Back Ochos

Back Ochos

• Could start from pos 2, or a hip twist changing from fwd ochos.

• Move the hip without torso.  Keep frame to Man as much as possible, but it will open a bit compared to normal embrace. 

  • Rotate hip a lot, aim for perpendicular to Man (won't get there, but the feelig is to twist as much as possible and open up hip while keeping shoulder parallel to Man as much as possible.)

• Wait till Man leads the rotation.

• Extending the leg without body weight. Toes facing outside (turned out).

• Transfer weight, collect the foot and wait. Wait for Man to lead the twist.

  • Do collect feet, but  don't collect right away, not too early nor too fast, wait (can keep some foot pressure on floor for a split second longer) till Man leads the ocho turn. (free leg drawing in straight, don't bend knee too early)

  • Example: after extending RF back, R toe turned out,  transfer weight onto RF, keeping L leg straight extended for a bit longer before pulling in. Pulling in  is initiated from moving weight onto RF, do not swing R hip outward making circle.  After turning hip to L, there is a very distinct, twisted "tuck" position where R hip is still turned out to R, R shoulder opened to R (a bit more than R hip), while L leg is in "waiting" "T" position. Do not have R hip turned to L too fast, try keeping twisting to R position a bit longer.

  • For Back Ochos, it's easier to bend the knees and collect, feel are already together (next to each other), then swivel on standing foot.

• Keep head at about same position, it does move a little, but less than body, don't flip head back and forth. Eye focused on Man R upper chest area.

• Can finish with a lock and resolution, Or with twist to switch to fwd ochos. Listen to lead.

• Weight is always a bit more fwd, never back. Pay attention especially when it's backward steps, pitch fwd, do not lean back.

• Rotate/swivel enough. Step bigger step (which comes from bigger stretch/reach, more rotation/twist).

• Generally, if Man lower's Lady down, Lady takes bigger step (likely preparing for Gancho)

• Don't take arms with you, give arms to Man. 

• Focus on twisting hips, less upper body movement. Hips almost to 90 degree to Man. Twist hip as much as possible to keep movement in front of Man and not traveling backward much at all.

• Embrace: 

  • When Lady's steps her LF back, slide the L arm embrace (her LH moves more toward his R armpit)

  • When Lady's steps her RF back, her L side side embrace with Man is closer, slide her L arm toward his L side more. 

  • Keep embrace "movable", so Lady's L shoulder does not end up in a weird "chicken wing" position.

• Embellishment: leave the free foot to wrap around standing foot for a bit, bound off the standing leg, a little ronde out to cross back and step.

Entry #1

• Start at position 2.

• Leader lifts follower to stop movement (collect), changes weight to RF.

• Man pulls back his left shoulder blade, allowing right arm to slide away from follower's back, follower is lead to swivel left on her right foot. 

• Leader steps left, collects, pull right shoulder blade back, slight pressure on left hand, to lead follower to swivel 180 degrees right. 

• Repeat doing 4 ochos. Always an even number.

• On last ocho, collect. Follower's left foot will be free. Continue Salida stepping with right foot, go into cruzada and resolucion.