Teaching rhythm exercises at the beginning of each class speeds up the student learning process. Sometimes during a class some students will break the rhythm pattern. When this happens it is good to stop the class, review some of the rhythm exercises, and then continue with the class. This gets the students back in synch.

CRITICAL: If the students can not stay locked onto the rhythm pattern then they can't learn to dance. Therefore, it is imperative that the instructor correct these type problems up-front or it will be a nightmare trying to correct the problems later.

Shorthand Terms Used Here

also see

Raper's Dance Dictionary

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6 Beat Rhythms

In Place

The first objective here is to get the student to lock-onto and repeat the EVEN, ODD, ODD rhythm patterns. The second objective is to get them to do the rhythm patterns keeping their feet together.

Leader

Follower

 

Rock Step Back

In addition to the previous objectives, we have added a rock step on counts 1,2, and a 3rd foot position anchor on the final rhythm unit.

Leader

Follower

 

 

Rock Step Side

Leader

Follower

 

 

Follower's Pass

This is a basic styling that the Follower can use when executing a Left Side Pass or Right Side Pass.

Follower

EVEN

ODD

ODD

Count

&

1

&

2

&

3

&

4

&

5

&

6

Rhythm

X

X

X

x

X

X

x

X

Foot

R

L

R

L

R

L

R

L

Direction

F

F

f

f

f

B

T

T

Foot Pos

4

4

4

4

4

4

3

3

Turn

>

1/2L

>

 

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8 Beat Rhythms

In Place

Leader

EVEN

ODD

EVEN

ODD

Count

&

1

&

2

&

3

&

4

&

5

&

6

&

7

&

8

Rhythm

X

X

X

x

X

X

X

X

x

X

Foot

L

R

L

R

L

R

L

R

L

R

Direction

T

T

T

T

T

T

T

T

T

T

Foot Pos

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

3

3

Follower

EVEN

ODD

EVEN

ODD

Count

&

1

&

2

&

3

&

4

&

5

&

6

&

7

&

8

Rhythm

X

X

X

x

X

X

X

X

x

X

Foot

R

L

R

L

R

L

R

L

R

L

Direction

T

T

T

T

T

T

T

T

T

T

Foot Pos

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

3

3

 

 

 

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