This is a four-week lesson plan consisting of 1-1/2 hour lessons each week. The lesson plan allows for new students to start by the second week, but not after. Rhythm exercises will only be done for weeks 1 & 2.
Week 1:
Rhythm Exercises
+ Absolute Patterns: Salsa - Side Basic, 5th Position Basic
+ Absolute Patterns: Mambo - Front Basic, Side Basic, Breakaway Basic, Chase
& Follow
Week 2:
Review week 1 + New Partner Patterns
Closed Basic
Crossover Breaks
Crossover Breaks with Turn-Out
F: Forward Turn from Closed Basic
Combinations:
Week 3:
Review week 1 & 2 + New Partner Patterns
5th Position Basic
5th Position Basic with F: Outside Turn
5th Position Basic with L: Outside Turn
5th Positition Basic with L & F: Outside Turns
Combinations:
Week 4:
Review week 1, 2 & 3 + New Partner Patterns
Breakaway Basic into F: Forward Turn
Breakaway Basic into Pull-In and Push-Out
F: Forward Turn with Hand Change into Sweetheart
Cross Body Lead
Cross Body Lead with F: Outside Turn
Combinations:
Absolute Patterns (Individual Patterns) are done without a partner
Adjusted Patterns (Partner Patterns) are done with a partner
L: = Leader
F: = Follower
Blank, Single, Delayed Single, Double, Triple
Practicing "with a partner" (Adjusted Patterns)
Rhythm Cards: Single Rhythm, Single Rhythm
PATTERN
Counts 2 and 4 are a touch with the Free Foot next to the weighted foot.
Count: 1 2 3 4 [X /] [X /] L:Foot L R F:Foot R L Dir s T s T F-Pos 2 1 2 1
Verbal:
[Side Tog] [Side Tog] or
[Slow] [Slow]
Lift unweighted foot off the floor prior to stepping Take small steps
Rhythm Card: Double Rhythm
This is where the Rock Step will be introduced - similar to a Ball Change.
Cuban Motion comes from flexing & straightening the knees and digging the free foot into the floor to execute the next step. The dig starts with the ball of the foot and goes to flat with the CPB centered over the ball of the foot. The heel may come down onto the floor, but the full body weight is centered over the ball of the foot.
To get started, on count 1 all weight over the Lt Foot, with left hip projecting to the Lt. On count 2 dig Rt Foot into floor transfering weight to Rt Foot as Rt hip starts moving Rt and ends up projecting to the Rt as full weight is transferred to Rt Foot. Moving back to count 1 again, dig Lt Foot into floor transfering weight to Lt Foot as Lt hip starts moving Lt and ends up projecting to the Lt as full weight is transferred to the Lt Foot.
Execute Rhythm Pattern very slowly using Cuban Motion
Count: 1 2 [X X] L&F:Foot L R ... Also do exercise again starting with Rt Foot Free instead of Lt Dir T T F-Pos 1 1
Verbal:
[1 2] or
[March March] or
[Step Twice] or
[Quick Quick]
PATTERN
Count: 1 2 [X X] L&F:Foot L R ... Also do exercise again starting with Rt Foot Free instead of Lt Foot Dir s P F-Pos 2 2
Verbal:
[Rock Step] [Rock Step] or
[Quick Quick]
PATTERN
Count: 1 2 [X X] L&F:Foot L R Dir f P F-Pos 4 4
Verbal:
[Rock Step] [Rock Step] or
[Quick Quick]
PATTERN
Count: 1 2 [X X] L&F:Foot R L Dir b P F-Pos 4 4
Verbal:
[Rock Step] [Rock Step] or
[Quick Quick]
Lift unweighted foot off the floor prior to stepping Take small steps
Rhythm Cards: Double, Single, Double, Single
PATTERN
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [X X] [X /] [X X] [X /] L:Foot L R L R L R L:Dir s T s T S T s T L:F-Pos 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 F:Foot R L R L R L F:Dir s T s T s T s T F:F-Pos 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1
Verbal:
[Side Tog] [Side Touch] [Side Tog] [Side Touch] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]
Take small steps Use Cuban Motion
PATTERN
Please note that the Touch has been removed and replaced by a Hold. The Touch is not really necessary, but it gets the students accustomed to the concept of a Slow.
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [X X] [X /] [X X] [X /] L:Foot L R L R L R L:Dir b P s b P s L:F-Pos 5 5 2 5 5 2 F:Foot R L R L R L F:Dir b P s b P s F:F-Pos 5 5 2 5 5 2
Verbal:
[Bk Pl] [Side Hold] [Bk Pl] [Side Hold] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]
Take small steps Use Cuban Motion
PATTERN
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [X X] [X /] [X X] [X /] L:Foot L R L R L R L:Dir f P s b P s L:F-Pos 4 4 2 4 4 2 F:Foot R L R L R L F:Dir b P s f P s F:F-Pos 4 4 2 4 4 2
Verbal:
Leader: [Fwd Back] [Side] [Bk Fwd] [Side]
Follower: [Bk Fwd] [Side] {Fwd Bk] [Side] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]
Take small steps Use Cuban Motion
PATTERN
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [X X] [X /] [X X] [X /] L:Foot L R L R L R L:Dir s P T S P T L:F-Pos 2 2 1 2 2 1 F:Foot R L R L R L F:Dir s P T s P T F:F-Pos 2 2 1 2 2 1
Verbal:
[Side Place] [Tog] [Side Place] [Tog] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]
Take small steps Use Cuban Motion
PATTERN
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [X X] [X /] [X X] [X /] L:Foot L R L R L R L:Dir b P s b P s L:F-Pos 4 4 2 4 4 2 F:Foot R L R L R L F:Dir b P s b P s F:F-Pos 4 4 2 4 4 2
Verbal:
Leader: [Bk Fwd] [Side] [Bk Fwd] [Side]
Follower: {Bk Fwd] [Side] {Bk Fwd] [Side] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]
Take small steps Use Cuban Motion
PATTERN
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [X X] [X /] [X X] [X /] L:Foot L R L R L R L:Dir F F T F F T L:F-Pos 4 4 1 4 4 1 L:Turn .1/2Rt> .1/2Rt> F:Foot R L R L R L F:Dir B P T F F T F:F-Pos 4 4 1 4 4 1 F:Turn .1/2Rt> ... F: another 1/2 Rt on next 1 2
Verbal:
Leader: [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog]
Follower: [Bk Fwd] [Tog] [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] then [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] [Fwd-Turn
Fwd] [Tog] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]
Take small steps Use Cuban Motion
This step pattern starts with a Forward Break Turn (1/2 Rt Turn) on counts [1 2] followed by another 1/2 Rt Turn on counts [3 4] to complete the full turn. The turn is lead after count 2 with the Leader lifting the Lt Hand strait up and leading the turn by pulling in with the Rt Hand on the Follower's shoulder blade.
PATTERN
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [X X] [X /] [X X] [X /] L:Foot L R L R L R L:Dir F F T B F T L:F-Pos 4 4 1 4 4 1 L:Turn 1/2Rt>1/2Rt> F:Foot R L R L R L F:Dir B P T F F T F:F-Pos 4 4 2 4 4 1 F:Turn 1/2Rt>1/2Rt>
Verbal:
Leader: [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog]
Follower: [Bk Fwd] [Tog] [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] then [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] [Fwd-Turn
Fwd] [Tog] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]
Take small steps Use Cuban Motion