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Level 4

This document provides instruction for level 4 dance lessons, including techniques for swing outs, Charleston moves, stretching, releasing, and dancing to the music. It outlines exercises and patterns incorporating these skills, such as swing outs with different counts and releases, Charleston basics, and a shim sham shimmy pattern. Guidance is given for both leaders and follows on techniques like arm positions, pulses, and maintaining connection during moves like swing outs.

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104 views8 pages

Level 4

This document provides instruction for level 4 dance lessons, including techniques for swing outs, Charleston moves, stretching, releasing, and dancing to the music. It outlines exercises and patterns incorporating these skills, such as swing outs with different counts and releases, Charleston basics, and a shim sham shimmy pattern. Guidance is given for both leaders and follows on techniques like arm positions, pulses, and maintaining connection during moves like swing outs.

Uploaded by

Sir
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LEVEL 4

LESSON 2 – MATCHING
Centerpoint Matching:
SBS Charleston
Charleston Kick Aways
Pancake Charleston
Lolly Kicks
Charleston 6-ct Tuck Turn
Charleston 6-ct Underarm Pass
Centerpoint Matching:
6-ct Lindy Underarm Pass (switch to x-hand)
Cross-Hand Lindy Side Pass
Butterfly w/ triples
Elbow Matching:
Lindy Side-to-Side x4
Lindy Boomerang
Lindy 8-ct Underarm Pass
Charleston Side Pass x3 (switch to x-hand)
Charleston Butterfly
Mini Dip
Shoulder Matching:
He-Goes/She-Goes Lindy
Triple Swing x2
Send-Out
Sugar Push x3
Lindy Hand Passes
LEVEL 4
LESSON 3 – STRETCH
Stretch Exercises:
 Lean away from partner whole body
 Lean away from partner from hips

Stretch Techniques:
-Shoulders rolled back and are engaged
-Arms remain loose
-Fingers are engaged
-Full body movement including x-body arms.
-Arm connected to your partner doesn't fully
straighten, and keeps at least a slight bend.
-Arm(s) doesn't tighten before beginning to
stretch.
-Arm(s) isn't pushing to create the stretch. The
stretch from the arm is a result of the full body
moving together (arms/feet/body).
-Free Arm (not connected to your partner)
swings back just as much as the connected arm
swings forward.
-When stretching with a rock-step, the "step" of
the Rock-Step doesn't move forward, so the
Stretch happens just after the Rock-Step, and
not before.

Stretch Moves:
--Lindy Side-to-Side
--Rock Steps with Cross-Body Arms
--Lindy Underarm Pass (8-ct)
--Swing-Out
--Choose 4 Patterns from any of the Level 1-3
Lessons demonstrating Stretch on any Move
that begins with a Rock-Step
LEVEL 4
LESSON 4 - RELEASE
Moves to Practice Stretch-Release:
 Side-to-Side (release into each triple)
 Swing-Out (release into the 1st triple)
 Lindy Circle (release into the 1st triple)
Moves to Practice Turn-Release:
 6/8ct Underarm Pass (release into last triple)
 6/8ct Tuck Turn (release into last triple)
 SO to Inside Turn (release into the last triple)
 SO to Outside Turn (release into last triple)
Pattern 1:
Swing-Out from Closed
8-ct Underarm Pass (release into last triple)
Swing-Out from Open (release into 1st triple)
Lindy Circle (release into 1st triple)
Pattern 2:
Swing-Out (release into 1st triple)
Lindy Circle (release into 1st triple)
Lindy 8-ct Tuck Turn (release into last triple)
SO to Inside Turn (release into 1st and last triple)
Swing-Out (release into 1st triple step)
SO to Outside Turn (release into 1st & last triple)
LESSON 5 - ARMS AND PULSE
 Perform the Front-to-Back as a solo move
o Proper arms on the "&"s, proper pulse
 Demonstrate a 6-ct Lindy Underarm Pass
o Show correct arm swings on "2&"
 Demonstrate solo Swing-Outs Lead/Follow
o Proper arm swings on the "&"s
o Follows turn on 2
o Leads turn on 2 & 6
 Demonstrate the Swing-Out with a partner
o Proper pulse, footwork, arms on "&"s
LEVEL 4
LESSON 6 - CHARLESTON TECHNIQUE
 Groove Walks
o With a stretch-release type of pulse, or
"contracting" pulse when the toe or heel
goes down on even beats
 Kick-Steps
o With a stretch-release type of pulse, or
"contracting" pulse when the toe or heel
goes down on even beats
 Charleston Basic (SBS for Lindy Hop)
o Same "contracting" pulse
o Arm swings on the "&" beats
 SBS switch between F2B/Charleston Show
o Proper pulse and arm swings
o Ability to lead and follow both the moves
themselves, and the changes between
the moves.
 Try the same in Tandem Charleston

