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Step Orientation and Approaches
The original Step Reebok manual provided the
following information for Step Orientation.
Directional Orientation referred to the participant's
orientation relative to the room.
Directional Approach referred to the participant's
orientation relative to the step platform.
The Original Step Reebok Orientations and Approaches
* The Directional
Orientation was developed at
a time when it was common to have participants on each side
of the room face "inside" toward the center of the room to
allow direct visuals of the instructor. Facing "outside" would
have each half facing away from the center and the instructor
to their respective walls of the room.
The question marks
on the center platform indicate that use of this terminology
would not work for anyone directly in front of the instructor,
not to mention that it means different directions for each
half of the class. While asking participants to face the
center of the room might be common in today's strength training
programs, it is rarely used in today's step classes. With
rare exceptions, all movement directions are performed the
same way for both sides of the room.
With the Directional Approaches,
as indicated in the lower circle, it could be somewhat
confusing to cue. Practically speaking, the directional orientation of
"front" and "back" tends to be at odds
with the "front" and
"back" approaches. Cueing a move "back"
to the "front" approach is not only a lot to say
all at once, but it would leave some participants facing the back of the room on the front of
the step.
Today's Step Orientation and Approaches
What works today has evolved through trial and
error by instructors who likely struggled with the official
terms. And what is best to communicate
directions for students can be as varied as any terminology
in step today - it's more a matter of what makes sense relative
to different regions, instructors, and participants.
As such, the below version of adaptable
orientations is by no means any kind of "official" revision
- it's simply what has worked for me
in communicating directions to my participants.
Again, check
locally with your club director to see what most instructors
use in order to provide consistency within your facility!
* Directional
Orientations - cueing "left" and "right" works in most
patterns, particularly if it is combined with visual hand cues.
The use of visual elements or features of
the room such as "mirror", "door", "wall" or "window" can be
very helpful for those who might be "left / right" directionally
challenged.
Most rooms have a mirror on the front wall, so
it may be beneficial to use "mirror" instead
of "front" and "door" or "home" instead
of "back". The use
of "home" tends to be easiest to cue and makes
the most sense, particularly if you start the class from
the "back of the step with a front approach" which
you can define as "home".
"Away" is another possible cue for the front
mirror side of the step where the official cue might
have been "front of the step, from the back approach".
However, if you cue in mirror image, you may use this
term in a different way (see next section on teaching
mirror and actual image). It should be further noted that the original
approaches did not even include a "from the back" approach
- most likely due to the loss of instructor visibility and
concern for safety.
It also makes sense to further simplify the
directional approaches - rather
than say "from
the", it just clarifies things
to use the term "face" with
which ever direction you need them to be looking at - face:
front, back, side, left, right, window, door, etc.
Teaching Beyond "The Fourth Wall" - facing
the back of the room
-> With
today's step patterns, it is common to venture beyond the "fourth
wall" - where you are facing the
back of the room and participants need to use "auditory"
cues for directions.
In this instance, Left and Right can be confusing
as the directional orientation has changed with respect
to the room. The use with emphasis of YOUR
left or YOUR
right will work for most,
but some visual learners may still be lost.
The use of visual room markers
- window, door, etc - may also help but you have to assess
and adjust for the competencies of your participants' skill
levels for following non-visual cues and comfort with auditory
or visual orientations established for your room.
Other Approaches - From the Top and Astride
Two approaches that were originally defined as "from
the top" and "from astride" help
you understand where some patterns begin such as a lunge starting
'from on top' or a "straddle up" starting 'from
astride' down on the floor. But practically speaking,
it's not likely that you will use these terms in directional
cuing all that often.
But they are good to know and can be used in some directional
instances: Gin uses “march astride” in one of her
Simply Interval combos to transition from the end of a lindy
to quick taps on top.
Today it is more common to use "from the top" to
direct the class to begin the choreography from the first pattern
learned – as a short cue for “Taking It From the
Top” aka TIFTTing.
Next:
Teaching
Mirror and Actual Image
Last modified - 3/18/07
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a PDF file of this page
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
Step Orientation - you are here
Teaching Mirror and Actual
Image
Step Terminology
Cuing Step
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