Getting To Grips (Latin Amendments)

Encouraging musicality and natural use of arms is essential at all ages and levels and there are many people who find these areas of dance difficult.

The Latin American Committee have been reviewing some of the holds used in various figures and have decided some changes need to be made.

We hope these alterations will enable you to help your pupils develop their use of arms and, in some cases lead, by allowing more freedom when choreographing their routines.

Although the changes affect different levels, the lower grades are the particular target. The use of Guapacha timing at all levels we believe will give you more freedom to explore your pupils musical potential used of course at your discretion.

To specify:

In Rumba – Sidesteps and Cucarachas may be danced with double hand hold

In Samba – In Shadow hold only one hand hold may be used, i.e. LH/LH, or RH to R shoulder blade.

In Cha Cha Cha – Turkish Towel may be danced without hold on steps 10 to 24

In Jive – Stop and Go may be danced without hold on Lady’s turn at all levels.

Our aim is to keep Latin American dancing developing and progressing and to give all our teachers the tools to do this within your own schools.

In case you would like to note the changes in your Latin American technique books, here are the amendments with page numbers:


Rumba

Page 50
Side Step to L (LF)

Note - Add 5. Double hand hold may be used.

Page 51
Side Steps to L (RF)

Note - Add 3. Double hand hold may be used.

Page 52
Side steps to R (LF)

Note - Add 3. Double hand hold may be used.

Page 53
Side Steps to R (RF)

Note - Double hand hold may be used.

Page 33
Cucarachas

Note - Line 6: Cucarachas will be danced in Closed Position with normal LH to RH or double hand hold, taking 1 to side or (L&F) diagonally back for man and lady.


Samba

Page 8
Right Shadow Position

Note - Add May be danced with LH/LH only or RH to R shoulder blade only


Jive

Page 51
Stop & Go

Delete Development (F). Add Alternative hold.

Page 105
Stalking Walks Flicks & Breaks

Note - Add Steps 9-16 should be danced with the normal spring action of Jive


Cha Cha Cha

Page 115
Turkish Towel

Alternative hold 3: Man may release hold on step 10 and dance 11 -24 without hold. On step 25 take RH to RH hold, R arm down and forward then release RH to RH hold to assist Lady’s turn.

Page 7
Guapacha timing

Line 1: Delete (L&F) Add (St, A, L&F)

Line 3: Delete (Silver Upwards)