Choo-choos? Help!

topic posted Mon, April 7, 2008 - 9:34 AM by  offlinechandler
Help! My "homework" is due today, and of course I didn't get started until last night. . .our teacher has us make index cards of all the moves in ATS so you can pull three of four and practice putting the moves together. I am working on the list of beginning movements--and hit a snag almost immediately. (I've only been studying tribal about 6 months). On the list was "choo-choo" (we have to write the position, number of counts, then describe the move). I did so, explaining the moves/arm position of a single choo-choo. Two down on the list was "single choo-choo." Huh? Is there a difference between a choo-choo and a single choo-choo? I am going to try to finish my cards on my lunch hour, so immediate input would be enormously appreciated. . . .
posted by:
chandler
New Mexico
  • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

    Mon, April 7, 2008 - 10:24 AM
    There's only one Choo Choo and thats stemming from the Hip/Pivot Bump, traveling forward with the right hip.

    Maybe there's some confusion about the Single and Double Bumps traveling. They also can move forward, but are not called choo choos, as far as I know. Even though they use the same choo chooing movement, the traveling is just a variation rather than its own designated move. They both also pivot. Neither move backwards.

    Here's another discussion that happened here a while back: ats.tribe.net/thread/e53f...e488f6990412
    Read Wendy's (principessa crankypants) response for a description of the foot positions on the Single Bump.

    *;}
    • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

      Mon, April 7, 2008 - 10:31 AM
      So I'm thinking that your teacher might be thinking of it as:

      Pivot Bump
      Choo Choo
      Single Bump
      Single Bump Choo Choo
      Double Bump
      Double Bump Choo Choo

      There are so many variations for most moves. That would be a lot of cards! ;} It would be best to ask her what she wants though.
      *;}
      • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

        Mon, April 7, 2008 - 11:00 AM
        Thanks for all the responses, and the link to the other thread. I'm starting to assume it's a type-o. The way she teaches, pivot bumps are all done with the forward foot resting on its ball next to the standing leg, and the forward hip is up on the 1. It can be stationary, can move forward (only), and rotate around in either direction.
        Choo-choo, on the other hand, involves the forward foot moving slightly forward, then slightly back, with the associated hip bump. A single choo-choo is forward for one count with hip bump up, then foot back one count with associated hip bump. Double choo-choo is foot forward with two hip bumps, then foot back with two hip bumps. Plus, the arm positions are different.
        What threw me for a loop is her list includes these four:
        Choo-Choo
        Pivot Bump with 3 variations
        SIngle Choo-Choo
        Double Choo-Choo
        then she goes on from there. I'm thinking it's a double listing. Choo-choo can't be different from single choo-choo. . .
        • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

          Mon, April 7, 2008 - 11:58 AM
          "Choo-choo can't be different from single choo-choo. . . "

          I'm guessing that your teacher has different terminology. But at FCBD, yes, they can be different.

          A Choo Choo is just the hip bump moving forward. The scoot forward is a straight line forward and is the same count and foot as the Pivot Bump - basically its a one count move, but we generally count in fours or eights depending on the music. The feet don't move back, nor does the hip bump back.

          A Single Bump is a two-count move with the hip moving forward and back - the right foot ball moving from near the left foot toes to the left foot heel positions. Choo chooing it forward would make it look like a zig zag, if looking directly from above, rather than a straight line.

