SAINT LOUIS SHAG STEPS ====================== INTRODUCTION ------------ These definitions are for the LEADER's part of SAINT LOUIS SHAG as taught by Jonathan & Sylvia. These definitions compiled by: Vic & Debbie Ceder P.O. Box 841 Los Olivos, CA. 93441-0841 www.ceder.net GENERAL DANCING TECHNIQUE AND HINTS ----------------------------------- Bounce throughout. Don't jump, but have a smooth bouncing rhythm in the lower legs. Alternating Half Turns [11-NOV-92] ---------------------- From dance position. 1 thru 7: as in Half Turn 8: as in Half Turn but leader doesn't change facing direction. Then do several of the following: Mantra: "Kick-Down-Kick-Up" Kick: Down: Step on kicked foot; Kick: Kick other foot; Up: Move kicked foot to center & TURN 180 DEGREES. Only turn on 'Up'. To getout, leader remains facing the same direction (180 from initial facing direction) for 4 beats so that the follower joins him facing the same direction. Then do a Basic (turn 180 degrees on 1). Basic ("Single Step Timing") ---------------------------- From dance position. 1: Kick (L) forward; 2: Step (L) forward (just a little bit); 3: Kick (R) forward; 4: R-foot middle (no weight); 5: Step (R) backward, putting weight behind, shoulders over the trailing foot.; 6: L-foot stomp forward. (flat footed stomp). NO WEIGHT!!! 7: Rock (L) step (behind R-root); 8: Step (R); Practice doing the basic small & fast! The "stomp" should be fast & with no weight. Alternate styling: On 7, fall back onto L-foot (using a circular arc to end behind the right-foot). This will slightly kick the R-foot up front. Basic ("Triple Step Timing") ---------------------------- From dance position. 1-And-2: Triple Step 3: as in Single Step Basic (Kick (R) forward); 4: as in Single Step Basic (R-foot middle (no weight)); 5: as in Single Step Basic (Step (R) backward); 6: as in Single Step Basic (L-foot stomp forward); 7: Step FORWARD on L-foot; 8: Step middle on R-foot. Chugs [11-NOV-92] *E ----- Apparently this movement can only follow a Quarter Turn With Slide. Repeat the following (8 counts is sufficient) 1: SLIDE both feet to the Left, dragging follower to my Right; 2: Slide back to facing position; 3: Slide both feet to the Right, dragging follower to my Left; 4: Slide back to facing dancers; 5-8: as in 1 thru 4. On 1 & 5, drag the follower to my R-side as I slide to the Left. On 3 & 7, drag the follower to my L-side as I slide to the Right. The feet should remain together & should barely leave the ground. Hopping looks dorky. When doing Chugs, try to keep my head in the same spot. The feet move forward & back. Continuous Inside Foot Kicks [05-NOV-92] ---------------------------- From dance position. 1: as in Basic (kick L-foot forward); 2: as in Basic (step on L-foot); 3: as in Basic (kick R-foot forward); 4: R-foot middle. Make the follower lean forward! 5: R-foot Kick backward (DON'T STEP ON IT!); 6: R-foot middle; 7: R-foot Kick forward; 8: R-foot middle; 1: R-foot Kick backward; 2: R-foot middle; 3: R-foot Kick forward; 4: R-foot middle. Stand body up (stop leaning forward)! 5: as in Basic (step backwards on R-foot); 6: as in Basic (Stomp forward (L)); 7: as in Basic (Rock); 8: as in Basic (Step); When doing this movement, get the follower in tight as in Lindy Hop Jockey position. Remain in dance position, facing the same direction for the duration of the movement. The follower is doing the mirror image of this step throughout. Continue leaning forward for beats 4-8 of first part, and beats 1-3 of second part. When leaning forward, keep looking forward. Don't look at your feet or toward the ground. On 4 (first basic), lean forward. On 4 (second basic), stop leaning forward. Dance Position Fall Off The Log [05-NOV-92] ------------------------------- From dance position. On 5 or 6 of the preceding Basic, start lifting our forward hand way up. These hands should be flat palm-to-palm. On 7 of the preceeding basic, open up like on 3 of Fall Off The Log. 1: Turn 1/4 on the R-foot to the RIGHT, stepping in front with the L-foot. Use the R-H to lead the follower in; 2: Step on R-foot; 3: Turn 1/4 on the R-foot to the LEFT, stepping behind with the L-foot. Use the R-H to lead the follower out; 4: Step on R-foot. Repeat the above several times. Get plenty of space between us. On 1, turn inward & make sure my shoulders are closer to the follower than my feet are. Use my R-H like a (Swing) Tuck In & Out. The (leader's) R-foot should pretty much stay where it is. To getout, bring the lead arm down & just start a Basic. The sequence done in class was 16 counts of this. Foot Flicks [10-OCT-91] ----------- From dance position. This is a called step. 1: Kick L-foot forward (as in Basic); 2: Step (L) forward; 3: Kick R-foot; 4: Kick R-foot (again); 5: Kick L-foot forward while stepping on R-foot; 6: Kick R-foot forward while stepping on L-foot; 7: Kick L-foot forward while stepping on R-foot; 8: Kick L-foot (again); 1: Kick R-foot forward while stepping on L-foot; 2: Kick L-foot forward while stepping on R-foot; 3: Kick R-foot forward while stepping on L-foot; 4: (same as 4 above) 5: (same as 5 above) 6: (same as 6 above) 7: (same as 7 above) 8: (same as 8 above) Then start a basic by kicking the same foot (L) again! This is 3 kicks in a row. Half Turn [29-OCT-92] --------- From dance position. 