Molinete to Right and Left

Molinete to Right and Left

• Lady's steps (back-side-front-side) are called Molinete, 

• Man can do Lapiz (pencil); Lady's Molinete with Man's Lapiz together is Giro. 

• Giro ("turn") is when Lady rotates around Man.

Molinete to his Left

• Imagine stepping outside a circle around Man, create your own space.

• After Lady's RF to side, Man rotates his L shoulder to lead Lady

  • Lady should not rotate her shoulder and go with body leaning toward the direction of his rotation. Instead, it almost feels like Lady wants to open her R shoulder in opposite way (backward), R arm extended, match Man's tone, do not go with Man's L shoulder, and not resisting hard either, just matching the tone.

  • Lady steps toward the hand, do not step too close to Man. 

  • Lady has her LF in T position, wait for the twist, don't step L leg back too quickly.  Body twisted.

• LF back (like back ochos)  (Starting of Molinete)

  • When Lady first does LF back, wait, don't put weight on LF yet, (Man may take Lady up and twist to fwd ochos, so do not assume.) 

  • The intention of the Lady is "against the leg", upper body keep original position to be opposition with the extended L leg, upper body doesn't go with L leg right away.

  • When stepping back, think about more "in" "cross" toward Man. (The standing foot, RF at this time, does pivot a bit to allow the L leg to step more cross). When pivoting on RF, it doesn' change the upper body position, just the feet and hip turning.

  • Lady lower on R standing leg, but don't "sink", not lowering too much to have sinking feeling.

  • Lady does not arch back, or sway to R. Keep body vertical, straight, on axis, more twist, no sway or tilt.

  • Wait till Man put weight onto her LF. Collect RF in T position and wait. 

  • R arm has tension/tone with Man's L arm. Use opposition. Feels like R shoulder is pulling back. 

  • When Man pivots Lady, Lady is on axis, do not send head back to help with pivot. Pivot on ball of foot.

• RF side, straight leg. Step doesn't need to be quick when timing is Q. Do not bend leg.

  • When Lady steps to side, step is toward the hand. 

• LF fwd and across 

  • Typically, this is a S, before stepping on LF, slide the LF further first. 

  • R shoulder blade engaged, downward, have a "pulling" tone with Man.  Do not push Man with R arm. Never push in the direction of travel. Use opposition.

  • Step toward the hand (Lady's RH connects with Man's LH), do not step too close to Man.  Think about more "cross" "out".

  • After getting weight on LF, wait.

• RF to side (on S, slide R leg more), straight R leg. R hip doesn't lift or go with R leg. Keep weight and hip on the standing L leg before moving weight.

  • When Lady moves her weight onto RF, Lady's R side: do not push toward Man. Need to feel R arm is "pulling" Man to outside circle.  Lady's R shoulder blade back and down. Prepare for next step, very twisted.

• May repeat Molinete. 

• Stay on Man's R side. If moving to Man's L side during Molinete, it means Lady is rushing.

• When feeling the lift/rise up (Lady's LF fwd, front ochos part), Man may exit with resolution, walk

• Swirl ending for Molenette to his L

  • Lady LF fwd ocho ending, feel the rise on the spot (as opposed to Molinete - which Lady feels the movement is continuous in the direction of traveling), close RF to LF switch weight, then LF back, followed by lock and resolution.

  • Man may make a Lady do an underarm turn to L (not usual).

• Compared to Vuelta: 

  • Molinete: Man really invites lady to go around him he turns his body to make space  vs. Vuelta, it's like Wing, Man stays.

Molinete to his Right

• Entry options:

  • Lady RF fwd (same as starting forward ochos), body continue moving,  OR,

  • Normal basic, RF to side, then LF back.  Then start Molinet to his R with RF back on Q (QQSS)

• S: takes longer, give it time, don't rush. 

• When LF to side on S, get closer to Man, to closed embrace (reset position), otherwise, it will be too far.

• Lady goes to center of Man during Molinete to his R.

• Know when to continue Molinete and when to finish with Ochos. Key: come to balance and wait for lead.

  • Lady get onto one foot, eg. Molinete to his R, Lady RF fwd, weight on her RF,  she'll collect her LF next to her R leg.

  • At this time, if Man leads her to twist/swivel changing direction, she will twist on her standing R hip, change direction, and then step her LF fwd to fwd ocho finish.

  • If Man doesn't doesn't twist and turn the Lady,  Lady's LF will come through to continue fwd (Molinete) 

• Different exit options:

  • Front ochos, when Lady RF fwd becomes Front ochos (Man's intention changed from continuing going to his R to more stationary.)

  • Ocho Cortado: when Lady's LF fwd/side, that becomes Cortado, bounce back to cruzada.

Notes;

• During Molinete, Lady remains on Man's R side.  (whether it's Molinete to L or to R.) Don't go to his L. 

• Don't sink; activate shoulder blades; don't follow shoulder, match man's arm tone.

• Don't arch shape like ballroom, torso straight.

• Keep solid connection, especially Lady's L arm to Man's R arm.

• Any backward steps: make sure not to lean back, body pitch fwd. 

• Movement is smooth and continuous, don't pause and stop rotation.

• Lady: keep eyes/head about same position, focus on Man's middle neck area. Do not flip head back and forth.

• Make sure arm allows the position change, slide on Man's arm.

• Man can lead switching direction from Molinete Right to Left and vice versa by:

  • When Lady's stepping fwd on the foot (normally into swivel), instead of leading her to be fully on the foot to do swivel, Man will lead her weight back to back foot to change direction.

Timing/Rhythm Options

• SSSS: Lady LF back, RF to side, LF crosses in front, RF to side

  • "S": slower step, more bigger, elongated steps. Slide foot on "S" counts.

• QQSS: (One syncopation)

  • "Q": small steps

• QQQQ QQQQ

  • quicker beat, shorter steps, active body