Plugging Away on the Kilian and Starlight

 I seem to be in no rush to test the Rocker Foxtrot - The last of the Silver Dances.  With 2 new Pre-Gold dances I am trying to learn - it’s enough on my plate.

Lucky to get a lesson today at 8 am vs 7 am.  What a difference an hour makes!  

Rocker Foxtrot:  The rocker is getting better.  We did our first run of a full test pattern today.

Starlight Waltz:  Wow so many steps in this dance.  Nothing really difficult except for the backwards cross roll for the lady and change of hold from Waltz hold and rejoining in Kilian before start of next pattern.

Kilian: well … lets just say ITS FAST.  The Chocktaw has to be just right or it wont work.

May The ICE Rise Up To Meet Me ….

Old Irish proverb.

Didn’t kill it today.  Felt a bit stronger but it didn’t show in my skating.  The rocker is giving me non-stop troubled and when we tried to attempt a Kilian pattern with music - I freaked out before the Chocktaw!

 

Kilian & Starlight Woes

 This next set of dances is going to be tough.  There are some difficult steps ahead.

Wasn’t Feeling It Today - Short Lesson -

I’m pretty frustrated with my energy level.   I guess you get what you pay for.  I’m not getting enough off ice exercise to help maintain, much less boost my energy levels on ice.  I think I can do better but don’t want to make the commitment  to get to the gym.  MEH! 🫤 

The Kilian

 Lesson 3 on the Kilian.  The tricky Chocktaw will get me!

Silver Tango Passed w/Honors!

 I already posted this video but so happy to finally get the results back!  Honors to boot!

Back after Covid - Round 2 - New Dance

 2 weeks tomorrow since I tested my Silver Tango.  This is what I hate about virtual testing.  Sometimes it’s a few days and sometimes it’s like this.  Endless waiting.

I’ve also had COVID again.  (Last and only other time was Labor Day 2021) This one was all pulmonary bad cough and chest pain, fatigue and 1 morning of low grade fever.

After doing a couple of runs of the Rocker Foxtrot coach Vitali decided to teach me some of the steps of the Starlight Waltz.  NOOOO NOT ANOTHER WALTZ!  I hope this one is more fun.

Silver Tango Test Day - No Results - Virtual Test

 Today I skated another virtual test for the Silver (Harris) Tango.  #2 of 3 dances in the Silver Level.

My first attempt I got behind and stepped out of the pattern during the last few steps of the dance. We rested as we looked over the dance playback and tried again.  I wish it were more crisp but we felt it was worth submitting at 50+.  Again we wait.

The actual test is at 2:41 and at 4:44 we practiced the Kilian again from my camera.

Video #2 is the virtual test from the rink side.

American Waltz Dance Test - Passed!

If you have followed along - this was a big day for me. My last dance test passed was Dec 19, 2022.  Over 2 years ago since we started working on the Silver level ice dance patterns.  I still have 2 more tests to take to complete the level but I am so grateful to one done with this particularly annoying dance.  It looks so easy but for me and many others it is hard to master (which I have not).  

Thursday - Still Waiting to know about the Waltz

 Honestly I would rather go back to in person testing.  The waiting is the worst.  Especially if I am moving on in my head and I end up failing again.. excuse me (getting a retry).

Here’s the excerpt from today’s lesson.  I think the Tango is passing. I wish we had recorded it as a test.