Check out some Latin Dancing books, you shall know the timing for Corta Jaca. It is SQQQQ. The beat values are 1, 1/2, 1/2, 1/2, 1/2. It is not 1a2, 1a2, which beat values are 3/4, 1/4, 1, 3/4, 1/4, 1. This information is presented in Walter Laird's "Technique of Latin Dancing". Sorry Fred. You are not right.

Steve,
I hope you join in on more discussions, your information was fabulous. Thank you!

Hi there,

I was glad to see that there was another reply on this topic. First of all, I don't like using the terms Quick and Slow when explaining a Samba figure. Because of the many different beat values, it can be very confusing. I agree with you that the basic rhythm 1 & 2 has the beat values 3/4, 1/4 and 1. You explained that the rhythm of the Corta Jaca has the rhythm SQQQQ. I think we both got a point. I see the Slow as a step before the real Corta Jaca. The four Quicks come close to my description. I think the step on the heel is very short. In my opinion the beat values for the Corta Jaca are 1/4, 3/4, 1/4 and 3/4. This feels more like a Samba than 1/2, 1/2, 1/2 and 1/2. Then there's another thing. The steps 2 and 4 are taken on the 1 en 2 counts, so you can count & 1 & 2. If all beat values are 1/2 then you get a very straight rhythm. You can dance it that way, but it's not how we learn it. Try dancing it with the beat values 1/4, 3/4, 1/4 and 3/4. It feels great! For example, if we dance travelling voltas, we use the rhythm 3/4, 1/4, 3/4, 1/4 etc, starting on count 1. Do you use only beat values of 1/2 for the travelling voltas either?
I think the way we dance the Corta Jaca is a variation of the real Corta Jaca. I think that you don't turn in the original Corta Jaca, but take normal side steps. Perhaps the
rhythm we use is also a sort of variation, but it is more like the basic Samba rhythm.

Hope to hear more about this,

Fred

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[This message has been edited by Fred Bolder (edited 02-14-2000).]

I am busy on the dance floor and couldn't follow up this discussion soon. I think I also need to clarify a few points here.

1. To the most of people, including Robert Richey, in the ballroom dancing community, the "a" and "&" means the same thing in Samba: a quarter beat.
2. If you want to count timing in the "½, ½, 1" beat pattern, you might to use QQS. Otherwise, you can confuse others as well as yourself.
3. Indeed, in Samba, sometimes people count "1e&a2e&a". It is for the expression of the dance, that is, to make the dance more musical. It, however, only applies for some of figures with Samba Bounce action, not for the Corta Jaca. You can try yourself to see whether this statement is right or not.
4. The two things: dancing the Samba Bounce action and the "1a2" rhythm are not equivalent. When the bounce action is used in a figure, you have to use the "1a2" type of rhythm. However, when you use the "1a2" type of rhythm in Samba, it is not necessary that you dance a figure with the bounce action.
5. I totally agree that we shall not use any technique book as a stone. We all try to understand some principles between the lines in the technique text. Within the principles, figures can be executed differently. One example is the Alemana discussion in the other thread. I have no any problems at all for the various execution methods presented in the thread. On the other hand, it is sad for me to see many dance teachers can't execute school figures properly. I'm not talking about the execution in a high standard, but an intermediate standard. "Not written in stone" can be an excuse for them.
6. You're right, Steve. The school figure of the Corta Jaca, according to Lair, contains ten Quicks. I didn't state the whole figure for the reason I would wrote too much if I wanted to make it complete.
I think over all this discussion is good. I learn something from this discussion. I hope it is the same for others.

(Posted this under the video - not sure it propagates here, so excuse me if this is a double post.)

Briefly - I saw a couple dancing a corta jaca with the lead moving his *right* foot forward and back. What was that? Just a variation? Thanks!

Corta Jaca. Walter Lairds Book. Starting on the mans RF the count is
1. 1/2. 1/2 .1/2. 1/2. In Slows and Quicks. S. Q. Q. Q. Q. Number of step 5
Footwork .Heel Flat. Heel. Flat. Toe. Flat. A very famous dancer told us. If you dont like a step then throw it out. The chances are you may never feel comfotable with it. Thats what I did with Corta Jaca's.

This discussion is interesting and I can't help but join. I am only a social ballroom dancer, mostly LATIN, and don't compete, however, I had taken several lessons from famous dance instructors, former champions and adjudicators like Ron Montez, Corky Ballas, The late Chris Morris to name a few. I also studied some of their tapes.

I learned to use a1, a2 when doing the corta jaca. The man starts with his right foot when dancing the corta jaca in the promenade position (someone mentioned this in this discussion), lady on his right side. He starts with his left foot when doing it facing his partner. Left foot forward with weight on the heel followed with right foot forward with a simultaneous transfer of weight to the right foot( a1 ). Left foot back with weight on his left toe followed with right foot back with a simultaneous transfer of weight to the right foot ( a2 ). Repeat as you wish.

The case I was referring to had the couple facing each other with the lead moving his right foot forward and back. Interesting note about PP corta jacas.

Having the man move his RF forward and back is the equivalent of a reverse Corta Jaca in the same way that we have natural and reverse basic movements.

The ISTD technique says under Notes: "After step 7 the man may dance 1-7 of lady's Corta Jaca while the lady dances the man's steps."