Slow Foxtrot - Reverse Turn

Following on from the Feather Step last explained, the next commonly used step in Slow Foxtrot is a Reverse Turn.

This is the first time that the follower will be doing one of the staples of the Slow Foxtrot as far as the follower is concerned - the Heel Turn! Ladies, this will take practice and a lot of repetition before it starts to feel 'natural' so stick with it and don't cheat by turning it into a normal step.

Remember, this dance is characterised by the fact that the feet almost always pass my each other - so it should move and get its fluidity from this.


Leaders'/Men's Footwork


As you are still facing Diagonal Centre after your Feather Step, that is where this step also begins. You are currently on the outside of your partner, so the first step onto your Left foot should aim to get you back in line with her. As your partner goes into her heel turn, you step with your right foot to the side, swinging yourself as much around your partner as possible to end up facing the wall to your left as you step back on your Left. (Slow, Quick, Quick). This is important as your partner will be pulled/pushed off of her heel turn if you don't get around her on your own.

You have one more step backwards with your Right foot before stepping side and slightly forward on your Left foot to point Diagonally to Wall. Then one more step forward (in CBMP) with your Right foot - this is outside your partner. (Slow, Quick, Quick)

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

As you finished the Feather Step Backing Diagonal Centre, that is where you begin this step. Step back on your Right foot then bring your left foot together with your Right foot as you turn (Heel Turn) to face the LOD. Bring the weight onto the balls of your feet (without rising) and step forward onto your Right foot. (Slow, Quick, Quick) This third step should go between your partner's legs - do not try to step outside of him at this stage.

You then have one step forward on your Left foot, a step to the side on your Right foot, and a step back with your Left foot in CBMP. (This IS outside partner... but it is up to Him to make that happen, not you!) (Slow, Quick, Quick)

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

 - The first step that the Lady takes after her heel turn should come straight forward between the Gent's legs. This is only possible if she has completed the turn - not overturned - and feels that her partner is far enough around her that she wont step on him! Gents, if you do not get far enough around your partner on the Side step (your second step), she will not be able to do this properly.... get around her and help her out, please!

Slow Foxtrot - Feather Step

One of the most beautiful, and sometimes most challenging, of the Ballroom dances is the Slow Foxtrot. Although it shares part of its name with the Social Foxtrot, it should not be thought of as the same dance.

Unlike most of the other Ballroom dances, it is very rare in the Slow Foxtrot that you will bring your feet together (other than in heel turns for the lady). Throughout this dance, you should try to create a sweeping and swaying movement which covers a Lot of the floor and which uses the momentum of the couple to naturally link one move to the next.

Also unlike any of the other dances we have looked at, the Slow Foxtrot will usually start with the leader facing diagonally into the centre of the room.  This is where we are going to start with the step breakdowns, and though teachers may choose to focus on the Feather Step and Three Step together before adding the Reverse or Natural Turns into the mix, the next few posts will look at each step I have just mentioned in the order that you would typically put them together and as if you have just completed the previous.

Depending on the technique book you look at, there are "extra steps" that technically may also be included in each of these steps, however, as I am essentially stringing them together, these extra steps (which are essentially the beginning of a new step) have generally been left off.



Leaders'/Men's Footwork

The Feather step, as mentioned, starts with you facing diagonally into the centre of the room. This step is comprised of three forward steps: one in line with your partner and two slightly outside. Begin with your Right foot forward in line with your partner (Slow). Then, step forward but slightly out to the left with your Left foot - Left side leading (Quick). Lastly, step forward, outside your partner with your Right foot in CBMP.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

For you, this step is fairly simple footwork-wise. You have three steps backwards! The tricky things are allowing your upper body to sway from the waist up without affecting your feet and making sure that you have No Foot Rise. You start with your Left foot backwards, follow with the Right foot back, and then the Left. (Slow, Quick, Quick)

Notes for both the Leader and Follower:


- Followers, your partner will be outside you to your Right for two of the steps, so you must ensure that you are not ending up in his armpit - turn your shoulders to remain parallel with his. Leaders, make sure that you actually have your Left Side Leading as mentioned above - turning your shoulders but not your hips as you step outside your partner.