1: as in Basic (Kick L-foot forward); 2: as in Basic (Step on L-foot forward); 3: as in Basic (Kick R-foot forward); 4: Turn 1/4 Inward & move R-foot to Knee. Turn my whole body to turn the follower. Let go of the R-H. 5: Turn another 1/4 (same direction), Kick R-foot forward (same foot); 6: Step on R-foot (slightly forward); 7: Kick L-foot forward; 8: Knee L-foot, turning 1/4 (to the L); On 1 of next Basic, turn another 1/4 (to the L) & Kick L-foot forward. Repeat several times. Use the L-H to turn (lead) the follower. Hold on with the L-H throughout the entire movement. Step on beats 2 and 6. 1 thru 3 is in dance position. Styling: On 7-8, do like a Lindy Hop Kick Away. Half Turn With Fall Off The Log [11-NOV-92] *E ------------------------------- From dance position. 1 thru 6: as in Half Turn; 7: Fall away from each other on a diagonal, almost back-to-back (leader falls onto the L-foot, crossing in front of the R-foot). Take the joined hand FORWARD & TWIST IT DOWN! 8: Rock back on R-foot. On the "Fall Off The Log", the R-foot basically remains in place as the L-foot is rotated around it. Lead this movement by falling away from the follower, slightly twisting the hand down, and BRINGING OUR JOINED HANDS FORWARD. The lead is done primarily with the wrist. Don't use the entire arm! The leader must force the follower to make weight changes. Optionally, you can do Continuous Fall Off The Logs (as in Dance Position Fall Off The Logs) for increments of 4 beats. To getout, start a basic but on 1 turn 180 degrees to face the initial facing direction. 1-2: On 1, fall foward; On 2, rock back to center; 3-4: On 3, fall backward; On 4, rock back to center; On 1, throw joined hand forward. Think about taking the arm forward in an arc & twist it down; On 3, throw joined hand backward (near shoulders); Head Freeze ----------- Same as dance position basic but: 1: as in basic (kick L-foot forward); 2: as in basic (step on L-foot); 3: as in basic (kick R-foot forward); 4: as in basic (move R-foot center); 5: Step on R-foot & look backward; 6: Stomp (L forward) & look forward; 7: Freeze; 8: Freeze. Quarter Turn [29-OCT-92] *E ------------ From dance position. 1: as in basic (Kick L-foot forward); 2: as in basic (Step on L-foot); 3: as in basic (Kick R-foot forward); 4: R-foot middle, turning 1/4 to face each other. Drop my R-H to the follower's front hip bone; 5: Step backward on R-foot while pushing the follower backwards with the R-H. Think about using the follower to PUSH MYSELF BACK! Push off just like pushing off a wall. PUSH HARDER!!! Don't take a big step backward, just put my weight on the R-foot. 6: Stomp (L) forward; 7: "Mexican Hat-dance" (but shuffled instead of kicked); 8: "Mexican Hat-dance" (but shuffled instead of kicked); Then turn 1/4 to face initial facing direction when starting the next basic. On 7-8, don't rise up the body. Just make the feet move. Alternatively on 7-8, do a Rock-Step as in a Basic. Quarter Turn With Slide [05-NOV-92] ----------------------- From dance position. 1: as in basic (Kick L-foot forward); 2: as in basic (Step on L-foot); 3: as in basic (Kick R-foot forward); 4: as in 1/4 Turn (R foot middle & turn 1/4); 5: Step on R-foot; 6: DROP Down, pulling the follower down; 7: Slide feet apart; 8: Slide feet together & stand straight up. Sliding Door [18-NOV-92] ------------ From dance position. 1: as in basic (kick L-foot forward); 2: as in basic (Step on L-foot); 3: as in basic (kick R-foot forward); 4: Hop backwards on L-foot, making the follower release her hand from my shoulder. Be sure to keep my R-H on her hip! 5: Kick (R) 6: Step (R) to the Right; 7: Kick (L) to the Left; 8: Hop on RIGHT-foot; 1: Kick (L) to the Left; 2: Step (L) to the Left; 3: Kick (R) to the Right; 4: Hop on LEFT-foot; . . (the above 8 counts can be repeated several times) . 5: Make the follower step backwards; 6: as in basic (L-foot Stomp); 7: as in basic; 8: as in basic; Lead the follower by moving her side-to-side (no forward & backward movement at all) using both hands on her hips. To getout, the leader needs to get back to the follower's left-side & then do the last 1/2 of a Basic. Sliding Door is supposed to be a variation of Alternating Half Turns: instead of going back & forth, we go side-to-side. The leader must also move from side-to-side. Don't just pull the follower side-to-side. Think about "Kick-Down(step)-Kick-Up" just as in Alternating Half Turns. Solo Turning Basics [29-OCT-92] ------------------- From dance position. Do 3 to 5 basics moving away from each other in a forward circle. This movement is lead by pushing the follower away on 1, letting go & moving away. Let go of the L-H on the previous basic; On 1 of the turning basic, push the follower away slightly with the R-H. Do the turning primarily on 1 (kick L-foot). Jonathan's hint for not screwing up (on the Basic) is to think about stepping backwards on 5, then stomping (forward) on 6. When doing a Solo Basic, the R-arm is forward on 1 & 5, the L-arm is forward on 3 & 7.