I don’t know why you’d want an amateurish performance of some Australian sequence dancing at the showcase of Chinese culture that is the Auckland Lantern Festival, but there you go.
I was asked by my Ballroom teacher, Yu-Fen, to do a routine of Evening-3-Step and Gypsy Tap. At that stage I didn’t know any Gypsy Tap. So I tried to learn those two with the help of Yu-Fen’s sister and another student — let’s call her J. I later joined the New Vogue classes at Tempo Dance Studios.
So anyway this morning I noticed I had received a text-message from another student — let’s call him M informing me about a practice for the Lantern Festival. I turned up late, but we practised the two dances I expected to do. The person who I’m supposed to partner with wasn’t there and it’s assumed that she is out of the country at present, but I partnered with another student, (let’s call her L) for the practice.
I learned that the performance area will be very very small. Smaller even than my living room. I shan’t enjoy walking in Counter-Promanade Position in such a tight circle. Oh well.. practice I guess.
My Rotary Chassés went smoothly for the most part. I think I struggle with them at my lessons at Tempo Dance Studios because I’m overly conscious of not crashing into other dancers.
In Yu-Fen’s absence (she’s on holiday in Taiwan these days), J has taken charge of getting us prepared. This has meant in part that I may also have to do a Charmaine and/or a Merrylin and/or a Swing Waltz, whatever that is. More things to practice.. yay. 
Points to remember:
- Head. I tend to look down when doing a 3-step + Aerial. I also tend to look in the wrong directions when doing the Gypsy Tap. Overall I need to be more conscious of where my head is.
- Arm stylings. It’s time I stopped ignoring the arms and do the arms stuff properly.
- Maintaining distance with the other couple. We need to makes sure the sizes of our steps match I guess. Any tips?
