Week 7

Foxtrot

Week 7 consisted of more practice of a routine...

Practice was from the choreograph we learned the week before and consists of...

"Basic forward", "Basic backward", "Senior", "Sway", "Underarm turn", "Promenade".

This week we added the "Box" step and the "Twinkle" to the end of the routine. The Twinkle was really just a "half twinkle" so to speak. We then learned the full Twinkle where the Guy and Gal turn back, separate arms and do a step in the opposite direction. The release and turning back felt very awkward, but we gave it a shot anyway. Fortunately, or maybe more so obviously, is that when doing the Foxtrot, you can put together as many or as few of the steps that you want, and in any order you want.

For now, our (attempted) routine will probably consist of...

"Basic forward"

"Basic backward"

"Senior"

"Sway"

"Underarm turn"

"Promenade"

"Box"

"Twinkle".

That means that I have to remember all these steps. You will note that there are essentially eight different steps to remember, where as I have difficulty remembering three things much less eight, but I will try.

Linda does a much better job of remembering than I do, so she kind of helps me along... sort of like "semi leading". But then there are times I trip her up when I get out of sequence. It will just take me lots of practice to develop the

 "Muscle memory"

 as Will (instructor) calls it.

Next week we are off for Thanksgiving, and the week after Thanksgiving is our last session with the Foxtrot. After that we start with the "Swing".

 Oh boy... off to learn a new dance and at the same time still developing muscle memory for the Fortrot. I now have a much better appreciation of the amount of effort and work that is involved for the "Stars" (dancing with the Stars).

Hope all have a Happy Thanksgiving...

Week 6

Foxtrot

We are now into week 6 and have added two new steps; the Box step and the Twinkle.

Twinkle

Box Step

We started off with practice from last week's session, and then added in some practice on the Box Step and the Twinkle.

I am starting to get the hang of it... as Will (our instructor) calls it "Muscle Memory".

We almost were not able to make the session this week. Linda, who has been having neck and back problems, was at the Dr. Office Tuesday for an epidural in the neck. This was her second one in the neck. The first one went fairly well, so the idea of a second one would make things even better yet. Well, that did not happen. Somehow during the injection the Dr. hit a nerve which as described by Linda, as almost making her jump off the table. That was bad enough but things got worse from there. I thought she was going to jump out of the car window on the way back. Once home she went straight to bed. I try to consul her as much as I can but feel pretty useless. She described the feeling in her RIGHT arm as that of sticking her hand in a light socket, and described the pain as worse than delivering a baby. Never having delivered myself, I can only generally relate to that but being in the delivery room when the twins were born, I can get a good sense of how bad the pain must be.

By Thursday the pain had subsided some. It was still so bad that just to touch her Right arm or hand sent shock waves through her.

I suggested that we skip practice and stay home. Well she is just not that type. She is tough as nails, and I say that in a very loving way. It was her choice, so off we went to the "Y".

Now it is her right hand that must go to my left hand, while my arm is extended outward to the left. I know this was very difficult for her but extend she did, and I just kind of lightly supported/ touched her palm with my finger. Hand contact is very important in Ballroom dancing as that is where I give signals to the Gal as to what's coming next.

We rested the arm quite a bit, but were able to get through practice pretty well, but we did have to forgo the under arm twirl. We went through the routine and practiced the Box and Twinkle. I know she was really having trouble with the pain throughout the practice but did not let on. (After 44 years I can pretty much read her mind)

Ask her how she is and she will probably say "Oh, just hanging in there". That is short hand for "My arm hurts like hell". Today (Friday) the arm is a little better. Ask her if she will be getting another epidural in the neck, and I believe the answer you will get is...

 "HELL NO... NEVER AGAIN".

Week 5

Foxtrot

This is now week 5 of the Foxtrot, and things are getting complicated.

This week we were taught - notice I did not say learned, speaking strictly for myself - the "Zig-Zag" step and the "Underarm Turn".

Zig-Zag

We started out with practice tying together various steps, and then added in the underarm turn.

Underarm Turn

I am having trouble remembering going from one step to the next. I start out ok, but then my mind starts getting hazy as to what is next. Then I get frustrated and lose all concentration. I have been accused of overanalyzing, and that is probably true. My brain - as feeble as it is - has difficulty processing more than three things at a time. Guess what I need to do is just quit thinking.

Now, keep in mind, this is all me. Linda seems to have no trouble following, at least until I screw up. So at least one half of us are doing well.

Practice would help, and we have tried that at home, but the Foxtrot takes up so much space, and we just do not have that much space. We sort of rearranged the living room, but still not enough.

I think I may have to revert to the "KISS" (Keep It Simply Simple) concept and shorten the number of consecutive steps until I can get them down... WITHOUT THINKING, and then move on.

Not sure what's in store for next week. Hopefully not to difficult and we will have more time for practice.



Week 4

Foxtrot

This week we learned a couple new steps, and then sort of a choreograph method to move around the dance floor. Recall that the Foxtrot is a progressive dance that moves counterclockwise around the dance floor.

The two new steps are derivatives of the basic forward and basic backward.  They are called the "Junior" and "Senior". With the basic forward, and then the basic backward there is, in essence, no counterclockwise progression. With the "Junior" & "Senior" there is counterclockwise progression. The "Junior" is like the forward, except at the last step the Guys left foot is rotated clockwise, with the Gal then on the Guys left hip, then the Guy steps backward and at the last step the Guys left foot goes clockwise with the Gal then back facing the Guy. This is a much more difficult to describe than it is to do. Think of it as a way to "Zigzag" your way around the dance floor.

