Auld Lang Syne 2023

 Well I sadly did not get my Silver Dances up to snuff before the year ended and I will have to continue my slow progress in getting them ready to test.  There comes a time when working on things that you are SO DONE with it all.  I’m nearly there.  I don’t like it that I can’t crank out these pattern dances in short order.  My solo skating skills in dance are not good.

So enough whining.  Here’s my last tango (of the year) with coach Vitali.  After this I am off to the islands for some post Christmas fun in the sun and the rain forest of Kauai and the Big Island. 

Last Before Christmas Dance Lesson

Today was good but a little sloppy on my part.  Trouble with tempo and matching leg positions.. 

That’s it till next Thursday.  Merry Christmas to all and to all NO LACE BITE !

Catch up on videos…

 I have gotten behind in posting my vids over here on this blog.  The holidays are here and we are busy getting ready for our new house in February.

So below are a few sessions - most of which should be during lessons.  The last one is the best.  I got to skate with Doug today and we tried a little pairs skating. (In dance boots and blades!)

Tango - Tango - Foxtrot

 No .. not an aviation call sign.   Lots of repetition on patterns today.  I had a 45 minute lesson vs my usual 30 this year and it enabled us to get to work on the Rocker Foxtrot as well.  Longer video today. No close ups. Full rink view.

Tango. I still need more expression in the dance and the 3 turn at the end needs work.

Rocker Foxtrot.  Just getting started again this year.  Need more flow.  We are shrinking our patterns to allow me to skate more naturally until I can do it without falling behind or making him work hard to keep us together.

 

Working on the Rocker Foxtrot Rocker… It’s a Thing

Time to get back to work on the Rocker Foxtrot. I asked for some help on the rocker during my lesson. Hard turn for me on my own.

Cold Toes

 That is my excuse of the day for not skating my best!  More Silver Tango 🥱 

Thanksgiving Aftermath !

Kids are gone. Turkey leftovers have been consumed. Nothing left but the calories that stayed behind! My lesson today was at the start of the session for both myself and coach Naomi. So rather than telling me to warm up .. she led me around and I tried to shadow her in the warm up exercises. It was more fun than the rest of the lesson! Afterwards I ran dances and my free dance a few times but the video get too chopped with other skaters. So I just put a few tidbits of my accomplishments on the reel following the lesson. 1. Trying to increase my twizzle count from 2 to 3 2. Trying to get my spread eagle back 3. Spin practice

Gobble Gobble Turkey On Ice

Only skate of the week - Monday before Thanksgiving.  Too busy to find any more ice time until next Monday.  I can only imagine how that will go!

Had a technical lesson with Naomi today on some of my trouble spots on the Silver Dances.  Vitali cannot see my feet when we are partnered and my Mohawk, Three Turns and Swing Threes needed some attention.

Afterwards I had some time to practice ~  never enough time.

Happy Holidays

Silver Tango Uggggghhhhhh

 Yes.  Another Silver Tango Lesson going NOWHERE.

Happy to Report a Good Lesson Today

 My lessons so far this year are just 30 minute lessons.  It’s hard to make great strides but today left me feeling like I am making some progress toward these dances.