BOSSA NOVA SYLLABUS
Mix Cha Cha Cha rhythms/patterns (mostly!) and some Rumba rhythms/patterns
Part A : Cha cha cha patterns
(Part B: Rumba patterns, below)

Bossa Nova: break on 2 !
Lyrical rather than sharp percussive movements.

LEVEL 1
side basic - American: enter bent/exit straight. International: straight/straight.
      L: Lside - Rback break - chas to Rside - fwd break - chas to Lside: 1 2 3 4&5 67 8&1
      F: R side - L fwd break - chas to Lside - back break - chas to Rside:
crossover basic - aka open forward break (competition: arms higher than shoulders, open chest)
walkaround turn - F's OT from above. L back break. Lead L's LH or RH or visual, VAR: both turn
forward and back progressive basic - open with in line chachas VAR: basic locking steps

LEVEL 2
solo spot runs - VAR: dbl turns (1/2, 1/2, full on chas)
cross body lead to crossover - L side cha/ F fwd cha to CBL F's IT
crossover swivels - step collect pivot
double crossover breaks (New Yorkers) - bent/straight leg double fwd break on each side

LEVEL 3
three chas - similar to a cuban walk: RS cha cha cha - cha cha cha - cha cha cha,
2 hands, hand to hand - start SH R-R on each side with hand grip on RS (fwd or back) ALT: 2H instead of SH
R-R cross body roll - cross body lead from SH with IT.
inside roll, crossover - from SH, F begins to spin:6 after fwd chas.
      L does side chas. she steps across on 5.
crossover break (half moon) - SH fwd break L&F
hand to hand spin - start SH R-R with L back break, L can rock fwd or back.
      F: fwd breaks starting:3 with body lead. End pattern by L extending R hand (instead of L hand)
      and couples breaks FWD to L's L side. VAR: both spin, F fwd breaks, L back breaks.

LEVEL 4
open break, back spot turn - R couples turn with L hooking, start from open double back break
open crescendo - from closed, release F & L's Rh on top of F's L bicep
cross body free spin - to roll in
forward spot turn - couples L turn with F hooking

LEVEL 5
R-R yo-yo wrap - L back break 2 and bring in same beat,, do not connect with L's L hand, L walk around her CW 3&4 56, F out on 6
R-R mans underarm turn -
L's CW turn on 1, under his hand from SH
R-R catch L-L over R-R crossbody with inside roll -
like it says
turkish towel ending


+++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHA CHA CHA WORKSHOP

BASICS : WARMUP IN LINE - on2
cha in line, cha to side
front/back basic
front breaks, back breaks (rocks, walks)
walking basic (front, back)
turning left, turning right
hops
jump rope
chugs

START THE DANCE
L fwd break
fwd breaks to crossovers L&F (ballroom)
cha cha cha side, then L fwd
cha cha cha fwd
side step and L: back break and side cha cha cha

MAIN PATTERNS FROM THE BALLROOM
followers turn
leaders turn
cross body lead
Forward and back progressive basic
Cross body lead to crossover (new yorker)
Crossover swivels
Double crossover breaks
Cuban walk:3 sets chas, VAR: 2 H, hand to hand
Cross body roll - cross body lead from SH with IT.
inside roll to crossover - from SH, F begins to spin:6 after fwd chas. L does side chas. she steps across:5
crossover break (half moon) - SH fwd break
L&F hand/hand spin - start SH R-R with L back rock
L can rock fwd or back.
Cross body free spin - to roll in
Open break, back spot turn - R couples turn with L hooking, start from open double back break
YoYo Wrap - from SH
Skater's back breaks switch sides

DOMINGO & LIOUSI video
Bring F to L's R side, then to front, then 1H to L's L side, to breakaway** VAR: F's OT to closed
Open ** Guapea, VAR: spin
**New Yorkers
**Jump Rope with chas
**Chugs with cha
**Passing each other back and forth (guapea)
**Push break with 1/2 turns (keep one hand)
**Full turns (fwd rock)
**Side by Side basic
**Backwards triple cha side by side
(1/2 turn , front break at each end)
**Leader's Shines (F keeps up the Spirals)

HENRY HERRERA, MIKE RAMOS, FREDDY RIOS
From Crossovers: 2+3+4+5+ 67(RS) cha cha cha (8+1)
Tap Tap replaces RS in fwd back pattern CP
Swing out with Hop-Hop in open position.