For the choreography, we tied together the "Junior" the "Senior" the "Swing" and then the "Promenade", and at the end of the promenade started all over again.

I may be biased, but to me the Guy is the one who has the hardest part of this dance stuff. Not only does he have to think (Yes yes I here you Gals, I am sure you are saying... Guys that can think... WOW), but also has to signal the Gal his intentions, which is done basically with hand gestures and hand pushes/pulls. All the Gal has to do is follow along... simple right?

Well that's about it for this week. Next week we learn the "Underarm Turn" and the "Twinkle".

<UNDERARM TURN >

<TWINKLE>

For now, it lots of practice and lots of "Thinking" on my part. Supposedly after a while this all becomes "Muscle memory" so not as much thinking is required. I will sure relish when I reach that part as "Thinking" is my weakness. Just ask Linda... she will tell you.

Week 3

Foxtrot

Picked up quite a few new couples today. Probably around 12 couples on the dance floor.

Learned two new steps today... The "Left Turn" ("Trouble Step") and the "Sway".

"Sway":

 The "Sway" is a step to the left, and then back to the right. Kind of like you "sway" back and forth. It would be a good step if you need to stay in one spot for awhile... you could simple keep swaying back and forth until more room opens up.

"Left Turn":

The instructors refer to the "Left Turn" as the "Trouble Step" because it is way to get out of trouble so to speak. As the Foxtrot is basically a progression dance where you move around the dance floor in a counterclockwise direction, "trouble" often arises when you meet up with other couples who may not be doing the Foxtrot, and you need a way to avoid them without breaking the stride of the dance. Essentially as you move forward, and if you encounter trouble, you back up, turn to the left and go from there.

So now we are up to five steps...

1: The "Basic Forward".

2: The "Basic Backward".

3: The "Promenade".

4: The "Turn Left".

5: The "Sway".

Now things start to get more interesting, particularly in the "Lead/Follow". As you already know it up to the Guy to lead, and the Gal to follow. What we are learning is that the Guy gives clues to the Gal, with his hand movements. Not necessarily visible movements, just pressure in various directions give the Gal the clue. Kind of like a code. Also verbal is working fairly well. When I want to do a different step, I just tell Linda what it is - with a little advance notice - and she knows what's coming. Hopefully we will be able to get it down where just body and hand movements will guide us through.

We are getting there, just take's LOTS of practice, and as our instructors tell us... "Muscle Memory".

Week 2

Foxtrot



For week 2, Linda got a new pair of dancing shoes. Guess I stepped on her toes so many times last week that I wore the old ones out. I need to be more careful in the future!

Week two presented us with three new steps...

1: The basic backward, which is really just the opposite of the basic forward.





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



2: Then the "Forward Progressive". This is just a series of the "Basic Forward" tied together.





3: And finally for this week, the "Promenade". In this step both the Guy & Gal kind of swivel to Guys left/Gals right, and then step along following the tempo Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick. This is a hard one to describe, but is a bit easier than it looks.

Next week, one of the things we will learn is collision avoidance. The Foxtrot is essentially a forward progressing dance, and takes up a lot of space on the dance floor. The dance floor at the "Y" is roughly guessing 100 feet x 100 feet, and even with only around a half dozen couples practicing we were bumping into each other. I suppose it is the "Guys" responsibility to "lead" and the "Gals" to follow. This is a difficult concept to comprehend as in all other aspects of life it is just the opposite LOL.

As far as this "lead/follow" thing, we - meaning ME - need to give signals to the Gal - meaning Linda - so that she knows what I have in mind for the next step. This we do with hand tugs, presses on the back and so forth. All I have to is to remember what I want to do next and then remember how to give her the signal. Already my mind is getting strained. I am now starting to get a better understanding what it must be like for the "Stars" on "Dancing with the Stars". They only get one week to learn...   WOW...

Well... that's all for this week. Fun, Fun, Fun.

Week 1

Foxtrot

Linda & I are taking lessons in Ballroom Dancing. The program is sponsored by the local YMCA, and is free to members (we are).

(Oh... BTW... That's not Linda & I in the above photo.

 We are the handsome/stunning ones in the upper right hand corner.)

Not exactly sure what prompted us to do this? Has a lot to do with all the free time I have since retirement, plus it also gives us a way to stay connected. After 44 years, we are pretty much "stuck like glue", but a little reinforcement never hurts. Also, this might help as a means of therapy for Linda, who has been in agony and pain for the last several months, due to spinal degradation. It also will give us the opportunity to "show off" when we take our next cruise. And who knows... "Dancing with the Stars"; Here we come. But other than all that, mostly we think it will be just plain FUN.

At any rate... here we go.

The program consists of learning 4 dances over an eight week course for each dance. We start off with the "Fox Trot", and then the "Swing", "Waltz", and one other which escapes my (feeble) memory. I think it might be the "Samba". The instructors are YMCA Volunteers, and have been teaching this course for several years now. There are several other couples taking the course, so we get a good taste of what it will be like on the real dance floor, with all the bumping and navigation.

As mentioned, we start off with the "Foxtrot". This week we learned the basic step procedure. I am finding that there are several different "procedures", and you learn them one at time, and then the entire dance consists of tying all the procedures together.  Check out this link if you want some more info on the "Foxtrot"... http://www.centralhome.com/ballroomcountry/foxtrot_steps.htm

Here is how the basic step looks for the Guy. Obviously just the opposite for Gal.

That's all for now... at home practicing.