1 Catches%3A Essential Skills

COURSE: catches

FOCUS: This lesson teaches essential skills for catches in dance, focusing on technical details like body rotation, hand placement, and footwork to achieve a smooth parallelogram shape.

TIP & TRICKS:

• Leaders rotate body clockwise and shuffle to create space for followers.
• Place hand on partner's right side, avoiding squishy bits for a solid connection.
• Maintain frame with shoulder down and back straight to keep connection.
• Find balance in hand pressure: not too hard like a brick wall, not too soft like an autumn leaf.
• Followers absorb weight by rolling through the foot on the third step.
• Use rotational energy to maintain body alignment and deepen connection.

REMEMBER:

• Focus on maintaining a relaxed but firm connection to guide without forcing.
• Keep feet aligned on a straight line to ensure proper balance and positioning.
• Avoid stepping too far to the side to maintain forward momentum for the follower.
• Match the leader's connection with responsive pressure from the follower.
• Practice slow absorption of weight to enhance control and fluidity.