- Gentlemen, you have foot rise, but the Ladies do not. Ladies, all rise must be "Body Rise" which happens within the waist and ribcage - just like taking a deep breath in and lifting from your collar bone. So gentlemen should not over do their rise.

Samba - Stationary Samba Walks

Much like the Forward Samba Walk, Stationary Samba walks have similar footwork, but as the name suggests, don't travel.

With the "1-and, a, 2" counting already explained in other Samba movements, Stationary Samba Walks are often done facing your partner and in a variety of holds: the simplest of which is two hand hold (often changes slightly so that if you are facing your partner and your forearms are parallel to the floor, there is a break at your wrist so that your palms face your partner - but don't interweave your fingers!). Like the other Samba Walks, this step requires a looseness of hold in order to accomplish it smoothly... you are not going to be able to keep your partner as close to you or in one static position as you may in a lot of the other steps so far. Allow them to move a little further away and come back in towards you throughout the step... a little like breathing!

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Starting facing your partner, you should have your weight on your Right foot with your Left collected underneath you if you have just finished the Basic Movement (or crossed behind you if you have just finished a whisk).

Place your Left foot on the ground next to your Right foot (a little like a tiny march). (Count "1-and")

Extend your Right foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Right foot pull your Left foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Dont lift your Left foot from the ground or transfer your body weight back over your Right foot. Keep your head, shoulders and hips over your Left foot and simply use your Right foot, extended behind you as a stationary point that you can use to activate your muscles from. Your Left foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.

Next, bring your Right foot forward to step beside your Left foot. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Left foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Left foot pull your Right foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Your Right foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.


Followers'/Lady's Footwork


Facing your partner, you should have your weight on your Left foot with your Right foot collected underneath you if you have just finished the Basic Movement (or crossed behind you if you have just finished a whisk).

Lift your Right foot and place it down beside your Left foot on the floor. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Left foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Left foot pull your Right foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Dont lift your Right foot from the ground or transfer your body weight back over your Left foot. Keep your head, shoulders and hips over your Right foot and simply use your Left foot, extended behind you as a stationary point that you can use to activate your muscles from. Your Right foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.

Reverse, stepping onto your Left foot as you place it beside your Right. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Right foot behind you on Count "a".

Put part weight onto your Right foot to allow you to slide your Left foot backwards about half a foot length. (Count "2")

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- Remember that the bounce action still needs to be maintained. Every time a number is said ("1,2," etc), your knees should be bent. they need to stretch on the half beats in the middle. This is one of the hardest aspects of Samba to master.

Samba - Side Samba Walks

As mentioned in the previous Samba Walk post, Samba walks are generally done in two variations at the same time. The first is a Forward Samba Walk and the second is a Side Samba Walk. There are also Stationary Samba Walks, but right now, we are looking at the Side Samba Walk!

Counted the same as the other Samba steps with the first beat broken into half count at first and then split into quarters before taking a full count to complete the movement ("1-and, a, 2"), Samba walks are done moving around the room in the same Line of Dance that you have for the Ballroom dances. (As a travelling dance, in this Samba is slightly different from its fellow Latin Dances; especially the ones often danced socially.) The "Side" in the step name, refers not to the direction of movement generally, but the direction of the second step in the whole movement.

They are also done from an opened Promenade position - meaning that the Man's Right side and the Lady's Left are closer together and the opposite shoulder has opened out slightly so that they are both facing the side wall (with bellybuttons still trying to face each other). For now, keep your partner in hold (Men's Right hand on the Lady's shoulder blade and Left hand holding hers in front of you.) But be aware that this step requires a looseness of hold in order to accomplish it smoothly... you are not going to be able to keep your partner as close to you or in one static position as you may in a lot of the other steps so far. Allow them to move a little further away and come back in towards you throughout the step... a little like breathing!

We are going to combine one Forward Samba Walk with one Side Samba Walk, as the Side Samba Walk should only be done on the outside foot.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Starting in promenade position, you should have your weight on your Right foot with your Left collected underneath you if you have just finished the Basic Movement (or crossed behind you if you have just finished a whisk). Step forward (along the LOD) onto your Left foot and a bent knee. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Right foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Right foot pull your Left foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Don't lift your Left foot from the ground or transfer your body weight back over your Right foot. Keep your head, shoulders and hips over your Left foot and simply use your Right foot, extended behind you as a stationary point that you can use to activate your muscles from. Your Left foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.

