Jitterbug Stroll (Ryan Stroll) Peter Renzland
Peter@Dancing.Org 981211
Ryan Francois' 1992 Lindy Hop line dance. On 1994 "Can't Top The Lindy Hop"
workshop video: http://www.savoystyle.com - Steven Mitchell's CD: "Just Wanna
Swing!" http://www.arbsp.com http://www.slohand.com/swingthings/smcd1x.html
Music: 48 beat phrases, e.g.: Woodchoppers Ball as recorded by Woody Herman.
Works particulary well with Boogie-Woogie tunes. There are four figures. For
each phrase, do the figure 3 times, then the PIVOT-BREAK then the figure again,
then the SHIM-SHAM-BREAK. On the Shim-Sham-Break we turn 1/4 turn to our left.
8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
PIVOT-BREAK:
clap STEP Rf PIVOT Lf STEP Rf PIVOT Lf
this should be a linear motion. straight forward. pivot 180 deg.
the pivot is a clear step on the left foot.
SHIM-SHAM-BREAK:
STEP R tap L STEP L tap R STEP R STEP L STEP R STEP L
1st Figure - Boogie Woogie, Boogie Back, Boogie Forward, Boogie Forward
& 8 & 1 2 & 3 4 5 6 7
Rf Lf Rf Lf clap Rb Lb tip R step R tip L step L
2nd Figure - Knee Slaps and Shorty George
8 1 2 3 4 & 5 6 7
slap R R slap L L kick-ball-LL RR LL
arm swings up and slaps down as thigh lifts.
3rd Figure - Suzy-Qs (to LEFT, to RIGHT, to LEFT; to LEFT)
8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 &
close R step L close R step L close R step L close R Step Step
Usual Suzy-Q:
"close" -- on the (odd) downbeat, flat(!) trailing foot closes next to
the other foot. "step" -- on the (even) upbeat, step to the side on the
ball of the leading foot, as both feet and knees turn out. Turn on the
heel of the trailing foot, but don't lift the toes from the floor.
Keep your centre very level. Use arms to underscore this level-ness.
Turnaround: kick on 8, ready to close on 1 in the new direction, or
6:step 7:close &:step.
But, please note: Ryan's routine here is opposite to the usual Suzy-Q.
4th Figure - Boogie Back, Boogie Back, Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock (R,L,R;R)
8 & 1 2 & 3 4 5 6 7
kick step step kick step step out in out in
R R L R R L
"out" means arms, knees, toes open out, head goes from R to L
"in" means arms, knees, toes close in, head goes from L to R
(direction reverses in this figure, same as, but opposite from S.Q.
i.e. we first kick Right and travel Right on the Tick-Tocks, then Left.)
All errors are mine! Corrections invited.
-- , , , ,
Peter Renzland Peter @Dancing .Org \__@_ {)/ (}, 9 \@ {)/
Toronto 416 323-1300 HTTP://Dancing.Org \ /\_._,<_/ (>_/7 /\_._,<_\
Je danse donc je suis Hog Town Hep Cats \ /_\ /_\ /) /\ /_\
Scandi Alpine Celtic Jazz: Lindy-Hop /) /( / )( \ ' ) ( `
APPENDIX -- Shorty George
Face forward. Feet always point forward. Don't twist your feet!
1. start with left foot slightly ahead, so that right toe fits snugly
in left instep, and right knee fits snugly behind left knee. Now slide
your right foot forward to reverse this. This means that each step is
about 1/2 the size of your foot in length. Walk forward like this until
it feels easy. Get the feeling of feet and knees sliding into each
others' hollow, and staying together. Snugly but loosely.
(This is much like what you learn in Argentine Tango.)
2. now, each time you step on L foot, bend your knees to the L.
Keep your feet pointing forward! (ditto for R)
3. now, as you step L, also drop your L shoulder. Let your arms hang at
your sides. Imagine you are carrying two buckets, which alternately
become heavy, as you step on the respective foot. (ditto for R)
4. once you get the hang of turning out your knees, you may find that as you
step, you will step on the outside edge of your foot, resulting in a
side-to-side rolling.