Changing Lead Leg – Killer Tips

Changing lead leg is a vital part of creating smooth choreography that flows from one leg to another.  It really is an easy concept and there are many ways to achieve this.  

Most routines to be balanced need to have an element that changes lead leg.  The most common moves that achieve this are;

 

1. 
   
2. 3 knee repeaters
   
3. 2 knee repeaters
   
4. 4 knee repeaters
   
5. Single, single double lunges
   
6. 3 x single lunges and 3 marches
   

 

Another version uses the concept of having one 16 count combination which changes lead leg (the lead leg changer) and one combination which stays on the same leg (single leg lead). For example

 

Lead leg changer routine

 

Counts	Lead Leg	Travelling	Movement	Facing
1-6	R	Forwards	3 x alternate taps	Front
7-8	L	Ots	Mambo	Front
9-12	L	Backwards	Cha cha cha x 2	Front
13-16	L	Ots	Revese v step	Front

 

Single leg lead routine

 

Counts	Lead Leg	Travelling	Movement	Facing
1-10	R	OTS	2 x dbl stomp	Front and back
11 – 16	R	Ots	2 x sgl stomp	Front and back

 

Then you teach the LLC routine first and then add in holding patterns.  With the holding patterns you gradually layer the SLL routine.  This way you are changing lead leg, without really thinking about it, whilst building a smooth 32 routine.

 Some example 16 LLC routines are;

 

Counts	Lead Leg	Travelling	Movement	Facing
1-4	R	Right	March x 2, cha cha cha	Front
5-8	L	Backwards	March x 2, cha cha cha	Left
9-12	R	Forwards	March x 2, cha cha cha	Left
13-16	L	Ots	1 x v step	Front

 

Counts	Lead Leg	Travelling	Movement	Facing
1-4	R	Forwards	2 x knee repeater	Front
5-8	L	Forwards	2 x alternate knee lifts	Front
9-12	L	Ots	1 x mambo	Front
	L	Ots	1 x reverse turn	front

 

Counts	Lead Leg	Travelling	Movement	Facing
1-4	R	Right	Squat ball change	Front
5-8	R	Ots	Double leg curl	Front
9-16	L	Ots	1 x “boogy” step	front

 

Counts	Lead Leg	Travelling	Movement	Facing
1-2	R	Forwards	1 x chasse	Front
3	L	Ots	1 x mambo	Front
4-7	R	Back	4 x marches turning	Full turn to face the back
8-10	R	OTS	1 x mambo	Back to face front
11-16	L	OTS	Slow v	Front

So your task is to choose one of the 16 count LLC routines above. Practice teaching it and adding a holding pattern to make up the 32 counts. Gradually layer in a 16 count SLL combination of your choice. 

If you want videos of all of the above combinations, plus loads more tips and tricks to help you teach your class a lot easier and more effectively, then click here