Quickstep Hopping Figures

Quickstep Open Figures

Runs

• Runs: fwd/back/pp/cpp (Qs)

  • Stay on ball of foot, a little bouncy, run all Qs.

  • Could be turning (like running Reverse Runs or Natural Run). Other figures can run as well (Open Reverse Turns)

  • Not jumping. Only Bouncing (in joints, legs absorbing)

• Crossed Runs (Locked Runs) (Qs): mix between running and locking, bounce a little bit; this moves linearly.

  • Going back (all Qs): LF back/RF back/LF cross in front/RF back (different from lock step: which LF back (S) / RF back (Q)/LF cross (Q)/RF back (S)

  • Going fwd (all Qs): RF fwd /LF fwd/RF cross in back/ LF fwd

Step Hop (S&)

• • Step (HT) - there are times it could be Toe (Skater Chasses)

  • Hops: Keep upper body posture upright, unchanged.  Use knees and ankles.

    • Heel does not touch floor (which will look heavy). Feet can be off the floor when hopping up.

    • Slow hops: Can't control how long to stay in the air. But can control how to use knees to absorb the weight for Slow Hops. Knee bends toward 2nd toe forward (not outward).

    • Quick hops: not using knee as much (not much time), but using foot and ankles to absorb.

  • Could be continuous, and could be turning L or R. Turning is happening "in the air".

  • Keep free leg next to standing hopping leg (avoid dog at fire hydrant look), connect free leg ankle to hopping leg (point foot down to floor).

  • Could be fwd/back/pp/cpp  (No change of weight, same foot)

  • Step Hop always change shape to the hopping leg side, i.e. shape to L when hopping on LF. Sway helps with balance.

  • Still remember the center balance (triangle position) on the whole beat, don't get all weight on new foot right away.

  • Jumping step. Feet will likely leave ground. 

Scatter Chasses

• • Slow Scatter Chasse (Chasse has change of weight)

    • Slow Chasse (S&): e.g. start with weight on RF, 

      • Lowering/Preparation, moving LF to side (S). The standing leg knee is toward 2nd toe of foot, knee should not go inward or outward. Lowering is not stationary. Body is slowly moving toward the direction of leg movement. Not just down, it's down and to the side at the same time. (Keep heel up all the time.)

      • After lowering, moving away from standing leg. allow moving foot to slide a little before placing weight onto LF. (Don't get weight on new foot, right away.) Sliding allow bigger step and in better balance. Start rising in gradual way, not waiting till weight is fully on LF and rise on spot. Start rising when weight start moving off previous standing foot.

      • RF closes to LF(&), at the same time, LF to side (bounce up and then down).  Feet close for slow scatter chasse.

    • Combine Slow Chasse with Step Hop -> Slow Scatter Chasse: Slow &, Slow Hop

    • This is a "jumping" step

  • Quick Scatter Chasse

    • Syncopated Double Chasse: Q&Q&:

      • Feet don't close. There is no time to fully transfer weight and close feet, change weight. Put foot directly under shoulder and use it to move straight away to the side.

      • No time to rise as in Slower Scatter.  So head is at semi-low level all the time. (it's not fully lowered, sitting down level). Relaxed knees.

    • Quick Scatter Chasse - add Step Hop - Q&Q&S& 

  • Stay on ball of foot all the time, heel never touches the floor.

  • Knees stay flexed, not locked when in up position.

  • Poise: stay left. Don't exaggerate the shape and comprise movement

    • Especially when moving to right, it's easy to fade to right, pay special attention to stay left

    • When moving left, pay attention not to stay breaking left side.

  • Want to move easily and effortlessly. This step is not about the big shape. Especially for Ladies, when trying to create curve, it's easy to put weight back and heel ends up touching floor - which is not good for scatter chasse.

  • Slight shaping could be done: typically when moving to R, shape to L, vice versa.

  • Moving foot working very strongly on inside edge of the foot (when stepping to side), then allow it to roll and get on whole foot. When closing foot, the moving foot is dragging in with inside edge of foot as well.

