simple leader aerials

[Diavo]

A topic I've been thinking about is: Are there any simple aerials *for a leader* to do socially?

Now, when I say "socially" I mean during a social dance, not a competition, obviously. BUT at a certain time: around 11:30pm when 2/3s of the dancers have gone home but the band is still playing hot. (This is simply because the floor isn't crowded at that time!)
A simple aerial, one that can be done without the follower needing to do any work. Spontaneous.

The only one I do is after an outside turn the follow comes back and I go under her arm so we bascially switch places. What I'll do is just after my head clears her arm I jump, and if I'm wearing a hat I'll raise it in that moment. That's really simple.

Anyone have any others? Ideas? Suggestions?

--Diavo 8)

 

[Jmatthew]

I'm still sold on the whole "any time both your feet are off the ground in any social situation besides a jam circle you're being horribly dangerous" idea.

BUT, to answer your question, I can't imagine any, and haven't been shown any, aside from simply jumping at particular moments. And really, without partner assistance, what others could there be?

 

[swinginstyle]

Well, a safe leader aerial just popped into my head. In fact, I did it this evening. I learned this as an "A-jump" where the follow would jump up, typically from a tandem Charleston position (not side by side), and have her legs shoot out like an "A". Well, instead of being behind the follow, I rotated in front of her in one 8-count, then did an "A-jump" myself. If the floor was packed, which it wasn't tonight, I'd just shoot my legs out less.

 

[Diavo]

Re: A-jump -- nice!

 

[DWise1]

Not exactly aerial aerials, but one I learned at Camp Hollywood and another I saw:

1. We learned a drop-down and pop-up (not the names for this). Counter-balancing each other, you both go straight down folding (and supporting yourself) on one leg while extending the other leg straight out, then you pop back up. The whole thing takes two counts. The lead extends his left leg and supports himself on the right, and I think the follow does the same (I'll have to ask one of the girls in the class on Sunday).
   
   Normally both of you do it at the same time, but you could do it on your own, though you will still need her support to get back up (lots of tension in the arms).
   
   We did it maybe a half-dozen times in class. The next day, the only part of me that was sore was my right thigh (think one-legged deep squats). We were also told that you could cheat if you want and do "froggies" (squat down on both legs instead of just the one).
   
2. I saw this but never learned it. The lead bends his legs at the knees and balances on his toes while leaning completely back parallel to the floor (head just a few inches from the floor) while the follow holds his arm for support (his arm is almost straight up, but slightly bent for tension).

 

[Jmatthew]

# We learned a drop-down and pop-up (not the names for this). Counter-balancing each other, you both go straight down folding (and supporting yourself) on one leg while extending the other leg straight out, then you pop back up. The whole thing takes two counts. The lead extends his left leg and supports himself on the right, and I think the follow does the same (I'll have to ask one of the girls in the class on Sunday).

Normally both of you do it at the same time, but you could do it on your own, though you will still need her support to get back up (lots of tension in the arms).

We did it maybe a half-dozen times in class. The next day, the only part of me that was sore was my right thigh (think one-legged deep squats). We were also told that you could cheat if you want and do "froggies" (squat down on both legs instead of just the one).

Frankie Manning taught us something similiar to this last year, except: once you go down you stay down, and you switch legs back and forth for a few counts, then come back up. It was exhausting, but Frankie did it no problem and gave all us "young ones" crap for getting tired.

# I saw this but never learned it. The lead bends his legs at the knees and balances on his toes while leaning completely back parallel to the floor (head just a few inches from the floor) while the follow holds his arm for support (his arm is almost straight up, but slightly bent for tension).

My best friend does this move. You shouldn't (in his description) be putting any more pressure on your follows hand than you would be normally (I.E she shouldn't be helping you hardly at all at any point of the move). It's best to practice with a table or something first too. I can sort of begin to do it, but I can't get back up

 

[DWise1]

# I saw this but never learned it. The lead bends his legs at the knees and balances on his toes while leaning completely back parallel to the floor (head just a few inches from the floor) while the follow holds his arm for support (his arm is almost straight up, but slightly bent for tension).

My best friend does this move. You shouldn't (in his description) be putting any more pressure on your follows hand than you would be normally (I.E she shouldn't be helping you hardly at all at any point of the move). It's best to practice with a table or something first too. I can sort of begin to do it, but I can't get back up

OK, make that "while the follow holds his arm for moral support". [grin]

But yes, my impression was that he is supporting his weight while balanced on his own toes and that the follow was mainly there to help him keep his balance, not to hold him up. Though I would think that she would need to play more of a role as he's going into and out of the position, but I'll find that out when[ever] I'm finally taught it.

