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Getting Up and Down for Lunges
Most step patterns go UP first on the downbeat
and then DOWN
on the DOWN beat: Up on 1, Down on 3. Lunges are one of the
primary patterns that start from the top and touch DOWN on
the DOWN beat, and the lead changes on the UP beat on top of
the step.
Using an EVEN NUMBER to get on top will allow
you to lunge on the proper downbeat (ODD).
With a "Basic Lunge" (aka - split basic),
you walk up on even counts, and each lunge is ODD at 2 counts
each, then walk down on the downbeat.
Here's how it breaks down:
up on 1 & 2 (even)
lunge 2Xs - 3, 4, 5, 6 (2 odds are even)
walk down 7 & 8
(even)
Although you have a lead changing (odd) element
in the pattern, you are doing it twice which makes it even
- back to the same lead. 3 evens will be EVEN, SO THE PATTERN
REPEATS ON THE SAME LEAD.
The 6 Count Transition for Lunges
Easy transitions for lunges are 6 count patterns
that seem intricate but they can be used to take you
up on 7 & 8.
With a 2 knee repeater as an example,
you can repeat this pattern several times in the breakdown.
The EVEN numbered repeats will feel off beat - because they
are - AND THEY WILL WORK ACROSS THE STANDARD 8 COUNT MEASURE,
which makes them feel even more off once you get the hang of
the music.
If you use the breakdown and repeat, you will
go up after an
odd count, ON the even count repeater.
Keeping on the 32 count, you might breakdown
as follows:
2 KNEE REPEATER - R 6CTS
2 KNEE REPEATER - L 6CTS = 12 (should feel off)
2 KNEE REPEATER - R 6CTS = 18 (up on cts 3, 4 of 3rd measure)
WALK UP UP & LUNGE 5Xs = 32
Traveling on the exit would repeat the 32 count
block on the same lead, making it EVEN.
Further breakdown:
2 knee repeater, up, up, lunge 3 exit travel
= EVEN
Add to it, one odd pattern and another even pattern
and the combo will self reverse:
L- step (odd)
travel curl 2X's (2 odds, which are even)
or
1 kick (odd)
1 basic (even)
2 V-steps (even)
Transitions to Top of Step for Lunges
| CTs |
ODDs |
EVENs |
|
| 2 |
|
Basic UP |
2 basics = 1 basic lunge. Lunges can vary
in direction: straight behind, one back one across or advanced
is a "backfire". |
| 2 |
|
One stomp |
Stomp up down, walk up on 3, 4 |
| 6 |
2 knee repeater |
|
Travels to other end, up on 7,8 |
| 6 |
|
Samba |
2 half mambos that change lead R/L, up
on 7,8 |
| 6 |
|
March around 6 |
6 walks, up on 7,8 |
| 6 |
|
6 Count Turn |
up on 7, 8 instead of a press back |
| 6 |
|
V Hold |
up, hold, up, hold, down, down, up, up |
| 6 |
|
Funky V |
up, up, hold 2 counts with shoulder shifts,
down, down, up, up |
To transition down from lunges:
To get back on the proper down beat after lunges, count down
to exit with odd numbers and rather than tapping on the exit,
travel and change lead.
When lunges face the end of the platform or the side of the
room, if the lunge starts on the mirror side, this will work
like a charm: cue 3, 2, exit travel.
To the contrary, if the lunges started on the other side of
the platform, the exit would take you to the approach which
faces the back of the room. To transition, use a single, single,
double lunge which will change the lead on the lunges to allow
for an exit back to the front approach.
What is front, what
is back? Next - the sides and approaches in step.
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PDF file of this page
Last Modified - 3/18/07
Next
Step Orientation
- Original Step Reebok & Revised
Teach 32 Count Step:
Minding the Music
- the downbeat / musical phrase
ODDs & EVENs Method
Advanced Choreography
Challenge - The Big 64
Odds & Evens Chart
of Patterns & Transitions
Getting Up & Down for
Lunges - you are here
Step
Orientation - Original Step Reebok & Revised
Teaching Mirror and
Actual Image
Step Terminology
Cuing Step
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