          I hope that is clear.
          • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

            Mon, April 7, 2008 - 12:12 PM
            Oh! I think I might know where I am wrong. . .I was thinking of the forward moving bump as a pivot bump variation. . .but if I'm getting you right, that's actually the choo-choo. I'm pretty clear on the single choo-choo and hte double choo-choo. . .and I understand the basic pivot bump, and I know it can move in a clockwise rotation, and a counter-clockwise rotation. . .but I thought the movement foward was also considered a pivot bump variation. If THAT is actually choo-choo, what is the third pivot bump variation she is asking for? Oh, I'm SO confused!!!!
            • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

              Mon, April 7, 2008 - 1:11 PM
              Hmm... well, maybe it could be just the arm positions? Pivot Bump w/arms #1 (right arm out, left arm up) and arms #2 (opposite from #1). Then you have the clockwise pivot bump as the third. I dunno.
  • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

    Mon, April 7, 2008 - 12:32 PM
    I think where the confusion lies is that in the Tribal Basics Vol 4: Advanced Workshop Video/DVD the movements in question are called choo choo singles and choo choo doubles. The name changed to single bump and double bump. I call them both names at once so that folk who use the video are not confused by the change in name.

    :)
    • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

      Mon, April 7, 2008 - 1:22 PM
      That's what happened here- I'd been calling them single/double hip, and single/double bump, and just watched Volume 4 last week, and saw them called Choo Choos.
      • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

        Tue, April 8, 2008 - 11:51 AM
        Okay, Ladies: I have been led down the path of clarity (and to the store for new index cards to replace all the wrong ones!) I'm sure there are regional variances on these names, but here in Santa Fe our terminology is as follows:
        Choo-choo: weight on back slightly bent leg, forward leg glute contracts to move hip up on each count, forward foot on demi-point next to back foot. Stationary or moving forward.
        Pivot Bump: Choo-choo that rotates around oneself. The three variants are the arm positions in relation to direction of turn.
        Single choo-choo: Forward foot (meaning the foot stage front) moves toward toe of standing foot while you create one hip "bump", then moves toward heel of standing foot with one hip "bump" with specific arm position.
        Double choo-choo: same as single but with two hip "bumps" front and two back with their specific arm positions.
        Turns out my confusion was I was calling the pivot bump without moving (which I now know is a choo-choo) still a pivot bump. Since I then needed three variations of pivot bump, I decided those must be the stationary position, moving forward and rotating.
        Of course if I'd been paying attention, I would have realized a stationary position wouldn't be called a "pivot" anything--same with moving forward. Oh well. I got an A for effort.
        Now I look forward to having Carolena here in two weeks for workshops, to see what SHE calls everything! ;-P
        Thanks again for everyone's input.
        • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

          Tue, April 8, 2008 - 12:48 PM
          Chan...said
          "Turns out my confusion was I was calling the pivot bump without moving (which I now know is a choo-choo) still a pivot bump. "

          BUT

          Sandi said:
          "A Choo Choo is just the hip bump moving forward. The scoot forward is a straight line forward and is the same count and foot as the Pivot Bump"

          From what I understand, and what Sandi seems to have said, is that it *is* a Pivot Bump if you are doing it in place *and* also if you are turning with it. It only becomes a Choo-Choo when you move forward with it, as when leading into Arc Arms.

          So if you are standing there and bumping your hip = pivot bump
          If you are rotating around yourself = pivot bump
          If you move forward or sideways (as in doing a leader transition) = choo-choo
          If you move the hip forward one bump, then back one bump, in place = singles (not "single choo-choo" as it's not a choo-choo, which travels)
          If you move hip forward two bumps, back two bumps, in place = doubles (not "double choo-choo")

          Does this clear it up, or did I make it more confusing?
          • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

            Tue, April 8, 2008 - 1:51 PM
            Wow, this is a microscopic discussion! My brain is starting to twist into a fetal position.

            Well, if you're doing a hip bump and not moving anywhere, technically you're not pivoting. So I tend to call that just a Hip Bump which is the family name for all those bumping movements. I'm not 100% on that tho. Can Wendy or Carolena confirm?

            When we use the Hip Bump in place, its usually just for a transition into another movement and doesn't last too long, say like if we're waiting for a particular change in the music or for some reason got off the count or phrasing in the music (nice how 1-count moves can help in those moments!). Most of the time its a Pivot Bump.