 

[Jmatthew]

OK, make that "while the follow holds his arm for moral support". [grin]

That's an awesome way to put it. If I ever teach this move in a workshop or something I'm definately going to steal your phrasing.

 

[swinginstyle]

Not exactly aerial aerials, but one I learned at Camp Hollywood and another I saw:

1. We learned a drop-down and pop-up (not the names for this). Counter-balancing each other, you both go straight down folding (and supporting yourself) on one leg while extending the other leg straight out, then you pop back up. The whole thing takes two counts. The lead extends his left leg and supports himself on the right, and I think the follow does the same (I'll have to ask one of the girls in the class on Sunday).
   
   Normally both of you do it at the same time, but you could do it on your own, though you will still need her support to get back up (lots of tension in the arms).

I think Jordan and Tatiana did this one in an earlier routine.

 

[Diavo]

I just tried Dwise1's "drop-down pop-up" on one leg (with no support) and found out... those are some muscles that need work! I guess I won't be doing that move Saturday (Frankie Manning's at Glen Echo!)

But it reminded me of a guy I saw, dressed half-lounge half-hiphop, who during a jam circle would breakaway then plant one hand (the other still holding the girl) on the floor and do a forward-sideways kick (think breakdancing?) and both feet came off the ground, yes. It was cool because it was unique.

 

[DWise1]

I'm sure I had mentioned this one at some time, but at Camp Hollywood Klaus would go straight-out horizontal at about his partner's shoulder height and do some quick tight footwork in the air. I just now found a graphic of that, which I post here:

Share and enjoy!

------------------------
Hmm, it worked when I plugged that exact same URL into my browser. Sorry, folks, you'll have to do a copy-and-paste to see it. If I have time today, I'll upload that jpg to my site and give you that link instead.

 

[Flat Shoes]

Dwise1, that's Marcus and Bärbl.

Simple aerials:
1. The bunny jump. From side by side position, the lady jumps out and in front of the guy, turning 180 degrees to the left so she's facing him when landing.
2. Name??? From side by side, the lead jumps/moves in front of the follow, and the follow is jumping forward and around the left side of the lead. Both turns 180 degrees to the right and she lands facing him.
3. Name??? From side by side, a straight lift up and down. The Lead can lift the girl above his head, and carry her around if he is strong and she has good balance.
4. Russian kick. (I think it's the same as the A jump abov) From tandem charleston, the follower jumps stright up. The guy kicks under/between her legs.
5. Name??? When doing a circle, the guy uses arm and right shoulder to lift the girl from the floor. Lands in closed position.
6. Name??? From side by side charleston, guy uses his right thigh under girls left thig and lifts her up to catch her in his arms.

All of these can be done very controlled, and in a small space. However, 1. and 5. is the only one I will ever do with a follow I don't know very well.

For doing any of these on a social dance floor, you need to know that you have good space between you and the rest of the dancers on the floor. Always remember that other couples can move around very quickly. A couple may decide to move to a better location on the floor, and that might be just the space you intended to use for that aerial.

Never do any of these on a crowded floor. Even #5 as the girl might decide to throw her legs out backwards.

 

[DWise1]

Dwise1, that's Marcus and Bärbl.

I knew that. Don't know why I wrote "Klaus". Must have been cerebral flatuance from too much hard-to-digest reading material.

And thanks for remembering to include the umlaut in Bärbl's name.

 

[Diavo]

Re: Marcus and Bärbl -- crazy!!

In my first post I mentioned the jump with raising my hat. A few weeks ago I revised that move: forget about the hat -- just kick up my feet as high to my butt as possible and when I land make the BIGGEST stomp I can (both feet hit the floor with my full weight; hardwood floor + leather soles = STOMP).
*Everyone* turns and looks. :wink:

Because of the weight shift when I land it leads perfectly into a rock-step (hooray for choreography).

Since I've started doing these Jump-Stomps, I've noticed people copying it (which is fine by me: "...sincerest form of compliment") but no one, not even my friends, can get the same stomp sound. And I only weigh 175lb. :wink:

Of course I *only* do this when there's a ton of space on the floor! I also only do this with follows I know.

 

[swinginstyle]

why would you want to do what you just described?