elcome to Round Dance BOLERO
BL 100 General
HISTORY:
Bolero was a Spanish dance in 3/4 time during the 1700s, but it was danced to 2/4 music and then to 4/4 music in Cuba during the 1800s, and it became popular in the United States in the 1930s. Round dancing picked up this rhythm in the 1990s. Bolero is smooth, powerful, romantic, full of love and yearning. It has been called the "Cuban Dance of Love."
Sample of Round Dance Cuban Bolero
You Light Up My Life
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BL 100.1 Preparation
What Bolero is not:
The most famous piece of Bolero music is "Ravel's Bolero"; but that is not the Cuban Bolero. Ravel's is more descended from that Spanish 3/4 time; so it would be choreographed as a waltz!
This is NOT Round Dance Bolero! [Fast-Forward by 50 seconds to skip over chatter]
We will not be dancing this waltz.
Bolero Waltz Music: Ravel's classic "Bolero" cues: Tim Pilachowski
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BL 100.2 Prerequisite
Prefer knowledge of Phase 3 Rumba (though not necessary).
International-style Rumba is danced to Quick-Quick-Slow beat;
however, the Bolero is danced to Slow-Quick-Quick.
If you know the footwork for the ROCK-RECOVER portions of Rumba,
you already know most of the Bolero footwork!
Examples of the beginner-level Rumba steps
BL 101 Intro to Round Dance ====================
For general Round Dance Rules, Direction of Dance, Alignment to Walls, etc.,
Link to Page BL101
BL 102 Bolero Basic Steps --------------------
BL 102 Bolero Basic Steps --------------------
STEPS
Most steps start with a SLOW SIDE, followed by the familiar Rumba moves.
BASIC STEP
In closed or butterfly position, step side with body rise.
Step back with a slipping action (woman slips forward).
On third step (that is the fourth beat) man steps forward and woman steps back.
The second measure: sd, -, slp fwd (W slp bk), bk (W fwd);
- HALF BASIC
Each measure may be used alone and cued Half Basic.
If your lead feet are free, a half basic is the first measure described above.
If your trail feet are free it is the second measure.
- FORWARD BASIC
The second measure of this figure can also be referred to as a Forward Basic.
This video clip is a simple ballroom lesson introducing a few steps, but also showing some easy technique and styling.
STEPS
Most steps start with a SLOW SIDE, followed by the familiar Rumba moves.
BASIC STEP
In closed or butterfly position, step side with body rise.
Step back with a slipping action (woman slips forward).
On third step (that is the fourth beat) man steps forward and woman steps back.
The second measure: sd, -, slp fwd (W slp bk), bk (W fwd);
- HALF BASIC
Each measure may be used alone and cued Half Basic.
If your lead feet are free, a half basic is the first measure described above.
If your trail feet are free it is the second measure.
- FORWARD BASIC
The second measure of this figure can also be referred to as a Forward Basic.
BL 103 --------------------
Level 1 Figure List
Basic Bolero Walks Forward Break New Yorker Shoulder-to-Shoulder Underarm Turn
ABBREVIATIONS: SQQ = Slow Quick Quick. SD = Side. SLP BK = Slip Back FWD = Forward
PUNCTUATION: Music measures end with a ; Beats are separated with a ,
The hyphen is a beat of music that combines with the previous beat to create a SLOW movement.
BASIC Timing: SQQ; SQQ
Man: SD, -, SLP BK, FWD; SD, -, SLP FWD, BK; NOTE: SLP means do not pick up the foot.
Lady: SD, -, SLP FWD, BK; SD, -, SLP BK, FWD;
FORWARD BREAK
Man: SD & FWD, -, FWD, BK
Lady: SD & BK, -, BK, FWD
NEW YORKER Timing: SQQ;
Both: SD, -, SLP FWD, BK NOTE: During the SLP FWD, start turning to a side-by-side position.
During the BK, start turning to facing partner position
BL 105 Technique & Bolero Characteristics ------------------
Bolero is characterized by a close hold, almost a waltz closed position, by the side step that begins most figures, by body rise during that first step, and by one of the slowest tempos in round dancing.
Round dancers are not obliged to perform the extreme stylizing and extensions as performed by Ballroom dancers. Round dancers may use movements such as in the You Light Up My Life example above in Section BL 100.
Ballroom Demo
BL 120 Lesson Drill ==================
A learning example. These dancers are in the early learning stage.
If you want some at-home practice, you could try to dance along to this selection; however, some of the steps are borrowed from Level 2.
EXAMPLE ONLY....We will not be dancing this choreography.
Louie, Louie
BL 130 Workshop ====================
~ Blue Velvet ~
Dance Name: Smooth as Satin. Song: Blue Velvet
There is a Phase 4 choreographed dance already entitled Blue Velvet.
BACK STORY
The song was originally recorded by Tony Bennett in 1951 and reached No.16 on the Billboard Chart; but Bobby Vinton's version in 1964 hit the top of the chart at No.1.
ABBREVIATIONS: LOD = Line of Dance. 2x = Two times
SH-SH = SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.
CUES INCLUDE
INTRO:
SH-SH 2x
Part A:
FULL BASIC; ; UNDERARM TURN; NEW YORKER 2x; ;
SH-SH 2x ; ; FORWARD BREAK;
Bridge:
CIRCLE AWAY & TOGETHER; ;
Interlude:
APART, POINT, TOGETHER, TOUCH
Part B:
NEW YORKER (OPEN, LOD); BOLERO WALK 3
HELPFUL HINTS
Note-- POINT and TOUCH are "actions." They do not take weight.
The "3" in BOLERO WALK 3 means 3 weight changes.
(i.e., 3 steps in a single BOLERO WALK, not 3 BOLERO WALKS)
Focus on: FORWARD BREAK
Man: SD & FWD, -, FWD, BK
Lady: SD & BK, -, BK, FWD
The direction "SD & FWD" means SIDE Step, but slightly at a forward angle..
Trying to figure out Blue Velvet Bolero for the first time.
BL 150 Jukebox ====================
BL 151 Audio step practice Under construction. More to be added.