Susie Q

[Spitfire]

Just learned a move where the leader does this pivot by turning his left foot inward at about 30 degree angle and placing his right heel in front of the left and twisting clockwise and bringing the left foot together with the right - if I got this correct; I haven't actually tried it out yet.

One of the guys demonstrated it to me at Saturday's monthly swing dance. He told me it was known as the Susie Q.

[Swing Kitten]

Sounds like Susie Q... it's fun... I don't get to do it nearly enough.

[d nice]

Yep Suzy-Q. One of many old time vernacular jazz steps used in swing dancing. Don't worry about angles and such, the feet scissor in and out/open and closed. The front foot is rotating on the heel the rear foot on the ball. Make sure that the front foot is kept flat. It steps down on the odd beat withe rear foot swiveling. The front foot swivels as the the rear foot steps on the even beat.

Try and keep the timing the same, but style it with your own body movements... the more relaxed the better.

[Spitfire]

Yep Suzy-Q. One of many old time vernacular jazz steps used in swing dancing. Don't worry about angles and such, the feet scissor in and out/open and closed. The front foot is rotating on the heel the rear foot on the ball. Make sure that the front foot is kept flat. It steps down on the odd beat withe rear foot swiveling. The front foot swivels as the the rear foot steps on the even beat.

Try and keep the timing the same, but style it with your own body movements... the more relaxed the better.

Thanks for the tip d nice.

When I was noticing the other dancers doing this step in the past I thought that initially it was a step behind with the right foot so I'm wondering if there's a variation as I describe. :?:

[d nice]

My bad...

Because of the partner dynamic in lindy hop it is usually done with the right foot in front while partnered.

However the step itself works either way, when the right foot is in front you travel to the left or clockwise, when the left foot is in front you move to the right or counter-clockwise.

Traditionally as a solo jazz step it is employed in each direction. You would kick the right foot right on eight, step right foot infront of the left on one. The feet step as described above, the last step with the right foot would "normally" be on seven, so you could kick the left foot left on eight, stepping the left foot in front of the right on one which reverses the direction of the Suzy-Q.

[SwinginBoo]

I find the Suzie Q to be kind of difficult. But it's great to see people doing it when they do it well.

[Swing Kitten]

However the step itself works either way, when the right foot is in front you travel to the left or clockwise, when the left foot is in front you move to the right or counter-clockwise.

This was promptly followed with me on the kitchen floor and needless to say my left to right action needs some help!

[suek]

don't feel bad, swing kitten. i think it took me six months to master the suzy Q. and my shorty george is still pathetic!

[pygmalion]

Okay. Okay. I'll bite. Shorty george?

[Danish Guy]

The Suzi Q is also used in salsa, but you don’t use the heels.

I have always wondered is the name is related to the glamour rock name Suzy Quatro, or Suzy Q as I also remember her. Did she do a fancy little stage thing, which still is hanging around with her name on?

[SwinginBoo]

Okay. Okay. I'll bite. Shorty george?

The shorty george is usually done by the leader. You can find it in the Shim Sham. I should leave the explaining of this to someone else. You crouch down and tip toe forward, twisting your body a bit side to side, with your two index fingers pointed towards the floor. That probably doesn't make any sense unless you can visualize what I'm talking about. :?

[pygmalion]

Your explanation made perfect sense to me. I've seen that move done -- just didn't know what it was called. Thanks. :D

[SDsalsaguy]

Yep, as Danish Guy says the SuzyQ is used in salsa, but on the balls of the feet only, as well. In salsa it can be used both as a stationary and as a progressive pattern.

[d nice]

No it isn't named after Suzy Quatro, if she was called Suzy Q it was just a play on her name or shortend because of the dance step (more likely the former).

A lot of jazz steps were taken and intergrated into the mambo, so it wouldn't surprise me if this move has a slasa variant, but the ball of the foot and heel use is integral to this move in its jazz version, so much so I wouldn't refer to the salsa variant as a SuzyQ.

[SDsalsaguy]

Fair enough d nice...but, just so you know, this is the terminology used within salsa.

[d nice]

Is it? Neat. Then it really does make it seem like it an "descendent" form of the jazz step. Well if you guys call it Suzy Q also then that is obviousely its name, I certainly wouldn't argue that you should change the name. ;)

I'll change and clarify my position and say that it is a latin variation that is not the same move but likely a descendent form.

You learn something new every day.

[Spitfire]

And I was not aware that the move or any variation existed in Salsa; I have not seen anyone doing anything like it when dancing Salsa.

[DanceMentor]

I usually use the Susie Q while the lady is doing ??? walks in a circle. WHat do you call the walks where the lady does open twists?

[d nice]

Switches.

When done right... YOWZA!

[alfborge]

So, what is the history behind the name Susie Q? I've been wondering about this for some time now. I heard the Shorty George is named after "Shorty" George Snowden (sorry if I misspelt that) whom was a short dancer at the Savoy, and who did this step to make himself look even shorter (sort of making fun of himself :)

[d nice]

From what I understand its named after a chorus girl who would do the step as the rest of the chorus walked off stage, and her name is Suzy. I'm not sure if that was just a tale that got passed along or based on fact. I'll try and do some more research and see fi I can come up with a something that can be verified in some manner.