Moves From Heaven (and why)

[David Bailey]

In response to this whiney whine, let's have a Moves From Heaven, or Moves You Can't Live Without, thread.

Your starter for ten:

1. Cross-body right hand lead with turn (official name? Who knows...).
In case anyone's going , it goes like this:
- R-R hold, Man forward on left foot, woman back on right
- Man draws the woman forward to his left, turning her 1.5 turns anti-clockwise whilst turning 1/2 a turn to face
- End up facing again; man forward on left foot, woman back on right...

Why?: Because it's simple to describe but fiendishly difficult to do well, it looks absolutely lovely - elegant, with more footwork and timing required than normal. Also, it flushes out the closet salseras who recognise a cross-body lead

(Same rules as before - only 1 move, give reason, DON'T TALK ABOUT IT. )

Amazingly enough, I'm didn't choose the straightjacket, I'm not totally obsessed with that one...

[Gadget]

My current favourites are...

- comb type lead-outs where I can lead with/by fore-arms, elbows and shoulders (including "elbow-roll" moves) Just because it's unusual and confuses some ladies.

- Hug type moves ("blues, lady front basket hold"?) because I can wave arms about, use my whole body to lead, there's a nice 'lean-back' move I like to do from it, {...and you can sometimes get a nice 'cuddle' }

- First move follow, because I am playing with lots of variations just now and there is so much you can do from the move

- Drop-overs, both man and ladys; where the hand/arm is taken behind the head to 'pillow' position. Because it can be a nice pose and is an unusual position to lead from/to.

- Swizzle and pretzel style moves because so many ladys express dissproval of these moves I like to try and lead variations and make it less of a move

- 'blank' moves where I remove the lead for the lady to improvise herself it lets me mirror them and play with/adapt to their styling more.

... erm... that pretty much describes most of my repertoir just now But then again, why lead moves you don;t like?

[jockey]

Screwdriver stop (best move in a break ever)
Ballroom Drop (looks good and safe (for the man..))
One - armed dip (Australian) (Looks impossible)
Continuous Pretzel ( see smiling partner through circle described by arms)
The Hanger (Any move where girl ends up upside down has to be good)
The Headchopper (Its fast, dramatic and has the fabulous sweep)

[David Bailey]

Screwdriver stop (best move in a break ever)
Ballroom Drop (looks good and safe (for the man..))
One - armed dip (Australian) (Looks impossible)
Continuous Pretzel ( see smiling partner through circle described by arms)
The Hanger (Any move where girl ends up upside down has to be good)
The Headchopper (Its fast, dramatic and has the fabulous sweep)

Hey, can't you read The Rules?!?

One! Just one!

Nice selection though...

[Rhythm King]

Hey, can't you read The Rules?!?

One! Just one!

Nice selection though...

The Cuddle Manhattan - every time I try it on someone new, they either say how much they like it, or pass some other positive comment

[Jazz_Shoes (Ash)]

The Cuddle Manhattan

What's that?

[David Bailey]

What's that?

new one on me too - please explain?

[Rhythm King]

(Same rules as before - only 1 move, give reason, DON'T TALK ABOUT IT. )

[David Bailey]

See here

[Dancing Teeth]

Move: Right Handed ArchiSpin..
Why: God, it feels soooo good. makes me want to cry.

[Msfab]

Move: Right Handed ArchiSpin..
Why: God, it feels soooo good. makes me what to cry.

Especially with an extra turn by the lady!

[Doc Iain]

The first move...
I love it, can be used to fill time, can be made longer or shorter to fit the music. You can start it and change the ending half way through without too many problems. So many variations possible right from a round the world type affair through to a west manhatten walk with columbian ending... anything is possible from it.

[Rhythm King]

See here

Start LH to RH
Step back, offering both
Lead follower past right hand side raising both hands to turn her anti-clockwise 1/2 turn to face, as leader turns 1/2 turn clockwise to face
Leader continues full turn clockwise to face again, releasing RH & placing it around follower in ballroom embrace
Step leader forward, follower back into manhattan pattern, continue and exit to leader's choice.

[DavidB]

1. Cross-body right hand lead with turn (official name? Who knows...).
In case anyone's going , it goes like this:
- R-R hold, Man forward on left foot, woman back on right
- Man draws the woman forward to his left, turning her 1.5 turns anti-clockwise whilst turning 1/2 a turn to face
- End up facing again; man forward on left foot, woman back on right...

My favourite move is pretty similar. But I lead it Mans Left to Lady's right, and after the lady has gone past me, I 'mirror' the move, and spin 1.5 turns anti-clockwise while travelling past her.

My other favourite move is towards the bar...

[David Bailey]

My favourite move is pretty similar. But I lead it Mans Left to Lady's right, and after the lady has gone past me, I 'mirror' the move, and spin 1.5 turns anti-clockwise while travelling past her.

My other favourite move is towards the bar...

Blimey, you're halfway there by the time you've done that one

Sounds like a lovely move though, I must try it!

[Lory]

It's times like this, I wish I paid attention to the names of moves!

[Daisy Chain]

The Octopus

I know it's simple, but it flows so beautifully. I remember doing it at my very first Ceroc lesson.

Daisy

(An Easily Pleased Little FLower)


PS I also love the Seducer. There's nothing like being seduced by a man who knows what he's doing...

[Anna]

laybacks.. any kind of layback.. even just a basic one, i'm not fussy.. love them all. hold on..

do u folk call them lambadah's or something different over here? my dancepartner is frm the UK and im sure he has a funny name for laybacks..

- dancer's are the athletes of god - albert enstein (and man did he know his stuff or what!)

[Lory]

I don't know the name of the move but it's LatinLovers speciality the guy holds you very tightly and you both spin round, together, really fast!
If it's done well and there's NO BOUNCE what so ever, it's incredibly exhilarating!!

And recently, I seemed to have mastered assisted spins, I love them, especially when they end dramatically, in a small dip and added bonus points for hitting a break with that (I also greatly appreciate a 'return' after )

[Purple Sparkler]

The Moonlight Lift- Because I'm a show off and it's just a gorgeous move. It's also my favourite lift.

The Valentino- My favourite Seducer- simple but effective.

The First Move Lady Steal- Entirely and completely evil. Reduces seasoned dancers to gibbering wrecks. Reactions range from "what the f*** was that?" to "cool! Do that again!"- generally partners like it because it varies things a bit. And I plan on learning as many evil steal moves as I can from Nicky Haslam at Monster Jive.

The Backhanded Ballroom Drop-Again, it's a real show off move- you have to catch the guy's offered hand behind his back ON THE WAY DOWN INTO THE DROP. It effing rules. I like the Nosedive for similar reasons of it being a ballroom drop done at high speed.

Plus all Laid-Backs because they're so stylish. And the Ecuador Lunge because (as I've said elsewhere) when guys do it it's great to be able to match them lunge for lunge.

EDIT: Reasons now included.