LESSON 10 – SWING-OUT TECHNIQUES


 Counts “1-2&” *arm swing, 2in place, push off, release into triple
o Into Swing-Out

o Into “hold”

o Into triple step, slide “5”

 Counts “3&4” *release on “4&”, 5 is solo rock-step, low tone/no pull

o Into Swing-Out

o Into Rock-Step Front-Step (in Closed)

 Half Swing-Out *shoulder matching, 5 is solo rock-step, low tone

o Alternate between half and whole

 Leaders shoulder tap on “7-8” of Swing-Out


*leaders all the way around before 7, no giddy-up, arms 7-8, slow to stretch
LEVEL 4
LESSON 7 - DANCING TO THE MUSIC
Identifying Form and Style within Jazz Music

Play different music


 Pick out a straight rhythm or swing rhythm in the
percussion section, or in another instrument like
a banjo if its providing the rhythm section.
 See if you can pick out other qualities that might
tell you something about the song.
o Is the Brass section more prominent?
o Does the melody stand out more than the
rhythm section?

Dance to the song


 Does it make you want to Triple Step? If so,
what rhythm does the Triple Step take based on
the rhythm of the song?
 Does it make you want to do Charleston moves?
If so, why or why not?
 What else do you hear in the music that is
guiding your dance choices?

Review Level 3 Musicality concepts


 Listen to the Phrase and Chorus structure of the
music. Does it have a traditional 8-bar structure,
or maybe it has a "Blues Chorus" (6-8's to a
phrase).
 Try different movements on the B sections of
each phrase, and listen for different sounds
within each phrase.
LEVEL 4
LESSON 8 - SWING-OUTS FOR LEADERS
GENERAL:
1. Lean forward over toes, knees bent, hold weight
2. Elbows point down & be true to the SOLO!
3. Relax (no tone overuse)
COUNTS “1-2”:
1. Rock Step in place, not reaching or crossing over
2. Pulse on the rock step dips down and up both feet
3. Picking up feet, Rolling through both toe and heel
4. Free arm swings back and connected arm forward
5. Shoulder engaged to create stretch, then release
6. Not letting shoulder out
7. Arm swing “2&” during upward pulse into Triple
COUNTS “3&4”:
1. Elbows should point down inc. closed pos hand
2. No dip down of posture or body on 4
COUNT “4-and”:
1. Arm swing on “4&” moves the follow, not pulling
2. Release the closed hand on the upward pulse
3. Direct follow in front (huggy bear), not side or round
4. Not opening up the upper body or shoulders yet
COUNT “5”:
1. R-foot Rock Step straight back, just like count 1
2. Redirect should have already happened
3. Arm should not still be connected in closed
COUNT “6”:
1. L foot stays in place, not reaching or crossing over
2. Pulse dips down and up on both steps
3. Picking up feet, rolling through both toe and heel
4. L-foot turns 180 to return to Open Position
COUNTS “7&8”:
1. Should be back in Open to lead the Triple Step
2. No L arm giddy up (L arm is “back”)
3. R arm fwd so no early stretch, follow can stay close
COUNT “8-and”:
1. Arm swing “8&” begins L arm shoulder engagement
LEVEL 4
LESSON 8 - SWING-OUTS FOR FOLLOW
 Keep Level 4 techniques, replacing 1-2 with twists!
 Maintain opposition of upper/lower body to “net
straight” in the connection
 Make twists feel the same as a rock step
 Don't disengage R arm as you try to master the feel of
the twists in the Swing-Out
 Don't move/guide Leader's arm movements on twists
 Arm Switch on “2-and”
 Stay in front of the leader “&3&4”, matching
 Arm Switch on “2-&” matches elbows and centerpoint
 Don't let arm go during the first triple step
 Match your partner and keep hands in the middle
 Stay loose and stay "ready," don't lean back
 Twists/rock step “1-2” stay in place, especially L on2
 R foot between Leader's legs all of first triple step
 Shouldn't go around the Leader after beat 4
 Stay in close like a hug for beats 5-6
 Don’t cross the R foot behind the L foot on beat 6
 Like a front-step, “5-6” steps forward L, together R
 Shoulder Match past beat 4 (stay in front of Leader)
 Elbows down for Swing-Out movements
 Don't run away from Leader on beats 5-8.
 Stay close at the end until Stretch is asked for
 Don't create Stretch, only match Stretch
 Don't let Stretch become counter-balance
 Weight over toes and pulse in the legs
 Be as true to the solo movement as you can!
LEVEL 4

LESSON 11 SHIM SHAM SHIMMY


Shim Sham Step R-L-R
Break Step
Cross-Overs
Tackie Annie x3
Break Step
Half-Break x2
Break Step
Half-Break x2
Break Step
Repeat, hold the Break Steps
Boogie Back x4
Boogie Forward x4
Boogie Back x4
Boogie Forward x4
Boogie Back x4
Shorty George forward
Boogie Back x4
Shorty George forward

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