Vertical Step

I've had some questions about vertical step, so I thought I would share them with everyone and give my opinion on vertical step.

When I teach vertical step I start on the side of the step. To me, starting on the end of the step just seems like horizontal step. Remember, this is just my opinion, you don't have to agree with me.

I also like to go from one side of the step to the other and back and forth again. I don't do the combo on one side of the step, then do the same thing on the other side. I go back and forth a lot. Or I try to. Sometimes it's hard depending on what moves you have in the combo's.

"Is it harder to teach vertical step? Would I need to change how I teach a combo? any pointers you can give me?"

Certain things are harder to teach with vertical step. For instance, in my video I have a V slide & spin. If that's a new move for people it'll be harder to teach because you have to face the side walls. Depending on where the participants are in the class, some will see it, some will not ..... until you are on the other side of the step to teach it on the other side.

Say you're teaching a repeater. I usually do a repeater, then either do two basic or 2 alternating knee's or something, then do it again. Never introduce a change when your participants are facing the back wall. Give them a chance to see it a couple times facing the front.

Originally I told this person that I don't do basics facing the side walls(that would just be horizontal step right?), BUT when I edited my videos, I did use a basic step to break up the repeater I was teaching. I normally would use alternating something corner to corner while teaching the repeater, BUT the move after the repeater was that V slide and spin, so I wanted something that was similar to that. I guess I could have done 2 V steps, but just didn't.
If I have something in the combo where the base move is a basic, I do the basic on an angle. Usually it's when we're facing the front.

If teaching vertical step is new to you AND to your participants, keep the moves simple. Don't throw in advanced stuff until they're ready for it. You could start with some fairly easy combo's, and then do a harder one at the end. A lot of members have trouble when you are facing the back. For instance, alternating knee's corner to corner. They don't want to miss something, so while they're doing they're knee to the back wall, they're looking over they're shoulder to see. Even though nothing else is happening.

'After watching the first one, I am still amazed you can teach without any type of notes. How do you remember it all? Do you plan out the breakdowns ahead of time, or do you just figure it out as you go? '

How do I remember it all? Ha! Sometimes I don't. I do have notes. I keep them on the stereo. Over the years it has gotten easier to remember the combo's. I find it easier to remember if I make up the combo's the day before or even the night before. It's fresh in my head.

Breakdowns: Sometimes I plan the breakdowns ahead of time. Sometimes I teach things differently. I never figure it out as I go though. As I'm making up the combos/moves, it's running through my head how to break it down. It doesn't take me long to figure out a breakdown either. BUT sometimes when I take it to class, and then thinking about it later, I come up with a BETTER way to teach it.

Sometimes I have a hard time figuring out a breakdown for something, so I don't use that move until I can figure it out.

Things just go through my head. I see something on youtube, then something else pops into my head because of it.

Flow of Moves:

I'm adding this one. I think the flow of the moves/combos is very important. If you want to do a shuffle turn step or something like that, you need a perfect lead in move. For me, it would be say, a repeater 2 and march around the end of the step. You are in a perfect position to do the shuffle turn steps. The flow is very important.

I don't do vertical step a lot in class. Mainly because I find I get a better workout from Horizontal Step. Not sure why, I just do. And to me, if I'm not getting that great of a workout, perhaps the participants aren't either.

I did vertical step that day, because I had nothing for horizontal step. I had just done double step the week before, so I took the moves from double step and put them into combos for vertical step. Why not?

If anyone has any other questions, please feel free to ask. Post a question in the comments section. It won't show up right away because I have it on 'comment moderation'. I will get it right away though!

Have a great day!