Traveling Bota Fogos Forward
Samba Traveling Bota Fogos Forward
The Samba Traveling Bota Fogos Forward is Newcomer Level figure. This online reference gives a detailed description of the dance steps, including timing, and movement, technique; a list of figures that may precede or follow the pattern; and videos providing instruction and demonstration of the figure, techniques and practice routines that include it.
Leader
Leader and Follower's technique for forward Bota Fogos are the same.
Lead with a weight change. Use bounce action.
When practicing, keep arms down to the side naturally (upper arm vertical, not whole arm horizontal to side), feel the movement more.
Starting position: R leg back, R hip high, compress R side to create higher R hip, R hip rotated. L knee bent, LF flat, pay attention to ankle, leg line.
Some dance it more like Volta, some dance it more link Promenade Runs, or Cruzado Walks (opening the hip). The description below opens the hip.
From previous beat:
"&": pendulum action diagonal forward. bounce.
Hip has both the diagonal pendulum action, as well as rotating action and tummy compress.
To create bigger movement: extra rotation on R hip to back, RF turns out more, push hip diagonally fwd to maximum, making L hip finish more diagonally high, before twisting L hip. front knee going forward/bend even more,
Hip changes from R hip high in back to neutral, collect R leg underneath the body. then hip rotates to L more
Before "a", RF track on ground, resist, it can slide a bit due to the rise, but don't move the foot early (to create sharper foot action next)
"a": Prep foot: twist L hip to back, swivel LF, hip rotation sends RF forward - very sharp action (RF had resisted on early "&", now it's a quick shoot out. R leg straight, emphasize hip rotation. At this moment, both legs straight, both heels up. Dancing R side diagonally fwd (it doesn't mean the spine pitching forward, spine is more straight, but the rib cage is diagonally fwd). Compress left side.
1: RF fwd in CBMP, OP, Facing DC | No turn | BF
This is traveling bota fogos, so after hip turns, RF needs to go diagonally forward (not going side cross like volta).
Slide RF even more fwd, then bend R knee (bend more for more pronounced bigger hip movement); really get into the knee, weight fully transferred to the foot, sternum fwd, back leg straight. leg line. Point back foot.
RF soft absorbing action, gets into the knee. then the heel of RF (the front foot) should touch floor. Grounded look, not light, floating look.
"&": pendulum action forward, raise the heel of front foot, it is not flat-footed movement.
a: LF to side without weight. Toe pointing DC. Body facing LOD. | 1/4 to R over 2 & 3 | Pressure on IE of T
Retain tone in arms.
"a": hip rotation to send LF forward, swing L hip fwd in the same direction as the motion (not to the side), place partial weight (leg stays straight), then turn 90 degrees. After turning, the previous step would be like a side step.
R leg straight. There is a moment of 2 straight legs before absorbing onto RF.
Try to finish the hip L hip even more.
Pay attention to direction of body. Quarter turn each time. Don't just turn hip and keep body forward LOD. Body should be either facing DC or DW,
2: Take minimal weight to LF and replace weight to RF. Facing DW | BF
Lead with weight change. When weight on LF for a split second, R leg should be straight (don't have bent R knee all the time, make sure to have this moment of straight knee) before weight is put back onto RF again, then RF is flat, heel down. Weight is on RF, not in the middle of two feet. Sternum fwd,
Trailing foot - turned out, create leg line - very important.
1: LF fwd in CBMP, OP on L side. Facing DW | No turn | BF
Lead with weight change
a: RF to side without weight. Toe pointing DW. Body facing LOD | 1/4 to L over 5&6 | Pressure on IE of T
Retain tone in arms
2: Take minimal weight to RF, and replace weight to LF. Facing DC | BF
Lead with weight change
Follower
When Leader is doing Traveling Bota Fogos Forward, Follower is doing Traveling Bota Fogos Back.
1: LF back in CBMP. Backing DC | No turn | BF
a: RF to side without weight. RF backing DW. Body backing LOD | 1/4 turn to right over 2&3 | Pressure on I/E of Toe
2: Take minimal weight to RF and replace weight to LF. Backing DW | BF
1: RF back in CBMP. Backing DW | No Turn | BF
a: LF to side without weight. RF backing DC. Body backing LOD | 1/4 turn to L over 5&6 | Pressure on I/E of T
2: Take minimal weight to LF and replace weight to RF. Backing DC | BF
Notes
Focus on bouncing up action, do not focus on "going down" action.
Pay attention to create upper body line:
Do not lean tilt forward, squeeze the side, back hip up, Body has a more backward feeling.)
Taking small steps, that will help to create higher back hip line.
To create the line, it's not only in the hips, upper body has to do diagonal stretch, project chest fwd.
Lead for changing from Bota Fogos to Voltas is very subtle - lower the hand.
Lady assumes continuing with Bota Fogo, use visual and hand lead and finish to volta, if she senses more turn and man is going to the same direction.
Can be danced on same foot as partner when in R Shadow Position.
Same foot Bota Fogo commenced with LF may be turned 1/8 or 1/4 to L, leading Lady to turn strongly to L towards end of step 1, then releasing hold (Lady turn 5/8 or 3/4 to L). End in R Contra Position taking normal hold.
Similar (opposite) for Bota Fogo commenced with RF.
Preceding Figures
Following Figures
Natural Basic Movement (commenced OP - turn 1/8 R over 2 and 3 to face partner)
Contra Bota Fogos (when same foot Bota Fogos ending in Contra Position)
Round About (when same foot Bota Fogos ending in Contra Position)
Shadow Traveling Volta commenced with RF (when LF Traveling Bota Fogos Fwd is dance with same foot)
Shadow Traveling Volta commenced with LF (when RF Traveling Bota Fogos Fwd is dance with same foot)