            But Shay, the Single Bump and the Double Bump can travel. Just like a Choo Choo, but using the same foot patterns as the SB and DB. Its just not something we do too often. I don't know why, 'cuz I like it when it happens. ;}

            Confusion abounds!
            *;D
            • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

              Tue, April 8, 2008 - 2:14 PM
              I knew they could travel, but was trying to confirm that they are not called "single choo choo" and "double choo choo" when they are in place.

              And we always called it Hip Bump, but I thought that wasn't the official ATS terminology, since I read in "Bellydance" (formerly "The Art of...) that this move was listed only as Pivot Bump and Choo-Choo. No "Hip Bump" was mentioned.

              Thanks for clarifying Sandi!
              • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

                Wed, May 14, 2008 - 8:39 AM
                Back in my student days, we called it a pivot bump, or choo-choo if it moved. I do tend to call the family of movements the hip bump family, if it pivots around itself, pivot bump, if it travels, a choo-choo, and the variations are the double bump and single bump, which some folks in this thread are calling double and single choo-choos. We call those double and single bumps.
            • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

              Tue, April 8, 2008 - 2:31 PM
              Ah, I knew there would be regional differences in terminology. . .hence my stating "here in Santa Fe". . .
              My teacher made it clear that she calls the completely stationary hip bump a choo-choo, and it can move forward. As soon as you start rotating around yourself, it's a pivot bump. Hence the "pivot" part of the name. Since the stationary move is so similar, I can certainly see it being called a hip bump.
              The single choo-choo rotates around yourself in a circle over 8 counts; the double choo-choo rotates around yourself in a square (meaning one complete move, foot front and back, facing side, back, side, front) over 16 counts.
              Least in the Land of Enchantment that's how we're doing it!
              Does this clarify?
              • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

                Tue, April 8, 2008 - 4:48 PM
                "regional differences in terminology" ?

                I'm not trying to stir up trouble, but I thought one of the main benefits of ATS was to have the same terminology - verbal and dance.

                Am I splitting hairs?
                • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

                  Tue, April 8, 2008 - 5:13 PM
                  I think some of the confusion of naming stems from the fact that the ATS format has been a work in progress, and over the years, some of the naming has changed a bit.

                  Traci, to answer your question, that *should* be a benefit of ATS, having the same terminology, the same language. I think as more people are educated through Tribal Pura the terminology will start to become more uniform as we all get on the same page.
  • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

    Wed, April 9, 2008 - 2:58 PM
    shay...(hi darling!!)

    as far as i've understood it the choo choo single and double were called the same wether they were stationary, turning in place or traveling forward. i think the names just changed over time, to single or double hip bump (again with the same variations).

    at least that's what i gathered...i found a note to myself from the first GS i attended...i think i asked Carolena to clarify the name change. if i am mistaken, i'm sorry!!!

    where i've gotten confused is hearing them also called single and double pivot bump....arrghhh!!! :)

    and thank you all for the clarification...!!!!!!
    • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

      Wed, April 9, 2008 - 3:01 PM
      I think for now I will stick to calling the hip bumps (with arm position 1 & 2, it can travel, turn, and w/arc arms), singles, and doubles. Until something comes down from on high ;)
      • Re: Choo-choos? Help!

        Thu, April 10, 2008 - 10:55 AM
        It's like any other language; we all speak English, which is preserved to large extent through the written form . . .but regionalities do creep in, along with accents. For instance, if you go to a restaurant here and order an enchilada, you might be asked if you want "Christmas." No, you tell the waiter, that's too long a wait, you're hungry now. But here, "christmas" also means you want half you enchilada covered in green chili, and half in red! :-P
        Despite name changes, regional differences, etc., if each of you lovely ladies were to descend upon our local group, you'd all be able to dance together--THEREIN lies the true beauty of ATS. The form itself remains in tact; since you are following movement, not language in performing it, the bottom line is it's still the same. Choo-choo!!!!!