VIADANZA video (start about 0:50)
CBL to Crossovers with walks
facing spins (front breaks)
triple chas facing towards/away, clap clap each end
R couples 1/2 pivot::7 to CBL, F throwout
to hand change F 1-1/2 turn to skaters
skaters: cha with rock steps, walks
Crossovers w/ Touch touch (kick kick) chachacha
Fast Turn, Double Turns: throw back shoulder/torso, spot

MAS
Cha cha cha square - cross front, hook back
Close

Cha Sequence No.1
closed basic
F's turn (2 styles)
L's turn
CBL to open
Crossovers (2 styles)
Open Turn to Closed (2 styles)

Cha Sequence No.2
closed basic
F's 1-1/2 OT to Sweetheart
F back and forth
F back and forth with L's 1/2 turn on 2nd
forward and back (Sweetheart)
couples R pivot (Sweetheart)
F't OT to closed

Cha Sequence No. 3
closed basic
dip - L steps to side: 2, F:1 2 3&4 pivot :5 sit: 67, out:8

Cha Sequence No. 4
closed basic
SH CBL 1/2 moon
yoyo wrap
F's OT
closed

Cha Sequence No. 5
closed basic
contra with spin, then push spins
triple chas with claps
crossovers with walks
F's OT to closed
right couples 1/2 turn to tuck CBL

+++++++++++++++++++++
PART B: Rumba rhythms and patterns

Section 1
Basic movement (Partial weight to full weight, bent leg to strait, relax hip, roll ball to heel)
Rock steps are QQ: back, side, front
Good General Rule: L's L side rock followed by Fwd slow to box
1 +345 +781
dance position (elbows closer than waltz)
timing (slow and quick quick, slow and quick quick)
alternative timing (side together, then as above)
Box step
Extended box to open break (L's R side step slow, then back break to open)
Lady's under arm paddle turn (outside turn, L back break while F walks))
Fallaway breaks (back breaks: QQ)

Arthur Murray Style: begin box with Leader fwd slow on 1
Fred Astaire Style: begin box with Leader L side-together quick-quick

(Many dancers feel that either style should begin on 78, same as typical rumba music rhythm)


QQ - S Step variations beyond the box that we will use:
* Back Rock - Side      
* Front Rock - Side     
* Side Together - Side     
* Side Together - In Place (Cucaracha)
* Walk Walk - Walk (Forward or back, Cuban Walks)
* RS - Walk (Habanera or rocking Cuban Walks)

Section 1 Sequence
Extended box to open break (L&F: side step slow, then back break to open, L has one extra back break)
Lady's under arm paddle turn (outside turn, F walks)
Fallaway breaks (back breaks, ie. Rocking steps: QQ) Return directly to box on 781

Section 2 Sequence (from box pattern)
Cross body lead after 1st ˝ box, 4:L back out of way to 90 degree position
       L Cucaracha (side rock) then cross in fronton the slow with L's L to make space.
       F steps fwd QQS and pivot (late weight change on 1)
       (If F steps forward on 1, she will cross as she pivots. If F crosses on 1, she will uncross as she pivots.)
Open Cuban walks, wide one hand connection (L: Backwards, F walks around L)
Closed Cucarachas (side rocks QQ, collect on slow, end with fwd slow to fwd box on 1)

Section 3 Sequence (all in closed position)
Closed Cucarachas
Promenade twist walks: F walks around L) VAR: L & F twist walk forward in promenade
(From L's R cucaracha, open 5 with step fwd 7 slow , F twists, not L, walks, not rocks)
Outside roll & open break (F's 2OT to 1H)
L-R Peak-a-boo breaks (quite similar to enchuflas - from L&F back break)
Forward breaking steps into box (Cuban Walk, L's FWD rocking steps: do not replace. step forward on 1 & 5)

Section 4 Sequence (from box pattern)
Open break, inside pick-up & back spot turn (grapevine R couples pivot) w/spin whip ending (texas tommy OT)
SH open break, F's IT to end on L's left side for L's head loop pick-up (media sombrero)
F (fwd) around L (bkwd) Cuban walks in wide promenade
Switch lady from L's left side to L's right side for Fallway breaks

Section 5 Sequence (from box pattern) intermediate patterns - rondes, leans, dips
SH on 5, open break to 2SH on 1. Lady's under arm turns (under each hand) to Rondé
(L push, hands low, then cross over with L foot)
Man's cut-in with lady's inside roll to man's head loop (L drop RH after head loop)
Fallaway (back break) rock, lady's spiral & left roll to sweetheart (cuddle/cradle) swivels
Roll out on QQ to open crescendo, roll into lean (stop F with L's LH,
then flip to layout back dip (bring F on step forward, place her RH on L's waist.
L supports F with L's LH on F's upper right arm. L faces to L's L, L shoulder back.

Section 6
New Yorkers (same timing as fallaways), exit free spin or F's OT


Ithaca Dance