Ska

There are 4 basic steps to:

   NOD

    The upper half of the body moves to the beat as you bow forward with a slight bend in the knees. With a straight back you bow forward on the first nod and cross your arms then straighten up and uncross your arms.

   INSTRUCTIONS:

    1: Bow forward then rise up slightly and cross your arms in front of you.

    2: Bow forward and turn your torso slightly to the right then raise up slightly and uncross your arms.

   STEP

    The bowing and arm actions are repeated but this time you step to the left then step to the right. You uncross your arms when you step to the side then cross your arms when you bring one foot across to meet the other foot.

   INSTRUCTIONS:

    1: Bow as above and step to the right with the right foot and spread your arms apart to either side of your body. Bend your knees so they are both flexed and you bounce when you step.

    2: Bow and bring the left foot next to the right at the same time crossing your arms.

   MONKEY

    Relax your arms and raise them alternately to either side of your legs or between your legs as you step to the sides. Or alternatively you can twist on the ball of both feet rather than stepping to the sides.

   INSTRUCTIONS:

    1: Step to the sides as above. Bend your knees so they are flexed and you bounce when you step. Step to the right with the right foot and raise the right arm so it is bent at the elbow.

    2: Bring the left foot next to the right foot bringing the right arm down by your right side and raising your left arm so it is bent at the elbow.

    3: Step to the left with the left foot bringing the left arm down by your left side and raising your right arm so it is bent at the elbow.

    4: Bring the right foot next to the left foot bring the right arm down by your right side and raising your left arm so it is bent at the elbow.

   ROW

    Pull your arms back and thrust the lower half of your body forward, then push your backside outwards thrusting your arms forward in a rowing motion. You do the rowing on an angle to either side and stand on the heel of the side you are facing as you pull your arms back. This action can be done with a partner where you both face forward.

   INSTRUCTIONS:

    1: Thrust your lower body forward towards the right, bend your arms at the elbow and pull your arms back by your sides as if you are pulling boat oars.

    2: Push your backside out and push your arms forward to straighten them.

    3: Thrust your lower body forward towards the left, bend your arms at the elbow and pull your arms back by your sides.

    4: Push your backside out again and push your arms forward to straighten them.

    .... or facing your partner as above, where you both row to opposite sides.

   INSTRUCTIONS:

    1: Alternatively, you can face your partner and do the above rowing steps. You both thrust and pull to your respective left and right sides so that your motions criss-cross each other.

SUITABLE SKA DANCE TUNES:

Musical Storeroom - The Skatelites

Rukumbine - Shenley Duffus

Bonanza Ska - Carlos Malcolm

    INSTRUCTIONS:

     1: Bow Your Head - Clasp your hands behind your back, bow forward and nod your head gradually from side to side.

     2: Swing Your Arms - Cross then uncross your arms in front of you, bow forward and nod your head gradually from side to side.

     3: Shake Your Hips - Straighten your back, shake your hips side to side and bend your arms at the elbow, circling your fists at either side.

     4: Do a Dip - Crouch down, still shaking your hips and twirling your fists.

   FLICKS

    1. With both feet together, circle both hands in an outward flick in front of you. (Keep flicking right through).

    2. Turn just the top half of your body on an angle to the right.

    3. Turn to face forward again.

    4. Turn just the top half of your body on an angle to the left.

   THE DOG

    1. Keep leaning gradually toward the left side. Raise your right shoulder and punch the left hand downward.

    2. Raise the left shoulder and punch the right hand downward.

    3. Raise your right shoulder and punch the left hand downward.

    4. Raise the left shoulder and lift your right leg as you lean towards the left.

    5. Repeat steps this time leaning gradually toward the right side and raising the left leg.

   PULLING

    1. Step to the left and bring both arms out to the left.

    2. Bring the right foot next to the left as you pull both arms in toward your torso .

    3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 again.

    4. Now repeat all steps this time stepping to the right side.

   SKANK

    1. Crouch slightly with your weight over your left foot and your arms bent by their sides.

    2. Rise up tapping your right heel, pointing the foot toward the right and pushing your left fist towards the right in front of your body.

