| Orbits™:
Core
1.
Both partners oriented towards each other
Demonstrations
View the clip:
merengue_orbit_inward_orientation_no_hold.avi
(4.6 Mb)
Notice that:
- Shirin and
Nathan maintain a constant partner distance, even while they
are moving;
- both Shirin
and Nathan move on the circumference of a circle, the centre
of which is the midpoint of their partner distance;
- they keep
their centrelines oriented towards each other;
- a merengue
walk is used through out;
- the effect
of remaining oriented to each other causes some steps to be taken
across the front of the body;
- they pause
once they've changed places.
Now view the
clip:
merengue_orbit_inward_orientation_open_hold.avi
(4.6 Mb)
This demonstration
is identical to the previous one, with the addition of a parallel double-handed
(open) hold.
Finally, watch:
merengue_orbit_inward_orientation_close_hold.avi
(4.6 Mb)
Notice that:
- the close
hold results in a much smaller partnership distance, reducing
the circumference of the circle, and therefore the distance that Shirin
and Nathan need to travel through;
- their steps
across the body have been substituted with a “close” step,
since it is no longer necessary to travel.
Preparation
Let's try the first one - without hold, circling clockwise.
Stand facing
your partner with offset. Your partner distance should be slightly greater
than if you were in open hold.
Teaching points:
- Imagine that
your partner and yourself are standing on opposite sides of a big
hula hoop on the floor. The hoop forms the path that both of
you should merengue on.
- Imagine there
is a vertical pole in the middle of the circle. Try to keep
the pole in between your partner and your self, and your centreline
pointed at the pole as you move on the circle.
Description
- Lead and Follower:
merengue on the spot and synchronise your lower body actions so you
are both in phase.
- Lead: begin
your walk by stepping to your left with your left leg. Continue walking
along the “hoop” until you have changed places with your
partner.
Follower: your first step should be taken with your right leg across
the front of your body to your left. Continue walking along the “hoop”
until you have changed places with your partner.
- Lead and Follower:
repeat the process again to complete an entire rotation.
Once you've naturalised
this exercise, you can go on and try the variants demonstrated in the
other two videos - by decreasing partner distance and including a double-handed
or a close hold (for more parameters, see Goals below).
2.
One partner oriented towards the other, the other oriented away
Demonstration
View
the clip:
merengue_orbit_nohold_lead_oneorientation.avi
(4.8 Mb)
Notice that:
- as
she starts, Shirin orients herself to her dance of line;
- Nathan's orientation
remains fixed to a point outside the circle;
- their dance
lines still describe a complete circle.
Below is a less
common variant, where the follower maintains a fixed orientation:
merengue_orbit_nohold_follower_oneorientation.avi
(6.9 Mb)
Preparation
Let's
try the first one - without hold, circling clockwise.
Stand facing
your partner with offset. Your partner distance should be slightly greater
than if you were in open hold.
Description
- Lead and Follower:
merengue on the spot and synchronise your lower body actions so you
are both in phase.
- Lead: before
you begin, imagine a point at least 5 meters directly in front of
you and fix its location relative to the room. You should try to keep
your centreline aligned with that point as you trace your circle.
- Lead: begin
your walk by stepping to your left with your left leg. Continue walking
along the “hoop” until you've traced a complete circle.
Follower: turn your body to the left (anti-clockwise) pointing your
centreline along your line of dance, as you take a forward
step with your right leg. Continue walking with your orientation along
the “hoop” until you've traced a complete circle.
Again, you can
experiment with various parameters after you've naturalised this exercise
(see Goals below).
Principles
The effect of maintaining a constant partnership distance moving about
a central axis, is the formation of a single rotating partnered unit.
This large circle, or orbit, forms the “shell” or framework
within which the smaller HALO™ and neutral turns are performed.
Enclosing
smaller individual turns within a larger partnership circle results
in smoother flowing combinations, both in feel and in presentation.
Goals
It's necessary to be fluent with orbits in all their guises because
they constitute the framework of most of your combinations.
The main parameters
you might investigate are:
- Direction
of rotation - clockwise & anti-clockwise;
- Partnership
distance - near, far;
- Type of hold
- single-handed, double-handed, close;
- Orientation
- intra partnership, extra partnership;
- Phase - in
phase, out of phase;
- Starting leg
- left, right.
The last two
are especially important to understand and naturalise. You need to be
able to get into the rotation and keep it going without having
to think about which foot to use, or whether you're in phase.
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