Lifts - 2 - A Vertical Expression
Knowing the mechanics helps a lot to make these lifts work. However, to make them beautiful, it's important to keep the entire body energized (well, that's true of all movement).
For The Follower: Pay attention to sending energy out through the point of your foot and pay attention to your angle toward your partner.
For The Leaders: Be sure to get underneath her to lift.
- Artist Name:
- Michael Allen Harrison
- Song Title:
- Argentine Fire
- Album Title:
- Tango
- Artist Website:
- http://www.michaelallenharrison.com/
From the artist's website: Michael Allen Harrison delivers music to the heart. His classical contemporary style carves a distinct niche of timeless music that has connected with so many during his two and a half decade career. Michael is known for his piano solo performances and recordings, his upbeat sound with his band , his work with inspiring vocalist Julianne Johnson, his skills producing and creating music for ballet, theater and film, his love for teaching and perhaps mostly known for his giving spirit.
- 00:39
- And so, it's like you go, "Wham!".
- 00:42
- And then, what I want you to think about is the prep first. Make things clean.
- 00:48
- The instinct... And you'll notice I don't have my glasses on. That's because, as I walk off camera...
- 00:53
- As she's slithering down, you can imagine, she jumps up, and then she slithers down.
- 00:59
- Bang, bang, bang, bang. Oh my, my forehead! So, so that she's intact.
- 01:05
- On the... First lunge, that can be any timing you like.
- 01:11
- After that, I'll adjust my hand, so I can be underneath, and she'll go above.
- 01:16
- We start knowing where we're going to end up.
- 01:18
- So, my back arm, after the step... As we're shifting, but after the weight's committed, I'm going underneath.
- 01:27
- If you see, on the back... Let me move you over. Scoot, scoot, scoot, scoot.
- 01:34
- So, my hand goes right here, in the curve of the back, so I can push up. Right arm.
- 01:40
- Left hand is underneath.
- 01:45
- With her left hand, instead of being around, as is sometimes typical, here, she can't use that to push.
- 01:51
- So, because... She's like, "I can, but not much". Not much.
- 01:55
- So, she'll have it here, and, instead of having it turned in, she'll have it turned out. So that, as she goes up, this is how she'll want it to be.
- 02:02
- So, here's our prep. Let's do this angle, actually, for clarity.
- 02:06
- We have lunge. And I'll go lower than her. Come underneath. And she's pushing... Ready to push down.
- 02:14
- And then, I'll go, "Mhah!". And so, you'll feel the body coil, like a spring.
- 02:19
- And, likewise, with her right leg, she's jumping. There's, I mean...
- 02:23
- If I were Godzilla. Of course I'm Godzilla, but I don't want to abuse my strength.
- 02:28
- So, therefore, she's going to jump up, pushing with her left thigh, like, bejesus.
- 02:35
- Pushing down, with her left arm. Her right arm straight in to my arm, as I do all the things, vhuh.
- 02:43
- Better angle for them to see.
- 02:46
- So, here's our lunge. I'll go down, under. Here's our adjustment. Then she jumps. I go, "Up!".
- 02:53
- Then, it slides down. Now, right there, as it slides down, her left leg hooks. Tight around the thigh.
- 03:01
- And, notice, actually, just to show off. So, really hook with that left leg. Now, let go, with your left arm.
- 03:09
- Let go with your right arm. You know, this is really all we need.
- 03:12
- And, if she has her left arm... And, you know, more vertical, keep this really towards me. Almost, it can stay just that.
- 03:19
- She's sweating. It's just sweat.
- 03:22
- So, I really want you to think, for the followers,
- 03:23
- That you can wrap with that leg, as you slide down to help to control the descent. And then, with the other leg, you really point it.
- 03:30
- One last time.
- 03:39
- Sorry, Jessica.
- 03:57
- How can you not ham it up.
