Salsa: Level 2 Part 4
Copa
“Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we should dance.”
Welcome to Salsa Secrets Dance Academy, Salsa Level 2. We are honored to have you with us. Included in your class is 2 Video Lessons and 2 bonus Audio Tracks. Please feel free to contact us with any questions at:
dance@salsasecrets-portsmouth.com
Introduction
Level 2 Salsa
In Level 1, we develop the foundational concepts of salsa dancing and hopefully you’ve developed a sense of confidence with the basic cable. For leaders, that means providing clear messages and being in the driver’s seat of your creation. For followers, it means receiving the dance and responding with ease and presence. Level 2 builds upon the foundation and gives you an opportunity to increase you skill repertoire while building new foundational components that will serve the current curriculum and what lies ahead.
How to Work with the Lessons
The lessons progress from one movement to another. It is recommended that you pause the video lessons and work with each component individually for a period of time, until it feels comfortable and then move onto the next component. We've included some practice audio tracks of music at an appropriate learning tempo for you to spend time with. There is no need to rush. Practice is the key to expanding your dance repertoire and your muscle memory for the movement patterns.
The Expression
The Copa is a gateway of initiation into salsa dancing. Once you have Copas you are officially a serious salsa dancer and like us, you’ve probably become addicted to this magnificent dance. The Copa challenges the the leader’s lead precision and advances his footwork. The challenge for the followers, once moving past new footwork is the aspect of expressing vulnerability and femininity that the Copa brings. Being vulnerable to the Copa is really the only way to enjoy it. We must also be vulnerable to our partners and include the connection with our partner into this show stopper.
Video Lessons
Video 1 - Introduction to Copa
Footwork
Followers
On ‘2 and’, pivot 90*, pop your right hip
Tap with the left on 3
‘Wild W’ with the arms
Cross body lead or inside turn footwork, after weight shift onto the Left on 5
Leaders
Stepping out of the box on 7 (similar to Around the World)
Reverse first step on 1 - Left
First Resistance
2 in place - Right
3 feet together - Left
5 step back - Right
Second Resistance
6 on the edge of the box
7 inside the box
Connection
Right to Right Connection at the abdomen level
Stretch, Twist, Release on 1 and 2
The twist is the follower’s cue to present her hip
Catch the Right hip with the Right hand on 3
Push the hip forward on 5 (forward and with rotation)
Resolutions
Cross Body Lead
Inside Turn
Momentum
The amount of momentum in the hip push tells the follower how many rotations to complete
Take time to practice and develop the momentum and the communication between leader and follower
Leaders, be discerning
Followers, be sensitive to the nonverbal communication and listen to the guidance with your body
Half - CBL
One and a Half - inside turn
Two and a Half - double inside turn
Etc.
Copa Salsa Secrets
The Copa footwork is as important as CBL footwork!
There will be a natural migration in the leader’s forward direction when practicing Copas, because the back end of the swing is replaced with two resistance steps
Followers: your Copa and resolution are within the box - be aware of the symmetry
Be present with each other between 3 & 5, enjoy the pause, feel the moment, feel your heart!!
Choreography
No Connection: Copa
No Connection: Around the World, CBL, Right Right, Copa, CBL
Right to Right Connection: Copa with CBL or IT resolution
Video 2 - Copa Development
Basic Copa
Let’s take the Copa we learned in the previous lesson to the next level. We will call this new Copa the Basic Copa. Everything we learned so far will be the same, however, we will add the left to left connection.
Adding Left to Left
Present Left to Left on 5
Left to Left transitions over the follower’s head into a table
Left to Left can be used to aid in the resolution
Resolutions
Cross Body Lead
Push the hip with Right for half a turn, gentle lead with Left to Left at the waist level
Inside Turn
Push the hip with Right for one and a half turns, gentle lead with L to L into the halo just above her head
Into the Loop
Push the hip for with Right for one turn, gentle lead with the L to L into the waist wrap for the loop
Present the Right hand on 5 to create the inside turn as a resolution
Copa into Wrap
Both Hands Connection
Stretch takes place with Right to Left Connection
Right to Left lands on the hip on 3 to prevent the hip from overturning
Left to Right Travels over the head and pauses at the waist
Resolution based on the hip push and release the Right to Left Connection
Resolutions
Inside Turn
Hip Push on 5 for one and a half rotations
Left to Right Connection moves into the halo gently
Cross Body Lead
Hip push on 5 for half rotation
Left to Right stays at the waistline and brings her across.
Copa Salsa Secrets Continued…
Leaders, create consciously, on purpose, rather than by accident - KNOW WHAT YOU WANT
Three Copas we know so far
Simple Copa - based on Right to Right
Basic Copa - based on Right to Right, present Left to Left
Copa into Wrap - based on Both Hands (Left to Right, Right to Left
We can use any of these Copas in our dance depending upon which connection we have and what we wish to create
Copa Choreography
Basic Copa, CBL
Basic Copa, Inside Turn
Basic Copa, Inside Turn, Right Turn (with L to L), CC CBL, sliding out, Shoulder to Shoulder, Inside Turn
Copa into Wrap, Inside Turn, Hesitation Left, Outside Turn, Hesitation Left Leaders with hand exchange behind lower back
Basic Copa, Into the Loop, Inside Turn
R to R, Right Turn, Copa, Inside Turn
R to R, Right Turn, Copa, Into the Loop, Switch Hands Inside Turn with L to R, Right Right
Into the Loop, Inside Turn, Right Turn, CBL CC, sliding out, Copa into Wrap, Inside Turn, Outside Turn, Around the World, CBL
Styling
Use the Open Spaces
Into the Loop - Extend the Right hand forward on 1
Don’t get trapped, bring the Right Hand to the Left Shoulder once its clear you will be going for a loop
Inside Turn - Bring to the left shoulder and extend out to the side on 3
Practice Tracks - 110 BPM
Practice Tracks - 115 bpm
Practice Tracks - 120 BPM
All Composition & Arrangement by: Piotr Kowalczyk