The Pattern Dance I'll describe in steps from the diagram grouped into lobes.
1.2. Left Forward Outside Edge, Right Forward Outside Edge (2-2,total 4 beats). These are very quick edges. I've learned that the only way to do them is by starting with the upper body towards the inside of the circle of the edge (so left for the left step) and as you rise to re bend for the next stroke you pull the edge (like power pulls) and turn the upper body to the right to basically "check" the rotation of the lower body. That will leave you in the right position to start the right edge. It is also important to step on am outside edge.
3.4.5. Left Forward Outside Progressive. (1-1-2, 4 beats total) Ok, this is not a new step, but it is the only one that is not new. What is new is that you don't "check" the upper body as you rise, you keep it toward the inside of the circle to be prepared for the cross roll.
6.7. Right Forward Outside Cross Roll and Left Forward Inside Cross (X) Behind. (2-2, 4 beats total). At the point when I learned this dance I haven't done Cross Rolls, in fact I'm just learning them right now. Very short instruction: Stroke, then bring the free leg over the skating leg (like a crossover) but crossing the free leg over the knee and twist the upper body towards the inside of the circle simultaneously with the free leg movement. Hold the outside edge and the upper body position to slide the free leg in the cross behind inside edge. The new free leg (right) goes forward, like a slide chasse.
8. 9. It is a Forward Outside Swing Roll hold 4 beats, the the free leg is moved back, while going on an inside edge and an Left Forward Outside Edge. Step 8 is a very long edge, 6 beats, step 9, 2 beats continues the lobe created by the change of the edge of step 8. I feel the "secrets" on this step 8 are a strong stroke (from underneath you), an erect posture (the edge is impossible to control if you are leaning forward) and a strong press into the ice with the ankle of the skating foot. I used to group in my mind step 9 with the steps 10.11, the mohawk, kind of like a preparation for the mowhak. But I feel it makes more sense for firstly the rhythm count but also the technique to have it combined with the long change of edge step. I feel I kept the end of the long edge stronger (that ends as an inside edge), continuing with this step 9 that is the same lobe as the inside edge.
10.11.12. Right Forward Inside Mohawk to Left Backward Inside Edge and Right Backwards Outside Edge. (1-1, 2 total 4 beats). This is not your regular inside mohawk. It is very, very quick and the free leg stops at the ankle after the turn so it doesn't help in balancing. You have to have at this point a good posture and balance skating backwards (that is different than skating forward), I'll cover this in a coming post. I was sometimes hitting this and sometimes I didn't. At the test I didn't. As I said I used to practice steps 9.10.11. together but I feel grouping 10.11.12, finally made me keep steep 11 at 1 count., because I had to step immediately for step 12. I said "step", as per my instructor, you never "step" in Ice Dancing, you always "stroke". But at that time, I was stepping all this end pattern.
13.14. Left Backward Inside Edge and Right Backward Outside Edge (2-2, total 4 beats). These should be easy steps, just backward stroking, but you need that balance and posture for going backwards that I mentioned at the Mohawk.
15.16. Cross Forward Left Backward Inside Edge and Right Forward Inside (2-2, total 4 beats). I loved step 15, as I felt it showed the tango character, it is a pity that I couldn't do it strongly when the previous steps weren't solid. Step 16 is step forward, ready to start a new pattern.
Here is the video of my test and you can read about the day when I tested here.
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