Rock on Top, Box Cha-cha (8)
Tick-Tock, Shuffle Front (8)
Shuffle Forward Straddle, Shuffle Backwards Straddle (8)
Rocking Horse Straddle (8)

5-Knee Repeater (12)
Basic (or Delay) Over (4)
1 Knee, 1 Elvis (4)
Crossover & Straddle (4)
Curb Walk (8)
Kick Repeater (8)
Revolving Door (8)
Tap Wide, x2 (8)
L-Step (8)

Chasse Rock or Chasse Swivel, x2 (8)
Double knee & walk around to the front (8)
Hamstring Straddle (4)
Pivot on the home side (4)
Repeater Knee (8)


Thursday, March 27, 2008

SJ's Advanced Step, March 24, 2008

So, here's my latest advanced routine. I left out the words on the bottom this time, but here's the choreography notes for you. Let me know if you want breakdowns of any of this and I'll talk to my boss. :-)







Choreography Notes:


Rhythm V-Slide (4)
Pivot (4)
Rock 3 on top, Switch feet (4)
Straddle & Rock back at home (4)
Stomp & Switch up, Crossover & Exit (8)
L-Step (8)

Drag over, Switch feet, Rock back & Swivel (6)
Double Stomp & Spin over, stomp the floor (8)
Stomps Around the World (I did this as drag over, reverse up & stomp, drag over, reverse up & stomp) (12)
Repeater 2 (I did this as chasse over x2 & swivel) (6)

Full-circle Turnstep (8)
Quick 5 (5)
Repeater Knee (I did this as up-up, switch feet 3 times, swivel, straddle - From Lethal Leslie) (8)
Reverse Elvis (6)
Slow 5 (5)

Have Fun!!! That's what it's all about!!

Dana

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Breakdown of Combo 3, Advanced Step routine of March 4, 2008

This combo was my favorite of this whole class. It just flows so well. The breakdown is long, but doesn't have any jumps that are too difficult, I don't thing. My class enjoyed this one. Hope you can use something. Enjoy!

Dana


Friday, March 21, 2008

Breakdown of Combo 2 of Advanced Step March 4,2008

Here you go. This is the breakdown of the 2nd combo of my advanced step routine from March 4, 2008. I still have Combo 3 to work on, so check back for it soon!! Enjoy.