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Thread: Catapult – follower's left hip?

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    Registered User happygoldfish's Avatar
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    Question Catapult – follower's left hip?

    Ceroc™ has always taught the catapult with the leader's left hand bringing the follower's left hand to her left hip on Count 4.

    Does anyone actually do this in freestyle?

    It means that the follower's left arm is stretched in front of her on Count 3, is tucked in to her hip on Count 4, and stretched in front of her again on Count 5.

    What is the point of that?

    Isn't it a sort of jerky parade-ground dancing-by-numbers?

    Surely the catapult is much smoother and easier for the the follower if she is encouraged to leave her left arm in the same position (relative to her own body) from the get-hold to the let-go?

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    Re: Catapult – follower's left hip?

    Quote Originally Posted by happygoldfish View Post
    Ceroc™ has always taught the catapult with the leader's left hand bringing the follower's left hand to her left hip on Count 4.

    Does anyone actually do this in freestyle?
    Yes

    Quote Originally Posted by happygoldfish
    It means that the follower's left arm is stretched in front of her on Count 3, is tucked in to her hip on Count 4, and stretched in front of her again on Count 5.

    What is the point of that?
    It acts IMO as a block so the lady cannot anticipate the spin thus throwing the timing out completely.. similar to "returning the lady to her previous position" in a first move on beat 4.

    When following I also use this as a prepare for the spin on beat 5.

    Quote Originally Posted by happygoldfish
    Isn't it a sort of jerky parade-ground dancing-by-numbers?
    I dance every beat of a catapult and have never had any complaints from anyone by being "jerky".. I find it's a very smooth move myself.

    Quote Originally Posted by happygoldfish
    Surely the catapult is much smoother and easier for the the follower if she is encouraged to leave her left arm in the same position (relative to her own body) from the get-hold to the let-go?
    Again going to back "when I follow" I tend to use this as a prepare for a spin, I wouldn't be very well prepared to spin on beat 5 had my left hand not been in the correct position.

    --

    Woo look at me replying to a "technical thread".

    --

    Jamie

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    Re: Catapult – follower's left hip?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jamie View Post
    --

    Woo look at me replying to a "technical thread".

    --

    Jamie
    Im getting worried about you me lad!!

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    Registered User nebula's Avatar
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    Re: Catapult – follower's left hip?

    Has anyone done a catapult where you bring the follower to your right instead of left? Totally unusual, brings the "unexpected" element into the move, keeps the follower on her/his toes (instead of going through the motions...), and looks nice, too!

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    Registered User Freya's Avatar
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    Re: Catapult – follower's left hip?

    Nebula I hate it! I find it awkward and doesn't look nice because I feel awkward and all wrong!

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    Re: Catapult – follower's left hip?

    Quote Originally Posted by Freya View Post
    Nebula I hate it! I find it awkward and doesn't look nice because I feel awkward and all wrong!
    What if the man didn't use his left hand and turned more side-on?
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

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    Re: Catapult – follower's left hip?

    Quote Originally Posted by nebula View Post
    Has anyone done a catapult where you bring the follower to your right instead of left?
    Aye. The default is for the follower to go to the left hand side of the man, so it's rough to lead well. Plus, leading behind my back is always tricky without a mirror.

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    Re: Catapult – follower's left hip?

    Quote Originally Posted by happygoldfish View Post
    Ceroc™ has always taught the catapult with the leader's left hand bringing the follower's left hand to her left hip on Count 4.

    Does anyone actually do this in freestyle?

    What is the point of that?
    Yes. Vital part of the move IMHO; the leader's left hand is not so much taken to the follower's left hip as extended to the lead's left to form a barrier - the follower's hand just happens to be there.

    The point? Well, it adds control to the move and provides a definite position rather than having a wild sweeping motion that is more likley to (literally) cattapult the follower off in some random direction in a spin. It also encourages the follower to step in-line with you to get a nicer look to the move and set up the next count better.

    The actual rotation part comes from the follower stepping from this position infront of you, while turning to face. Then the spin comes by taking the hand around the follower's waist and projecting it away from you (taught to the left, but I prefer infront).

    "Normally" I hold this position for a count and rotate with the follower 180º (stepping back while they step forward) before spinning them out - Personally I prefer the look of it.

    {PS I also block at this position and then swap to mirroring it on the right side, but seldom 'spin out' from here; there are much more interesting things you can do }

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    Re: Catapult – follower's left hip?

    PS I also block at this position and then swap to mirroring it on the right side, but seldom 'spin out' from here; there are much more interesting things you can do
    Mmm Yes - anyone who watches you dance for even 1 track will know that you have your own totally unique way of dancing

    Thanks for the dances at Beach Ballroom Gadget

    Whitetiger

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    Re: Catapult – follower's left hip?

    Quote Originally Posted by whitetiger1518 View Post
    Mmm Yes - anyone who watches you dance for even 1 track will know that you have your own totally unique way of dancing
    Not that unique - otherwise I wouldn't be able to dance with anyone

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    Re: Catapult – follower's left hip?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gadget View Post
    Not that unique - otherwise I wouldn't be able to dance with anyone
    Ah yes - you use left hand moves, right hand moves and two handed moves - but I should have said your Unique style. Noone else quite has your style of putting them together, just as Absolutely noone has Franck's style - he may have taught everyone else the moves - but only he has that style - see what I mean now??

    Whitetiger

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    Re: Catapult – follower's left hip?

    Quote Originally Posted by whitetiger1518 View Post
    Absolutely noone has Franck's style - he may have taught everyone else the moves - but only he has that style - see what I mean now??
    If I put wax on the soles of my shoes I might get an approximation of the footwork

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    Re: Catapult – follower's left hip?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    What if the man didn't use his left hand and turned more side-on?
    Not quite sure what you mean. Show me on Saturday!

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