Richard’s ABD Winter Workshops 2007-2008
(Hancock Recreation Center, 811 E 41st Street)
Each is two hours with a 15 minute break in the middle, starting at 7:30pm.
Costs for ABD members are $10 per workshop; 5 for $40; all 9 for $70;
costs for non-members are $12 per workshop; 5 for $50; all 9 for $85.
These workshops are separate from Don’s workshops
(paying for all of mine doesn’t get you any of his and vice versa).
Thursday, Dec. 06: Smooth Continuity
We’ll be dancing Foxtrot and Waltz with continuity styling; first reviewing the basics, the open left and open right turns. Then we’ll play with a few variations on these and some ways to change directions and adjust the steps for those moments when traffic alters circumstances. Participants should already be familiar with (if not entirely comfortable with) the open left and right turns.
Thursday, Dec. 13: Peabody
This vigorous dance doesn’t get nearly the time it should; many people seem to shy away when they find out it’s faster than Quickstep with even more time spent in right and left side (outside partner) positions. We will be dancing Peabody from the beginning, working our way through walks, runs, left and right turns, and perhaps some swivels and grapevines. Anyone who has done continuity styling should be able to adapt to Peabody without too much fuss. Come prepared to sweat.
Friday, Dec. 14: Taking the Ballroom (dancing) out of the Ballroom (location)
We’ll be talking about using ballroom dances in environments where a wide, solid frame might not be appropriate. Ways to adjust positions, movements, and patterns so you can use your ballroom dances in other environments without looking like some stiff ballroom snob. A much wider variety of music will be used, and you’re welcomed to bring a CD of your own and see if I can twist it into a ballroom dance (not everything works, of course, but a lot more will than most people think).
Thursday, Dec. 20: Dancing Across Dances
Many people have a substantially larger repertoire of patterns and skills in one or more dances than in some others, feeling confident in one subset of what’s available and completely left out in others. This class will discuss the inter-relatedness of all movement and apply movements and patterns across dances so that you too can use your favorite Waltz patterns in Merengue, Samba in Viennese Waltz, and Cha-cha in Rumba. Come ready to be surprised, or bring a challenge for Richard—he’ll do any pattern you bring in three other dances.
Friday, Dec. 21: Floorcraftiness
Learn how to use what you already have to weave your way through traffic. Not your normal “use this pattern class,” we’ll be using a slalom course, tag, reverse-tag, and a couple other fun and unusual methods to improve steering and judgment of who’s going where and whether that gap in traffic will still be there when you get there. Not just for the leaders, it takes some practice to not panic during those close-calls, too.
Thursday, Jan. 03: Breakin’ it down and Makin’ Stuff Up
A challenge to take the patterns you know apart and put them back together differently so they still work. The more you know, the more you’ll take from this class, but it’s largely a shift in mindset. We’ll start by breaking down some of what we do into smaller elements and noting the ways we use these smaller elements in our larger figures. Then we’ll be looking at the various dance positions and room positions, seeing which patterns work where, and then develop getting from one spot to another without using the normal patterns, by using smaller pieces to meet intermediate goals.
Friday, Jan. 04: Hustle into the New Year
We’ll learn this couple’s dance from scratch. We’ll start using a rock step and by the end of the night we’ll have the option of using a coaster-step on open moves. This dance is fast and done in a modified slot to disco music (although I’ll try to sneak in some modern music as well). Come prepared to sweat. Polyester suit optional. Very optional.
Thursday, Jan. 10: Advanced Bolero
We will learn two advanced figures in Bolero, at least one of which I have not taught at ABD in at least 4 years.
Friday, Jan. 11: Partnership Fundamentals
You won’t learn a single dance pattern in this class, but you’ll spend two hours learning how to dance. We’ll be covering the most important element in every partnership dance: how to be a good partner. This is lead/follow and basic movement and is excellent preparation for any other dance class. Absolutely no previous knowledge needed.
