Topic: Graeme & Ann's Really Useful Sequence

[andrew_w]

The Really Useful Sequence ^TM

Not going to much detail as I'd have to spend a week typing
Danced to the tune "Yankee Doodle Never Went To Town"
2x Swingout
Lindy Circle
Double turnout
release to
Solo Charleston
Stomp Charleston
Stop Charleston (10 counts)
Turning Charleston (6 counts)
Texas Tommy (end R to R)
entry to Back Charleston
1 Back Charleston
Lady Turn Charleston
1 Back Charleston
Lady Turn Charleston into
2 Opposite Charleston into
Break step
(similar to burst of freedom L down R down L down R down -turning
back step L down jump into R cross L snap turn to face)
into Opposite Charleston
exit into Horse and cart
bounce kick ball change into Parntered Shorty George (8 counts)
Kickups (4) end Left to Left into
American Spin
Change places freeze on 5 6 7 8 -> Suzi Q (8 count)
Lindy circle
kick through (2)
8 beat walk
8 beat walk modified with spin out for lady
Round the world finish on 7 into
Boogie forward for men Boogie back for ladies (8 counts)
Boogie forward for ladies Boogie back for men (8 counts)
Lindy Turn (no backstep) into Kick Out / Corridor into
entry to Back Charleston
Travelling Charleson (2)
Throw over (3) + Throw out
Wrong sided jockey
8 beat swivel turn
2 swing and drag charleston
Shoot Down Back Step
Twist Walk (16 count)
Man freeze lady twist (8 count)
2 Lindy Turn
Lindy Circle
Round back into
Twist Walks
POSE

Was a lot of fun though!

[Mr Cool]

Andrew i am always amazed at how you recall long dance sequences.
I for one believe that swing dancing  should be based on lead and follow and not be reduced to  sequence dancing. Having danced with most lady lindy hoppers  I do despair at the number who think  dancing is about going through choreographed moves. Why do most lindy teachers  want to teach every single step in a long drawn out routine and then allow no time to dance at the end of the class?
 
 I feel sad that so many lindy hoppers only do lessons or dance exclusively with a small number of partners who know their moves. Guys girls feel the music and dance. A well executed swing out or whip to fast or slow music looks so good. You only get these moves right with lots of free style dance practice.

   

[jivedave]

I think what Mr Cool is saying exemplifies the point(s) i was trying to make about trying to put moves together when attending Jongleurs (Wrongleurs) on a Tuesday - which seems to be about 'ad-libing' (out of necessity) rather than perhaps stringing sequences of clearly defined moves together as in class - though  one needs classes to learn some moves in the first place.

[andrew_w]

Andy - I don't remember sequences of any length, I wrote that one down

The 1st thing I'd say by way of reply is that this was an unusual workshop and was billed as a coreographed routine. I only learned one new shape in the whole afternoon (and brushed up on many I don't use regularly). The way I saw it was looking at the art of the possible - you'll note that there isn't a single basic step, but you'll also note that there aren't any complex variations. I don't expect to use the sequence we learned unless it was in a performance situation, but I will probably consider many of the links between shapes that I wouldn't have considered before.

I've been to Lindy classes with some good teachers and to a man (and woman) they have taught a mini routine of moves. Every one has emphasised other aspects through these "routines" though and the one that comes up most frequently is Lead & Follow (Graeme & Ann frequently tell men to forget the footwork in favour of getting the lead right).

WRT the local teachers I see no reason for any follower attending classes with Graeme & Ann or Gary & Sarah getting the idea that they should walk through anything in a set order apart from known patterns like a mini dip or points. Lead and follow is hammered as fundamental by both couples.

So that leaves the point about staying in tight knit groups - well putting it simply "people are shy" so if you're feeling a bit unsure you stay with the familiar.

Lindy is also rather an all encompassing term. The dance taught by Graeme and Ann is very different from the one taught by Gerry & Lynn - a Savoy Lindy Turn (a move I'm getting very comfortable with) is a completely different move to the one that achieves the same result that Gerry & Lynn call a swingout (a different move again in Savoy style). If like me you choose to dance Lindy 'cos that's what you like doing, then this becomes an issue as you need to learn a different move (which I'm beginning to) or become adept at manhandling partners around a Savoy Lindy Turn.

Jivedave - Lindy is all about ad libbing but yes you need to learn the shapes (or moves) first before you can string them together in just about any order. Because of the structure of Lindy there is little need to worry about the move you have just done having an influence on the next one (apart from which hold you are in). The back step (led of course) wipes the slate clean so anything is possible. (that isn't unique to Lindy by the way)

[Mr Cool]

Andrew i am not wanting to criticise. everybody has their view.
 I  believe passionately  dancing is primarily about musical interpretation based on lead and follow.
It doesnt matter whether it is Lindy, WCS, Balboa, Tango or the Blues ( I like to see how many i can lead in the same track Ha)
  In my opinion most dance teachers  over teach they should encourage dancers to dance spend more time discussing posture, centre, lead and follow, musicality and style. They should give people positive pointers when they are dancing.
 It is so easy to  rely on teaching routines.
  Why teach so many naff moves? Ceroc have 800 moves how many Dancers of whatever level can do 20 with Panache
     

[andrew_w]

Agree with a lot of that.

But G&A and G&S spend a lot of time discussing dance fundamentals, so perhaps they're just the exception that proves the rule.

Naff Lindy Move is an oxymoron 

[Nick M]

Why teach so many naff moves? Ceroc have 800 moves how many Dancers of whatever level can do 20 with Panache

Who's panache and where does she dance? I would be happy to show her my 20 moves!

[Batman]

Why teach so many naff moves? Ceroc have 800 moves how many Dancers of whatever level can do 20 with Panache

Who's panache and where does she dance? I would be happy to show her my 20 moves!

Sorry Nick, I do believe he's some foreign geyser trying to muscle in...

[Justine]

Who's panache and where does she dance? I would be happy to show her my 20 moves!
[/quote]


Thats funny, well it made me laugh hahahahaaaaa