How To Do A Center Leap [ Dance Skills Tutorial Video For Absolute Beginners ]

Let's do some center leaps!
Let’s start with a chassé step side leap on the right side. Point your right foot out in front with your left arm in front and right arm out to the side. Press those shoulders down and reach those arms out.
Perform one chassé--Right, Up, Left-Right. Next, take one more step on your left foot. In a normal chassé step leap, we would take this step on our left foot directly forward. However, for a side leap, we need to leap with our chest facing the front of the room, which means doing a 90-degree turn before we do our center leap. We’re going to use this step on our left foot to help get us there. As you take this step, bring your arms into first position, hugging your beach ball.
Next, bring your arms straight out to both sides in a second position, kick your right leg out to the side as you bring your left leg up to meet it, hit the picture of a straddle in the air, and then land on your right foot and quickly cross your left foot behind your right foot. Unwind.
Quick Note: This landing is incredibly important. Make sure you land with soft, bent knees with one foot landing followed quickly by your second foot crossing behind.
Before we go any further, do me a favor and sit on the ground in a straddle position with your chest up, arms out, legs turned out, and feet pointed. THIS is the picture we’re going for in the air. Notice that (most likely) your legs are a little bit in front of you as opposed to in one straight line directly out to both sides. If your legs are in front of you on the ground, they should be in front of you in the air. So often, I see students try to throw their legs directly out to both sides, but they don’t have the flexibility to do so and end up having legs that are turned in and unable to get past an X position in the air. This is a fine place to start, but we want to set ourselves up to grow and eventually get our legs up in a straight line for our center leaps. Also, please notice that my legs are not directly out to both sides either. I have actually always struggled a lot with my turnout, but if I bring my legs forward a bit, I’m able to get the desired turnout and height in my legs so that I can still hit a proper straddle leap in the air.
To recap for the right side: Right, Up, Left-Right, Step on the Left (as you turn to face the front), Kick with the Right Leg (as the Left Leg comes up to meet it in the straddle position), and then Land on the Right Leg, Cross Behind with the Left. Unwind.
The same rules apply to the left side. Start with your left foot pointed out in front this time and right arm in front with left arm straight out to the side. Press those shoulders down and reach those arms out.
Footwork: Left, Up, Right-Left, Step on the Right (as you turn to face the front), Kick with the Left Leg (as the Right Leg comes up to meet it in the straddle position), and then Land on the Left Leg, Cross Behind with the Right. Unwind.
NOTE: There are different schools of thought on leaps, as there are with most things in dance. My philosophy is to travel UP, not out. So often, I see students traveling forward across the room for their leaps at the sacrifice of height and air time. This starts with your chassé and carries over into your side leap. Instead of charging forward as you do your chassé step side leap, I want you to think about hitting your head on the ceiling every time your feet leave the ground. And when it comes time to do your straddle leap, HIT IT as if a super professional photographer for a famous magazine is capturing your leap in the air.
OTHER VIDEOS THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL:
How To Do A Chassé: • How To Do A Chasse [ D...
How To Do A Dance Leap: • How To Do A Dance Leap...
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[@thirumani0653]

Hello ma'am, That's wonderful the way you explained the leap. Best explanation and presentation i viewed so far in this technique . 🙏😊

[@juszhi]

Really healpful! Thank you for that ❤

[@emieleighava]

i cant get both legs up at the same time it just won’t happen!

[@iceyymaddiee933]

righttt😂

[@Ilovecatss250]

3:06

[@Bored-vk5ky]

0:34