Goodbye Michael

Michael Jackson was pronounced dead yesterday at near 3pm pacific time, in an LA medical center.

I heard late in the afternoon, and was awestruck. My heart goes out to the Jackson family, and Paris, Prince Michael I and Prince Michael II.

As I drove into work this morning, every radio station I flipped to had a Michael song on it. Whether it was little Mikey, singing lead in the Jackson 5, one of his love songs, Bad, Thriller, or Billy Jean, he was everywhere. One final gift I suppose.

I've always loved Michael Jackson's music. My earliest memories of rock music are of Micheal. I remember as a kid, going to the lock-ins at the roller rink, and they would play the full 30+ minute version of thriller up on a video screen. It was the only video that they had, or would show.
During later works, like Invincible, he changed with the times, and he was still an innovator, and musical genius. Even if it didn't appeal to me directly, I can appreciate the passion that went into his music.

His dancing? Legendary. Often imitated, never duplicated, always leading edge, always entertaining.

Controversy? He has had his share. From the original Black Or White video, to pedophile charges, he had faced a gamut of tribulations, and always came through it clean.

Sometimes, when one has wealth, and power, and fame, people need to try to bring one down. Why? Why? I'll tell you that it's human nature.

Goodbye Michael. Your music, Your life, Your generosity to the world, will be missed by everyone.

Dancing, dancING, DANCING!

Been a long time eh? Well I've been busy... Doing what? Dancing! of course!

In the past 6 months, I've learned at least the basic steps of:
Foxtrot,
Tango,
West Coast Swing,
Hustle,
Rumba,
Cha Cha Cha,
Bachata,
Merengue,
Reggeton

Not bad eh? I've taken a strong interest in Hustle and Salsa. And am taking classes specifically devoted to those. Monday night is Salsa night, I have one class on Beginner Salsa, and one on Salsa Shines. Tuesday night is hustle time, I take another two classes, one that focuses on technique, and one for moves. Friday is an interesting gig down at a local gym, that teaches a move, say like the Turkish Towel, and then puts into different dances, like Cha Cha, west coast swing, and Rumba (Yes, Salsa too).

So also, Learning all these different dances has an adverse effect...
I start to blend them... Last friday, I started with west coast swing, did the Turkish towel, and finished coming out of it doing a salsa step, before going back to the swing... Yea... lol... It looked good though!

So in an effort to keep my dances straight and remember some of the different elements and steps and moves, I want to write down a little list for at least Salsa and Hustle. Many have "Names," others are a description.. because they have no name (or I don't know it).

This is a working list, and I will updated it weekly.

Hustle

1. Basic
2. Man's turn
3. Woman's turn
4. Hesitation
   
5. Pull in
6. Throw out
7. Shadow
8. Cross body lead
9. Cross body turn
10. Flick
11. Shadow Turn
12. New York Walk
13. Half Shadow turn reverse
14. Elbow to the face pull in

Salsa (Shines in Italic)

1. Basic.
2. Side Break. (Inst. calls it Cucaracha )
   
3. Cumbia.
4. Right Turn.
5. Woman's Right turn with flourish.
6. Cross body lead.
7. Cross body turn.
8. Back break.
9. Hammer Lock.
10. Enchufla (look at watch, cross arms, switch places)
11. Suzie Q
12. Hunts Point
13. Back Slide
14. Hesitant suzie Q(step left over right, back ,then suzie q for 5,6,7,8)