Calypso

This isn't a formal dance - and wouldn't normally even be a pair/couple dance at all. Individual dancers do their own thing but there's generally a lot of hip sway involved. It has some similarities with other latin dances, eg mambo, merengue, salsa. The steps tend to be kept small and include various taps, points and lifts or flicks.

The music has 4 beats to the bar and some syncopation. The tempo varies but is relatively slow, eg 30 4-beat bars per minute.

Sideways Basic or Chassé

Chassé tap (FP, CH) Chassé tap (FP, CH)
Beat 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Man LS RC LS RC tap RS LC RS LC tap
Lady RS LC RS LC tap LS RC LS RC tap

Chassé lift (FP, CH) Chassé lift (FP, CH)
Beat 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Man LS RC LS RdF fl RS LC RS LdF fl
Lady RS LC RS LdF fl LS RC LS RdF fl

Diagonal Basic

Promenade + lift (PP-CP, DH) Counter-Prom. + lift (CP-PP, DH)
Beat 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Man LdF RxF LdF RdF fl RdF LxF RdF LdF fl
Lady RdF LxF RdF LdF fl LdF RxF LdF RdF fl

Forwards & Backwards Basic

Forwards + lift (FP, CH) Backwards + tap (FP, CH)
Beat 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Man LF RF LF RdF fl RB LB RB LdB tap
Lady RB LB RB LdB tap LF RF LF RdF fl


© Susan Foord (sf@pedag.org) 2010-07-24
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