Convince straight ahead with the open position.
Let’s talk a bit about the open position, or the open step in spanish called “apertura”. Since you have mastered the Zero Position and weightchanging with elegance, I will now introduce you how to manage a graceful open step.
1. Preparation:
from zero position you glide your free foot using the big toe as reference in a straight line, as far as you can stretch out the leg without changing the position of your axis, which is over the standing leg.
Keep the line of your toes parallel to your position. Do not move in a diagonal line.
2. Small until medium size step:
preparation, weight transfer, collect to zero
If the leader send you to a small or medium size step you will
a) prepare the step as described.
b) switch your weight from one leg to the other , while you keep your spine 90 degree to the floor. The movement is coming from the hips, it is a hip slide . Your knees keeps relaxed but not flexed.
c) after the weight transfer make sure that the former standing leg which has become now the free leg, is completely straight, before you collect to zero again.
3. Big step:
Preparation, projection, weight transfer, collect to zero
Shall the leading impuls indicates a deep step, you will
a) prepare as described before
b) flex your knee of the standing leg while you present your free leg even further.
c) than you push from the standing leg into the straight free leg which glides over the floor (projection), only a straight leg is able to glide over the floor. The problem students have with projection mostly relies on the fact that they don’t stretch out the free leg.
It is important to sense the leaders intention about the size of the step.
EXERCISE:
put your weight on one leg and exercice alternating a small and a deep step without looking on the floor. Practice this movement a lot that it become memorized by your body.
Before you make the weightchange, from time to time have an instant gaze to check if your toes are aligned, then look to the front again.
BE AWARE OF MISTAKES:
1. Don’t forget to point your big toe during presentation, toe, foot and leg are linear.
2. Only the big toe touches the floor, do not use the little toe .
3. Keep a straight line with your toes.
4. A further mistake is; when you flex both knees in the same time and
5. when you transfer your weight and arrive on a flexed knee.
Exeptional, this technic (4/5) can be used, when figures require flexed knees for more dynamics and speed.
In social dance usually this is not the case.
follow to next lesson : the pivot
