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Foxtrot: Basic Sequence: Turn Details: Part 8

The first basic sequence.

Please Note: This is a sequel to Foxtrot: Basic Sequence: Part 3

The turn to the right side is same in principle, as that for the left turn as shown here. The only difference is that the man starts with the Right foot forward and the Lady moving backwards with the Left foot. The push for the turn immediately after the first step is to the side is to the Right side. Here through out up until now the stress is on man moving forward and the lady moving backwards. The reason for this is that the forward movement tends to be Moore difficult for the man and similarly the backward movement for the lady. This is mainly due to the weight and structural difference. Therefore, the backward turn for man and the forward turn for lady tend to be much easier.

Explanation for the figure above:
A) (Start) Man’s weight is on the Right foot and lady’s on the Left foot. Man ‘bulldozes’ forward. This means that man pushes the lady back and both the dancing partners move in the same direction, which is the direction of the flow of movement.

B) In this position, man is on the Left foot and the Lady is on the Right foot, with flexed knees. The movement in the direction of the flow continues.

C) Man ‘Pushes’ the lady to the Left. This push slightly retards the man from moving in the direction of the flow and gives him a momentary pause. It will make the man move slightly away from the lady. However, the speed increases for the lady. The backward movement coupled with the force to the side moves the lady diagonally backwards. The lady’s feet are at this stage, pointing away but parallel with the flow movement. Therefore, the lady is not able to move her Left foot backward. Only the body moves backward and the weight shifts from flat foot to the heel and then further behind.

D) The man allows slight the backward movement before tightening the arms to prevent any further separation. This prevents the two dancers to stop from further separating. At this time, the rise starts and man is on the ball of the Left foot. Lady’s accelerated backward movement begins to pull man across. Due to man is balancing on the Left ball and lady on the Right heel gives to the circular swing.

E) Man steps across on the Right foot and pull the lady inwards towards himself. This again makes him pause shortly. However, the momentum of the lady’s movement remains steady. Also the lady’s tilt starts to start reducing and she starts to straighten up.

F) Lady begins to move towards the Man.

G) (Finish) The momentum of the lady’s movement helps man to move backwards.

Note:
1. Even if you do not hone your skills with such turns given here, you can nevertheless progress. However, it is important to understand this. Which then would remain at the back of the mind and it would act subconsciously every time when practising.
2. Also the turn here is Reverse Turn or the turn to the Left, is a general one, to understand the principle of turning. This principle is generally the same irrespective of the type of dance or the type of figure in any dance that involves turning.
3. The Natural Turn or the turn to the Right is similar to this one. The only difference being, the one moving forward starts with the Right foot and the partner starts with the Left foot backwards, and the turn is to the Right.
4. One should know the turns moving forward and backward with either foot.