 | THE MIDNIGHT BLUES
MUSIC: - Blues 4/4
- to be skated to ISU music for dance #22 Blues
TEMPO: - 22 measures of 4 beats per minute
- 88 beats per minute
PATTERN: - Optional
DURATION: - The time required to skate 2 sequences is 1 minute 38 seconds
excluding intro.
The Midnight Blues should be skated with strong edges and deep knee bends to achieve the desired slow, rhythmic, relaxed and easygoing expression:
Individual interpretation, by the couple to add Blues character is permitted, provided that the integrity of the steps, free leg positions and position/holds is maintained.
The dance begins with the couple in an unusual open position (reverse backward foxtrot hold) skating progressive steps 1 and 2 (which mirror each other).On step 3, the man skates a RFO behind cross foot three, turning on beat 4, while the lady skates two fast behind cross foot threes (steps 3a ,3b), turning on beats 3 & 4.
On step 4a, the man passes the lady, (to track behind her) while they assume a brief Kilian position (with both of his hands on her hips). On this step (4 for the lady) they commence with the free foot remaining crossed behind, they then skate with fan leg kicks, ending with back coupés (on count 3) after which the lady skates a slight change of edge on count 4 while the man steps forward on a RFI (step 4) on count 4 of the same measure.
The couple skates two 1 beat progressive /run (steps 5 & 6) in closed position before assuming outside position for the beginning of step 7.
On step 7, the man skates a LFO while swinging the free leg forward on count 4, changes edge to LFI and swings his free leg back (while resuming closed position).
The lady matches this step with a RBO with back free leg swing, changing to RBI with forward free leg swing before her back three and leg lift.
On count 1, the man skates a cross in front RBI (step 8) while the lady performs a LFI progressive/run.
While the man skates a wide LBI (step 9a) , then a RBO (step 9b) concluding with a leg tuck on count 4, the lady turns her RFI-3 on count 2, moving into a brief Kilian position and concluding with a matching leg tuck.
THE SWOOP STEPS 10 - 12
This section of the dance begins on count 1 with Step 10, a cross in front LBI for the man and a LFO for the lady in closed position. The man commences his long 9-beat step 11 on count 2, turns a RBO-3 on count 3, a RFI bracket on count 4, a coupé behind on count 1 of the next measure, then holds the RBO edge with his free foot extended back for two more counts whereupon he skates a change of edge (after which outside position is assumed), extends his free leg forward (placing his left ankle under the ladys left ankle while she is in attitude position) for 2 counts, and concludes with a RBI-3 on count 2. The lady, during the man's step 11, skates a right progressive (step 11a) after a LFO front coupé three turn (step 11b) while he turns his bracket. For step 11c , after a RBO-3 turned under his left arm (turned on count 2 of the next measure), they assume hand to hand position (so the lady is now facing the man with both hands extended) and extends her left leg backward, changes edge to an outside and places her extended left leg behind her (across her tracing) in an attitude position (where his left ankle touches hers) before turning her RFO rocker while he turns his three. The man then thrusts strongly (in outside position) to a LFO (step 12) for his LFO-3 on count 4, while she skates a cross in front LBI and then turns her counter-clockwise twizzle on count 4 as well, followed by a very short RBO on 'and'.
On step 13, the lady skates a 4 beat LFO. The man skates a 2-beat RBO (step 13b) for 2 beats in open position. The couple skates a RFO cross roll (step 14) as the man turns his three on count 2 and extends his free leg to match the ladys 4 beat swing roll. This is followed by a LFO-3 for the lady turned on count 2 of the next measure (her step 15), while he skates a LFO (step 15a), cross behind RFI; concluding with a 2 beat outside edge for both (step16 - a LFO for the man and a RBO for the lady).
THE INA BAUER STEPS 17 - 21
The man commences with a cross roll onto a RFO (step 17a) and on count 2 skates a cross behind LFI into an Ina Bauer for 2 counts. The lady skates a cross behind LBO turning a three on count 2, joining the man in Kilian position to match the Ina Bauer (both with weight on the LFI and the right foot in reverse position on a RBI) followed by a fast three turn on the count of 'and' (without lifting the right foot off the ice). On count 1, both skate a 2-beat cross in front RBI (step 18), followed by a very fast LBI(wide for the man) on the 'and' between counts 2 & 3. The section concludes (on step 19) when the man skates a RBO for 4 counts while the lady steps onto a RBO and immediately turns a back twizzle on count 4, then holds the edge to match the man.
Both conclude with a progressive/run on beats 3 & 4 (step 20 - LFO, and step 21 - RFI).
THE LAYOVER/LAYBACK STEPS 22 23
This section begins in Kilian position with a LFO (step22) for both skaters on count 1. Step 23 commences on count 2, then the lady skates a RFI rocker on count 3, holding the back edge for count 4 and ssuming a layback position on count 1 of the next measure.
The man skates his RFI change of edge at the same time as the lady skates her rocker o count 3, changing to outside position. Continuing on his right foot, on count 1 the man assumes a layover position, skating on his RFO with his free leg extended backwards whilst supporting the lady in her layback position (on her RBI) with her left leg extended to parallel the line of the man's free leg. These positions are held for 2 beats and are completed when they rise up to execute matching double 3 turns on counts 3 & 4.
The dance is concluded by the man skating step 24 as cross roll LFO-3 (outside position) on count 2, while the lady skates a LBI (step 24) followed by the couple skating
one cross-cut RBO in Kilian position (step 25) on count 3. On count 4, the lady skates a LBI (step 26a) while the man commences his step 26. The lady then skates her step 26b
with a RBO swing roll as they mirror each other in open position in preparation for the restart of the dance.
DEFINITIONS:
Behind-Cross-Footed-Three: A three turn skated with free foot crossed behind instead of at the heel.
Coupé: The free foot is held up in contact wit the skating leg from an open hip position so that the free foot is at right angles with the skating foot.
Fan Leg Kicks: The free leg swings in an arc (45 degree angle) to the skating leg at hip height.
Tuck: The free foot is held up in contact with the skating leg from a closed hip position
(just below the knee).
Attitude: The free leg is bent, and brought up, out and behind at a ninety degree angle to the leg of the skating foot.
Cross Cuts: Similar to cross roll as free leg crosses skating leg above the knee, but skated wide onto same (not contrasting) curve.
Inventors: Roy, Sue Bradshaw, Mark Bradshaw, and Julie MacDonald.
First Performance: Vancouver, Canada March 2001
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