Figures Studied

East Coast Swing Figures Lessons 1-3

• Basic footwork, triple step timing

• Swing hold, closed position

• Rotating basic

• Throwout going from closed position to open position

• Follower underarm turn (outside turn)

• Follower underarm loop turn (inside turn)

• The Sweetheart or Cuddle

• Leader's waist wrap

• Tuck in turn/spin (led from handshake hold)

• The Windmill (or coninuous tuck in turns)

Video 1 -- covers the basic triple step, rotating basic, closed & open positions, outside & inside turns 

Video 2 -- covers the Cuddle

Salsa Figures Lessons 1-3

• Footwork for the basic forward & back steps (quick-quick-slow)

• Basic sideways steps, with coordinated arm movements

• Rotating the basic figure to the left

• Follower Underarm Turn to the Right 

• Cross-body lead (initiate after leader's forward step, then step back & pivot while moving out of follower's way)

• Cross-body lead opening into a loop underarm turn to the left (for the follower)

• Cross-body lead opening into a New York (circular swing of arms downwards while pivoting to the side, proceed into the New York with both partners doing side-by-side forward breaks)

• Coming out of a New York -- swivel and turn -- opposite to partner

Foxtrot Figures Lessons 1-3 

• Basic footwork (slow slow quick quick)

• Corner rock turn (forward-back rock on slow-slow, rotate on quick-quick); can also be used without turning but to simply move into another track

• Pattern -- forward basic, then backwards basic, repeat

• Modify the above pattern into a zig-zag pattern

• The sidestep or sway (side tap, side tap, side together)

• Promenade, coming out of the zig-zag

• Under-arm turn for follower during the promenade -- it is a travelling turn, not a spot turn

• Reverse turn using the a different timing -- slow quick quick

Learn 7 Foxtrot Steps for Beginners

Cha-Cha Figures Lessons 1-3

• Rhythm of the Cha-cha and Cuban motion excercise

• Basic footwork for sideways cha-cha, in-place cha-cha, forward cha-cha

• Follower Underarm Turn to the Right (leader raise arm along the ch-cha-cha)

• The Chase (initiate from leader's forward basic, and swivel 180° on the forward break)

• The New York (initiate after leader's backward break, left arm lowered and push along cha-cha-cha, flatten palm, circular swing downwards while pivoting to the side, proceed into the New York with both partners doing side-by-side forward breaks) 

• The Cross-body lead (initiate after leader's forward break, move out of follower's path by rotating 90° while stepping back, follower walks in front, leader swivels and rocks to shift weight)

• Cross-body leading into a New York

Rumba Figures Lessons 1-3

• Intro and Basic Box

• Turning box (counterclock wise)

• Underarm turn to the Right (follower loops to the right and circles back)

• Turning Box with underarm turn

• Outside partner break/rock (initiated at the end of a full box)

• Hand to hand (initiated after a half box)

• Underarm turn for the follwer, to the left and then immediately to the right (initiated after a half box)

Learn 7 Rumba Steps for Beginners

Waltz Figures Lessons 1-4

• Basic Box

• Progressive Basic or Closed Change (half boxes to travel around dance floor)

• Underarm Turn to the Right (follower loops to the right and circles back)

• Forward/closed Twinkle (enter promenade position between counts 2 & 3)

• Twinkle leading into a Hand-to-hand Twinkle

• Turning Box (counterclock wise)

• Turning Box with underarm turn