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Spectacular Double Split Move (pause at 1:28), and an amazing
One-Hand-Over-Head Lift: Gregory Day & Tommye Giacchino

Dr Matt's Dance Class — Foxtrot Week Six

Here are the notes for each week's Foxtrot Lessons:
1    2     3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11    12    pics

Hello Everyone:

I found a 45 second clip of Joanna Leunis and her partner Michael Malitowski doing the most wicked pre-music Dancing Intro in the history of competition dancing! In the same clip, watch the Speed-Queen spin at .42 — she's so amazingly quick.

In making the Guy-Flip & Impetus Turn smooth and flowing, it will be helpful to try a different orientation: Instead of focusing on the footwork, think in terms of moving in and out of two positions in 6 counts: 3 steps into Right-Side Position and then 3 steps into Promenade Position.

Right-Side Position begins with the familiar Closed Position hold, but instead of standing "off center," the man is about 6 inches to the Left—this means the Lady is on his Right-Side.

To feel the flow of this combination (Guy-Flip & Impetus Turn), we're going to learn a "Weave" that is danced in 6 beats, and then repeated. The Weave is exactly the SAME as the Guy-Flip & Impetus Turn except the Guy is holding the Girl's Right Hand.

After completing a series of Flip Flops, with the girl flipping 4 times (360 degrees per flip), the Guy does a 180 degree Flip to Right Side Position (accomplished in 3 steps). From here, the Open Impetus Turn happens in 3 steps with the Lady stepping Outside Partner upon her Right Foot, then Sideward Left, stepping around her partner while turning just short of 360 degrees—landing in Promenade Position. Before stepping again upon her Right Foot, the lady does a Foot Brush with the her Right Foot.

In the Open Impetus, while the Girl is turning 45 degrees short of 360, the Guy is turning 45 degrees short of 180 degrees.

Utah native, Julianne Hough, and partner Apolo Anton Ohno are essentially doing this "Weave" from .50 — 1.00 (the music sounds suspiciously like "Oh My Darlin' Clementine"—how weird is that for a Paso Doble?). Julianne is a two-time champion of "Dancing with the Stars."

When the upper body is positioned and turning correctly, the footwork takes care of itself for the most part. Rule of Thumb: Keep your Feet Under You! This principle is very simple and very true. In the Julianne Hough video below, watch her dance from 1:05 — 1:10. She doesn't need to even think about where her feet are being placed . . . she just needs to keep her feet under her while Apolo is steering her around with his arms!

 :o)
Matt

Notes for Dr Matt's Ballroom Dance Class — Week Seven

Hey Dance Fans, . . . have you read my review of the
most-watched television show of the summer,
So You Think You Can Dance ?

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for Life's labors isn't
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Who You Become is your greatest possession,
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(Changing Your Stripes, 2nd Edition, page 274).

"Changing Your Stripes" presents principles for getting out of
the ditch in which you've been dumped (the difficulties of which you are victim),
and the ditch in which you've jumped (the difficulties for which you volunteer).

"Mastering a challenging situation
is ultimately a matter of
mastering yourself!"
- Matt Moody 

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making you a new kind of creature capable of communicating
with calm, even as storms of contention swirl.

If these ideas resonate and ring true,
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Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor

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