  • Scatter chasses can go different direction (e.g. can be fwd, or in PP) and turning.

Tipsy, Pepper Pot

• • Skips:

    • Foot not picked up from floor, there is a little rise, but the step is about maximizing amount of movement.

    • Skipping forward: Relax the knee and ankle, skip standing foot in front of body, keep heel up all the time. If there is a piece of paper under ball of foot, skipping should not lose the paper.

    • Skipping back: do not bend body backward, falling back, keep heel up, Keep chest positive forward, do not relax chest, do not slouch.

    • Skipping side: can be inside or outside leg

    • For practice, use the leg in the air as little as possible, do not use that leg to propel. In routine, the free leg could be doing something else. 

  • Q&Q: feet don't close

  • Not a jumping step. 

  • Can move forward, back, side ways

  • Add Pendulum Point and Run -> becomes "Pepper Pot": Q&QQQ

Stationary

• • Woodpecker: Toe  touch, foot bounce on spot. Coordinate one foot landing with weight and the other foot pecking (not too hard, just touch and bounce) 

    • Can be slow or quick woodpecker.

    • Slow woodpecker (&S): up on &, S down and peck.

  • Pendulum Points (when lower into standing foot, that's when to kick the free foot)

    • Can be done in closed position or promenade position.

    • Pendulum in Closed Position: 

      • Hopping action: use knee to absorb, keep posture upright.

      • Moving leg: leg to side and close back in. 

        • Leg is as long and straight as possible. (Side view should not show knee, but knee is not locked.)

        •  Feet and t highs are parallel to each other, do not turn moving leg thigh out, but to create line with leg. 

        • Keep upper body straight, hip parallel to floor, do not bend side in an attempt to kick higher.  Leg just naturally extend to side while maintaining straight line.

      • During lowering action, extend the foot to side. This happens on the beat (Q) or (S).

        • On Slower version: use knee and ankle to absorb, leg takes longer to extend to side, but closing is quicker.

        • On Quicker version: just ankle to absorb

      • During rise, close feet together and change weight to do on the other side. (Could hop on same leg twice as well)

      • Legs go exactly to the side, not forward or back. 

      • When count either S or Q hits, it's when moving feet is maximum extended to the side, and standing leg is lowered.

    • Pendulum in Promenade Position

      • Angle is important to avoid kicking partner.

      • Keep the legs parallel to the wall that is in middle of the partners.

      • Legs go toward front elbow and back elbow.

  • Flicks

Quickstep Rocket

Very popular Open Figure, 8 beats, phrase well. Sometimes, it's called "Torpedo".

Figure typically starts at beginning of a Wall. 

• S& Step Hop (HT)

• Q&Q: Tipsy  (TTT)

• QQ: Pendulum Point (TT)

  • Q: Lady: LF closed to RF, "Kick" RF out (like the Newton Pendulum Balance Balls), weight on LF.

    • The flick should not affect top line. Just just knee, flick lower leg, not using upper thigh to flick. Point R toe.  

  • Q: Lady: after RF was kicked out forward (articulate, point RF), RF comes down to floor replace weight, this step is not a running step

• QQ: Runs (TT)

Precede

• Open Impetus to PP.

Follow

•  Step Hop + Step Hop + Scatter Chasse

  • Step Hop: Big Sway, Man shape to his R, Lady to her L

  • Step Hop: Lady RF outside partner step

• Step Hop + Step Hop + Pepper Pot

Notes:

• Traveling down LOD. Be in good Promenade Position.

  • Body rotate toward your partner. Shoulder is almost parallel to LOD. 

  • Hip is slightly open in "V", which also makes feet to be slightly diagonal (Lady feet pointing slightly DC, Man: slightly DW)

• Feels like dancing "side ways" through very narrow 2 glass panes. 

• Focus on timing, not jumping high, which often result in landing late and off time.

• Lady: 

  • stay behind Man, body not too straight and head not leaning forward. 

  • Look outside her RH (R arm)