Susie Q

Spitfire

Spitfire

Well-Known Member
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.
 
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.
 
d nice said:
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.
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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. :?:
 
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.
 
d nice said:
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.
Click to expand...

This was promptly followed with me on the kitchen floor and needless to say my left to right action needs some help!
 
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!
 
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?
 
pygmalion said:
Okay. Okay. I'll bite. Shorty george?
Click to expand...

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