Leading forward into back crosses after the Giro

[Mario7]

During my 4x a week practicas, we often dance into the move we want to focus on and then dance out of it...so that it can be applied seamlessly to the overall dance. Sometimes, at the end of a 360 Giro we still have enough momentum that it would be nice to move forward in back crosses simply by reversing the last back cross with another going the opposite way. The problem is that we are in close embrace and I don't know how to step forward when executing the finish of the Giro and beginning of back ochos moving forward. What happens is that I get pulled off balance as I swing her the other way and she begins to move away from me.. any ideas?
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PS..it's amazing and a reinforcing delight, how when one can be working intensly on one aspect of the dance, some other movement (that was heretofore difficult) becomes unconsciously easy and you realize that you solved the other 'problem' by not confronting it directly.

 

[Mladenac]

Some video would be beneficial.
Also what kind are you dancing in CE.

The problem I see is in the momentum and balance
and not respecting musicality.

How do you acquire that you have momentum after performing sth.
When I do some circular movements, linear as well, I try to follow the melody.
And adapt my force for initating according to the melody i.e. intensity, color, mood, playfulness, ...
If you make those movements mechanically without respecting the music it is no good my friend.
Also the momentum you are referring can be evidence of poor balance.

In melody transition you should have some kind of momentum for following elements so what you lead is smooth.

 

[Zoopsia59]

Some video would be beneficial.
.

Yeah, you kinda lost me too... is there any way you can shoot a video of you trying what you're talking about?

 

[Steve Pastor]

The problem is that we are in close embrace and I don't know how to step forward when executing the finish of the Giro and beginning of back ochos moving forward.

Hope by now you accept that the giro can be "started" on any step, and can therefore be ended on any step.
So, can you tell us what step the woman is taking before you want to step forward? (and maybe the step preceding that one, too?)
Also, your weight and feet could be just about anywhere while the woman is taking her steps.
Can you tell us which foot is weighted and what position it is in?

I get pulled off balance as I swing her the other way and she begins to move away from me

we are in close embrace

The "rule" or paradigm in apilado close embrace is that you pretty much always keep your weight towards your partner. So, if you are doing "Close embrace" in that style, and she is pulling you off balance...

 

[dchester]

If I understand you correctly, you are trying to come out of the molinette to back ochos. The trick to this (at least for me), is to think of the back step in the molinette as the first back ocho. So the side step before that back step, is where you need to get ready for the back ochos. The reason for this is that typically in the molinette, the back step is done as a quick step, but with ochos it needs to be a slow.

As for the front step you asked about, I'm not really understanding that, though. On her back step (after her side step in the molinette), you should be taking a small side step (like you would be doing in back ochos). Then for her next back ocho, you take a side step the other direction. Although your side steps could actually be diagonal steps, I don't think they should be forward steps.

IMO, this is a great leaders drill, to keep going from ochos to the molinette and back (varying it with both front and back ochos). It does take some time and practice to get proficient at it though.

 

[Mario7]

dchester, thanks you got what I was trying to ask...I thought that I'd have to rephrase it....I will as soon as I can try out your suggestions. thanks!!