Salsa Steps Record for Revision: BEGINNER 1

My last post here detailed the steps of my ballet class's exam piece.
The ill-fated post got eaten by a server error.
I try again, this time with the salsa steps.

EDIT: Have decided to post the entire series in one post: the reverse chronologic posts are too confusing otherwise. Will keep coming back to add new discoveries / tips etc.

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BEGINNER 1, CLASS 1

Cucaracha
Body weight transfers to stepping foot.
Step open to the side on 1.
Step in place with other foot on 2.
Close together on 3.
Repeat other side for 5,6,7.

Note:
4 and 8 are usually silent in Salsa; to denote the rhythmic pause in movement.

Mambo
Solo: Left foot forward on 1
Women during partnered sequences: Right foot backward on 1

Important Note:
In Mambo, focus on strengthening and defining the hip motion of forward and back; not side to side. Some pivoting to the sides will occur naturally.
Practice until able to develop smooth, continuous power in the lower torso throughout the entire movement. Without jerking.

Right Turn
Initiate turn on count 2, spin; be back in position by count 4 to resume Mambo 5,6,7.

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BEGINNER 1, CLASS 2

Developing correct shoulder-&-upper-body-movement
Thorax Laterals: Arms out cruciform. Isolate upper and lower body. Pull upper body to left, pull upper body to right.

Shoulder Rolls: perform alternate shoulders to Count 1,2,3 ; 5,6,7
Practice until smooth; but maintaining full power/torque of motion in the pause.

Combine Shoulder Rolls with Thorax Lateral. Should be able to feel the upper abs and torso working; not only the shoulder groups.

Men roll forward.
Women roll backward.

Interesting to Note:
Physical dynamic of forward shoulder rolls works more easily with flat-soled footwear. Also encourages a more 'aggressive/leading/pursuant' posture.
Backward rolling shoulder movement by contrast suits a posture with heels raised off the floor and the centre of gravity balanced on balls of feet. IE - much like a person wearing heels. Also lends a more 'drawing/enticing/retreating' posture

Once able, practice combining upper body movements with Mambo hips until natural. Requires practice - feels much like attempting to move body in opposing planes.


Cross-Body Lead
Men step aside on 3; lead partner across own body with left hand, guide partner with light pressure from right hand.
Women walk straight through, make 1/2 turn to face partner.

Right Turn Spin
Men initiate hand sway down on 1, up on 3, crown partner's head on 5;
Helpful Tip: A slight movement to the inside/Men's Left will help impart momentum to the partner's spin.
Women prepare step for right turn on 5.

Men's Turn
Men turn on 1,2,3, on 3 change hands behind back so left hand passes partner's hand to right.
May be usefully combined with a Right Turn Spin immediately.

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BEGINNER 1, CLASS 3

Victory Walk
Begin Mambo as usual.
Hook right foot back and diagonally behind left on 5, reposition body to diagonal when continuing 6,7, continue with regular Mambo in this direction on 1.

Open-Hand Mambo
Hold both hands instead.

Two-Handed Spin / Hammerlock
Men initiate on 5, but only turn partner on 6; both end up slightly beside each other on a diagonal.

Left Turn
Hook left foot behind right on 3, spin 180 degrees on 5, spin 180 degrees on 6, return to starting position on 7.

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BEGINNER 1, CLASS 4

Body Wave
For now with upper body only; begin with upper thorax thrust forward; flow the forward thrust movement down to the hips.
May be usefully combined with Victory Walk from count 6... or where appropriate.

Cross Body Lead with Left Turn
Men step aside on count 3, as before- but lift left hand and crown partner's head anticlockwise, twice.
Women complete 1/2 and 1 turn to the left; 1/2 spin each count 4,5,6 and end facing partner on 7.

Cucaracha with Spin
As before, step to side and transfer body weight to stepping foot; on count 2 swing back body into a spin ending on count 3. Aim to keep feet together during spin. Repeat same on other side.
Useful tip: use pirouette head with strong eye focus to keep balance with momentum.
Question: Is it okay to have 'oversteer' happening?

Combinations
Mambo, CrossBodyLead, CrossBodyLead
Mambo, CrossBodyLead Left Turn, repeat ad nauseum


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BEGINNER 1, CLASS 5

Cross Body Left Turn
Womens' Footwork begins as for Mambo basic with Cross Body Lead; but partner will lead you to turn to your Left as you come out across- in effect you make a quick 1/2 turn each count 5,6,7; completing 1 and 1/2 turns to finish facing partner; on count 7 weight will be on Left foot ready to begin women's Mambo as normal on 1.
Men's Lead requires to lift partner's hand overhead on count 5; while tilting own fingers to point downwards.
Helpful Tip: a slight movement outwards to Men's Right will help impart momentum to the partner's Left Turn. Move to crown partner's head.

Joby
Begin Mambo. On count 7 instead of straight 7, place Right foot to Left of the Left foot; on next count 1, bring Left foot over Right foot; count 2 bring Right foot back into Mambo sequence slightly behind Left foot and commence normal Mambo.

Combinations
CBLT, RT, Pickup 2hand
(...this is really the HammerLock and then the release isn't it?)
R/Flip, Closed Mambo
CBL, change hands Right to Right
RT, Alarde, Closed Mambo


Note: Something else similar to a Men's Alarde sort of... didn't get the name....

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BEGINNER 1, CLASS 6

Hook Turn
Mambo as usual. On 5 hook the right foot back and diagonally across behind left foot; begin making a quarter turn; balance of weight to be on this foot. On 6 lift Left foot and place making another quarter turn or so; balance of weight to be on this foot. Meanwhile, Right foot comes around in arc following body. On 7 weight transfer to Right foot finishing in 360 degree turn from where the Mambo began; back to the usual silent 8 and basic Mambo on the next 1.

Combinations
Cross Body Left Turn
HammerLock
Cross Body Left Turn (from HammerLock)
TwoHanded CrossBodyLead with a Men's Hook on count 7.
Men end up with Left arm behind back holding partner's Right hand- switch hands for Right to Right hold;
leading partner into a Right Turn
followed by Alarde (x3) catching partner's fallen hand to continue.
On final Alarde, Men bring Right hand straight to partner's shoulderblade by count 7 drawing partner into CrossBodyLead.

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BEGINNER 1, CLASS 7

Crossovers
Begin a Joby as per normal till count 7 , cross left leg to right and pause on 8
On count 1 bring left leg over right foot and pause - on 5 bring rigt leg up over left foot and pause
On next 1, 3, 5, 7, repeat crossing motion (neatly and rapidly) and finish as per normal Joby joining to count 1.

Butterfly
From a Women’s double handed hold of Men’s left hand-- Men lift their partner’s double hand hold over head as though beginning an Alarde but Men bring/flow that hand down to partner’s left shoulder blade at once.
Women allow hands to slip behind head and part at neck; bring down both into normal Mambo arm position.
Continue into Closed Mambo

Combinations 1
Mambo, mambo, CrossBodyLead, CrossBodyLeftTurn

Combinations 2
CrossBodyLeftTurn
Right Turn por Atras
Left Flip
Drop to R Hand to Hand
Right Turn
Butterfly