A nod to Van Morgan, for reviving interest in this excellent cha-cha-style choreography (i.e. cha-cha-chá, Cuban)!
Castaway (Zac Brown Band) [104];
All Night Long (The Mavericks) [116]*;
Don’t Take Your Hand Off My Heart (Dawn Sears) [114],
One Step Away (The Mavericks) [106], Pretend (The Mavericks) [104 bpm]**.
This Step Sheet Prepared from Rob Everett’s Version by: Dick and Nancy Rogers, March 2017
Start both partners facing Line of Dance (LOD) in sweetheart position.
Steps are the same for both partners so there is no problem for individuals to dance in the circle without a partner.
ROCK, RECOVER, ROCK, RECOVER, SHUFFLE FORWARD
1-2
Rock forward LF, recover RF
3-4
Rock back LF, recover RF
5&6
Shuffle forward down LOD (L,R,L)
ROCK, RECOVER, ROCK, RECOVER, SHUFFLE FORWARD, TURN, SHUFFLE BACK
1-2
Rock forward RF, recover LF
3-4
Rock back RF, recover LF
5&6
Shuffle forward (R,L,R)
&7&8
Spin ½ turn R on R toe (R shoulder back), shuffle back down LOD (L,R,L)
ROCK, RECOVER, ROCK, RECOVER, SHUFFLE BACK, TURN, SHUFFLE FORWARD
1-2
Rock back RF, recover LF
3-4
Rock forward RF, recover LF
5&6
Shuffle back down LOD (R,L,R)
&7&8
Spin ½ turn L on R toe (L shoulder back), shuffle forward down LOD (L,R,L)
1-2
Step forward RF (or cross RF over LF), point L toe to L side
3-4
Step forward LF (or cross LF over RF), point R toe to R side
1-2
Dip walk forward R, L (walk forward with knees bent)
3-4
Stand up (straighten legs), point R toe forward (and raised above the floor a bit)
FORWARD CROSSING SHUFFLES & BOOGIE WALKS
1&2
Cross RF over LF and shuffle R,L,R (or basic forward shuffle)
3&4
Cross LF over RF and shuffle L,R,L (or basic forward shuffle)
5-8
Boogie walks (a.k.a. prance or twisting steps) R,L,R,L
FORWARD CROSSING SHUFFLES & BOOGIE WALKS
1&2
Cross RF over LF and shuffle R,L,R (or basic forward shuffle)
3&4
Cross LF over RF and shuffle L,R,L (or basic forward shuffle)
5-8
Boogie walks (a.k.a. prance or twisting steps) R,L,R,L
1&2
Cross RF over LF and shuffle R,L,R (or basic forward shuffle; end with weight on RF)
Contact: wildwoodlabs@gmail.com
Historical Note: We have been unable to identify the choreographer and date when the dance first appeared. Because we could not locate a step sheet early on, we prepared a first draft of the steps based on a recollection of the dance as demonstrated to us by Shirley and Buford Blankenship, Donnie Decker and Vickie Mendenhall at Larry Furr’s Southern Theater and Event Center, Denton, NC, 25 Feb & 11 Mar 2017. Sheila and Mark Hearne demonstrated their recollection of the dance to us on 13 Mar 2017, and soon after shared a step sheet they had that was prepared by Rob Everett, Graham, NC, many years ago. The following is a reformatted version which includes new descriptions of the steps, however, the actual steps have not been changed. This note will be updated if we are able to piece together more details of the history and origin of the dance. It was a favorite, often performed in years past by the dedicated dancers at Thataways in Burlington, NC, but is now more likely to be seen at Larry Furr’s Southern Theater and Event Center, Denton, NC. Let’s rekindle the passion for it!