    3. Crouch slightly with your weight over your right foot and your arms bent by their sides.

    4. Rise up tapping your left heel, pointing the foot toward the left and pushing your right fist towards the left in front of your body.

   POUNDING

    1. With both feet together, pound both of your fists downward twice in front of you. (Keep pounding right through) .

    2. Turn just the top half of your body on an angle to the right.

    3. Turn to face forward again.

    4. Turn just the top half of your body on an angle to the left.

   THE MONKEY DOG

    1. Keep leaning gradually toward the left side. Raise your right arm up toward your right shoulder.

    2. Lower the right arm and raise your left arm up toward your left shoulder.

    3. Lower the left arm and raise your right arm up toward your right shoulder.

    4. Lower the right arm and raise your left arm up toward your left shoulder and lift your right leg as you lean towards the left.

    5. Repeat steps this time leaning gradually toward the right side and raising the left leg.

   LOCOMOTION

    1. Keep leaning gradually toward the left side. Stretch your left arm out in front of you with the right arm pulled in toward your chest.

    2. Stretch your right arm out in front of you pulling your left arm in toward your chest.

    3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 again.

    4. Now repeat all steps this time leaning gradually toward the right side.

   JAB

    1. With feet slightly apart, clench both fists and jab the right fist toward the left side across your body whilst still facing forward. Extend your arm only half way.

    2. Jab the right fist toward the left side again this time extending your arm further outward and with a little more force.

    3. Jab the left fist toward the right side across your body whilst still facing forward. Extend your arm only half way.

    4. Jab the left fist toward the right side again this time extending your arm further outward and with a little more force.

    5. Repeat jabs this time gradually crouching downward and then rising up to normal position.

SUITABLE SKA DANCE TUNES:

Long Shot Kick De Bucket - Pioneers

Simmer Down - The Wailers

Behold - The Blues Busters

Monkey Man - The Maytals

My Boy Lollipop - Millie Small

Jamaica Ska - Byron Lee

   SLIDE

   INSTRUCTIONS:

    1. Slide your right foot out to the right bringing your right arm out to the right and the left arm in toward your chest bent at the elbow.

    2. Slide your left foot next to the right foot bringing your left arm out to the left and the right arm in toward your chest.

    3. Slide your left foot out to the left bringing your right arm out to the right and the left arm in toward your chest.

    4. Slide your right foot next to the left foot bringing your left arm out to the left and the right arm in toward your chest.

   SQUAT

   INSTRUCTIONS:

    1. Crouch right down with feet slightly apart and fists clenched.

    2. Rise up gradually straightening your body and leaning slightly to the right with your weight over your right foot. Pound your fists downward to each beat as you rise up on your left toe.

    3. Crouch right down with fists clenched.

    4. Rise up gradually straightening your body leaning slightly to the left with your weight over your left foot. Pound your fists downward to each beat as your rise up on your right toe.

   MARCH

   INSTRUCTIONS:

    1. March on the spot. As you bring your right foot down your left arm swings upward.

    2. As you bring your left foot down your left arm swings upward.

   ROCK

   INSTRUCTIONS:

    1. Step back on your right foot in a rocking style and place your weight over it. Push your hands slightly forward as you lean back and raise your left heel off the floor.

    2. Rock forward placing your weight over your left foot and raise your right heel off the floor, bringing your hands in by their sides.

    3. Slide your right foot up toward the left then out to the right side. Bring both arms across your body toward the right side.

    4. Slide your left foot in next to the right foot and bring your hands in by their sides.

    5. Step back on your left foot and place your weight over it. Push your hands slightly forward as you lean back and raise your right heel off the floor.

    6. Rock forward placing your weight over your right foot and raise your left heel off the floor, bringing your hands in by their sides.

    7. Slide your left foot up toward the right then out to the left side. Bring both arms across your body toward the left side.

    8. Slide your right foot in next to the left foot and bring your hands in by their sides.

SUITABLE ROCKSTEADY DANCE TUNES:

Rocksteady - Alton Ellis and The Flames

Intensified - Desmond Dekker

I'll Get Along Without You - The Maytals

Don't Stay Away - Phyllis Dillon