The Savoy's are normally done as a Four-Wall dance routine done in Open Position. They normally start off as a Side By Side routine for 8 beats, then turn left with one dancer behind the other, then turn left again with the dancers Side By Side, then turn left again with the opposite dancer behind the other, then turn left again with the dancers Side By Side. This results in five 8 beat Step Patterns, which may not phrase correctly to the music. However, the dancers usually executed some other Entry and Exit Step Patterns to correct the phrasing. Also, please note that this is a "Same Foot" type step pattern. That is, both dancers start and end on the same foot. </p>
The most used method of doing the Savoy's is an ODD, EVEN, ODD, EVEN Rhythm Pattern. This is the method we will use for this lesson. However, with only a two beat change in where you start the pattern it could become an EVEN, ODD, EVEN, ODD Rhythm Pattern which fits very well with the rest of today's swing dance teaching techniques.
This Step Pattern is normally executed with the Follower starting on the Right Side of the Leader, but this could be reversed, depending on the Entry and Exit Step Patterns used. For our purposes here we will use the normal starting position with Follower on the right side of the Leader.
Pattern (Cards): Delayed Single, Blank, Delayed Single, Blank.
Savoy's Step Pattern: Demonstrate the step pattern.
In this case, the Absolute & Adjusted Patterns are the same.
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
[ / X] [ / /] [ / X] [ / /]
Foot L L R R R R L L
Dir Kf T Kf T Kb Hk T Kb
Pos 4 1 4 1 4 1 4
Turn .1/4LT (CC)..>
Verbal:
[1 2][3 4] [5 6] [7 8] or
[Kick-Fwd Step] [Kick-Fwd Pull] [Kick-Bk Hook] [Lift Kick-Bk]
Count 1: Kick Fwd with Lt Foot
Count 2: Step Together
Count 3: Long Kick Fwd with Rt Foot
Count 4: Pull Rt Foot to inside knee level of Lt leg
Count 5: Long Kick Back with Rt Foot touching floor with Rt toe
Count 6: Hook Rt Foot behind Lt Foot. This is done as a Scoot, not just a step onto Rt hooking behind Lt
Count 7: Lift Lt Foot straight up somewhere between mid calf and knee
Count 8: Kick Bk with Lt Foot touching floor with Lt toe
Execute the Absolute Pattern. After count 8 make 1/4 Lt (CC)
Repeat for 5 complete Step Patterns which will leave the dancers facing back in their original direction.
Entry and Exit Step Patterns will not be covered here since there are so many possibilities. Some possible examples will be shown in class.
Pattern (Cards): Blank, Delayed Single, Blank, Delayed Single
As discussed previously, we could start our count at a different point in the previous Step Pattern which would change it to an EVEN, ODD, EVEN, ODD type Step Pattern. This can be done by taking the previous Step Pattern and starting our new Counts [1 2] on their Counts [3 4]. This would result in the following.
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
[ / /] [ / X] [ / /] [ / X]
Foot R R R R L L L L
Dir Kf T Kb Hk T Kb Kf T
Pos 4 1 4 1 4 4 1
Turn .1/4LT (CC)..>
Verbal:
[1 2][3 4] [5 6] [7 8] or
[Kick-Fwd Pull] [Kick-Bk Hook] [Lift Kick-Bk] [Kick-Fwd Step]
Count 1: Long Kick Fwd with Rt Foot
Count 2: Pull Rt Foot to inside knee level of Lt leg
Count 3: Long Kick Back with Rt Foot touching floor with Rt toe
Count 4: Hook Rt Foot behind Lt Foot. This is done as a Scoot, not just a step onto Rt hooking behind Lt
Count 5: Lift Lt Foot straight up somewhere between mid calf and knee
Count 6: Kick Bk with Lt Foot touching floor with Lt toe
Count 7: Kick Fwd with Lt Foot
Count 8: Step Together
Execute the Absolute Pattern. After count 8 make 1/4 Lt (CC)
Repeat for 5 complete Step Patterns which will leave the dancers facing back in their original direction.
Entry and Exit Step Patterns will not be covered here since there are so many possibilities. Some possible examples will be shown in class.