I saw another post on here for Wala Wahed, and I am trying to rehash this choreography as well. Does any have any tips on deciphering her choreography? The short hand that she uses is foriegn to me. As in what is sit-sit-sit, etc.? I have some other questions about moves. I know choreos are copyrighted so I don't need you to teach me anything, I just need tips on understanding what it means. Thanks!
posted by:
Andalee
Raleigh
  • Re: Help with Rocky's choreography short hand

    Wed, August 15, 2007 - 6:48 PM
    "Sit-sit-sit" means bump one hip out to the side, then the other, then the first again, such as right, left, right.
    "Sit 2, sit 2, 1, 1, 1, 1" means (if you start on the right) bump hip out twice to the right, twice to the left, then one R, one L, one R, one L."
    "Forward replace, back replace" is what many call grapevine.
    Not sure what else she has on that choreo sheet. Good luck! Cathy
    • Re: Help with Rocky's choreography short hand

      Wed, August 15, 2007 - 7:10 PM
      Thanks cathy! That is helpful. I think I call the forward place back place the scissor step. I think of the grapevine as cross back, step, cross front step...etc. Ei-yie-yie...the vocab is all over the place in our dance world. :)

      What is 2-1 circ. L, big circ with 3 bounces? I got the big hip circle with 3 bounces, but what does she mean before that?

      And is brrr a shimmy or a quiver? I guess that doesn't matter as much since some of this is open to my interpretation, but I just want to be clear.

      This part is really hard. See if you can help, please...
      stand r: L hip upF, upB, with quiver 6X around, drop 2-3-4 in one hip circle to L//

      I feel like I always get the first part of what she is saying but the second part I get lost...I would say the first part of that may be a hip arc or hip lifts to the front and back, but I get lost on how to quiver and move in a circle with it. And how do you drop 2-3-4 while making a circle to the L? I don't remember it being that confusing at the workshop. I wish I had taken better notes! Ugh! I bet it is really simple, I just need a Morocco translator.

      Thanks.
      • Re: Help with Rocky's choreography short hand

        Thu, August 16, 2007 - 4:46 AM
        I am not sure about "2-1 circ. L." Could you have left out something before that? Sometimes she does one hip circles in then out, sometimes two in, one out, or two in, two out on the left, followed by the same on the right (such as Bahlam Beek). The only other thing I can think of is the "big hip circle with steps" kind of like what I saw on an IAMED combo video described as a "box step"

        "Big circ with 3 bounces" means a big hip circle kind of thumping your butt/pelvis down in rhythm on the beat. I do this by pressing on the heels but I've never been sure whether this is cheating....

        "Stand r: L hip up F up B" probably means stand with the weight on your right leg, left knee slightly more bent, swing left hip up and forward, then up and back. What you call hip lifts to the front and back. "With quiver 6X around" probably means step around in a circle while you do this 6 times. That would mean each time you get to an "up F" you would actually pivot in that direction 1/6 of the revolution.

        "Drop 2-3-4" means a one hip circle with 4 drops in it. She often clicks her tongue while demonstrating this in class. You start by dropping the hip down and forward,then "tick" it up a quarter, then back another quarter, then back all the way. I think of it kind of like that hip as a pendulum hitting the "hours" on the outside of that side of the spine.

        Hope that helps. Do you have her doing it on video? That can help a lot too. Cathy
        • Re: Help with Rocky's choreography short hand

          Fri, October 12, 2007 - 9:26 AM
          ROFLMAO! You could called me & asked!

          It's 2 small circles using only ONE hip - in this case the left one. (two-one-hip circles with the left hip)

          NOT a box anything. I only use boxes to store things in.

          "Sometimes she does one hip circles in then out, sometimes two in, one out, or two in, two out on the left, followed by the same on the right (such as Bahlam Beek). "

          Exactly & you can do them JUST in or JUST out.

          ""Big circ with 3 bounces" means a big hip circle kind of thumping your butt/pelvis down in rhythm on the beat. I do this by pressing on the heels but I've never been sure whether this is cheating..."

          Cath, you're so honest, don't know how to "cheat" at anything!

          It's 3 teeny bounces down/ drops with the pelvis - what I call the "un***k" if there are no kids in the room ... IF it involved the heels, I'd say/ write so.

          My descriptions re pretty straight-forward & relate to the actual physical motion. I don't use cutesy-poo names or names of possibly similsr moves from other dance disciplines, because they are NEVER exactly the same.

          I have been known, however, to name a move after a dancer it's specific to ...

          8-)
          M
        • Re: Help with Rocky's choreography short hand

          Wed, January 23, 2008 - 11:30 AM
          Use ONE hip (foot raised on ball) to make TWO small circles IN

          This however, is sorta right but also sorta wrong: we tend to OVERdo ...

          QUOTE: "Big circ with 3 bounces" means a big hip circle kind of thumping your butt/pelvis down in rhythm on the beat.

          ME: NO "thumping" - that's TOO hard. Simply *place* both heels down at the same time to the side, back center & side as you make the hip circle,

          Still me, still NYC, still winter,
          Rocky
    • Re: Help with Rocky's choreography short hand

      Wed, January 23, 2008 - 11:24 AM
      Sorry - just saw this...

      NO, it does not mean "bump" anything.

      NO "pops". "locks", "hits". "bumps" EVER!!!!!!!! Those are loaded words, with subconscious/ immediate tensing muscular reactions that are anathema to correct Oriental dance

      It simply means SIT into that hip, so that it is *PUT* rather than "bumped" into that side. Gentler than a bimp, but just as visible.

      & it's Forward Place Back Place

      Close, but NOT really a "grapevine". since that implies a *curving in* on the Forward & Back steps, rather than a straight Step forward with one foot, step in place on the other, step straight back with the first foot & again in place with the other ... ALL OF IT WITH A QUIVER OVERLAY!!

      Warm hugs from cold NYC,
      Aunt Rocky herself ...

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