Next, step forward on your Right foot remembering to keep your knee bent. (count "1-and")

Extend your Left foot to the SIDE, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Left foot pull your Right foot along the floor, sideways towards the outstretched foot. ( Count "2") Your Right foot should slip side approximately half of your foot length.

Repeat as desired!


Followers'/Lady's Footwork


From promenade position, you should have your weight on your Left foot with your Right foot collected underneath you if you have just finished the Basic Movement (or crossed behind you if you have just finished a whisk). Step forward (along the LOD) onto your Right foot and a bent knee. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Left foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Left foot pull your Right foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Don't lift your Right foot from the ground or transfer your body weight back over your Left foot. Keep your head, shoulders and hips over your Right foot and simply use your Left foot, extended behind you as a stationary point that you can use to activate your muscles from. Your Right foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.

Next, step forward onto your Left foot. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Right foot to the SIDE on Count "a".

Put part weight onto your Right foot to allow you to slide your Left foot sideways about half a foot length. (Count "2")

Repeat sequence as lead!

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- Remember that the bounce action still needs to be maintained. Every time a number is said ("1,2," etc), your knees should be bent. they need to stretch on the half beats in the middle. This is one of the hardest aspects of Samba to master.

- When you take the side "touch" step, try to keep your body as much over the supporting leg as possible and be aware that your hold is going to need to give a little in order for both of you to slide slightly away from each other.

Quickstep - Running Finish

A nice way to finish off the last quickstep sequence we looked at, which finished with the Leader backing LOD (it can also be danced when the Leader starts Backing Diagonal Wall) is the Running Finish. The key to this step is in its name. It should feel like a run! When danced properly, it has a great feel to it that gives you momentum - which in Quickstep is what it is all about!

The diagrams below show Back Lock, and then Running Finish. (Only the Running Finish is counted as it is the only thing actually explained in the step breakdowns.


Leaders'/Men's Footwork


In this case you are starting Backing LOD (this step can also be done on other alignments), and it is three quick and simple steps. Start by stepping backwards onto your Left foot. Opening your body to the right, step side onto your Right foot and then continue the body movement to step forward (most likely facing Diagonal Wall of New LOD) - wihch means that your Left side is leading. My preferred counting for this is Quick, Quick, Slow; though it is also correct to do Slow, Quick, Quick - to me this breaks the momentum at the beginning and makes it a little trickier to get around.


The next step after this will be outside partner, but can take you into any other Natural figure.


Follower's/Lady's Footwork


For once the Lady is facing LOD at the beginning of a step. Start by stepping forward with your Right foot. Step side onto your Left foot as you feel your partner begin to turn and then backwards onto your Right foot. It is worth noting that at this point, your right shoulder is also pulled back. As mentioned above, my preferred counting for this step is Quick, Quick, Slow, however, it is also correct to dance it Slow, Quick, Quick.


Notes for the Leader and Follower:


- The sway in this movement is what really gives it the nice rush of momentum that you should be aiming to achieve. Guys, you are swaying to the Left on the second and third steps, therefore, Ladies, you are to the Right.

Quickstep - 1-3 Natural and Back Lock

If you have not already looked at the basic Lock Step in Quickstep, I recommend you practice that before this sequence.

This step essentially takes the dancing couple into a lock step in the reverse direction to what they are each usually moving (the Lead is going backwards while the Follow is moving forwards) and in order to get them in that position, we are using the first three steps of a Natural Turn.


Leaders'/Men's Footwork


Starting facing Diagonal Wall, you step forward on your Right foot, side onto your Left foot, and together (Right foot to Left) to end up backing Line of Dance. (Slow, Quick, Quick)


Then begin the Back Lock by stepping back once onto your Left foot, backwards again onto your Right foot, Cross your Left foot in front of the Right, and then backwards again with your Left foot. (Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow)


Followers'/Lady's Footwork


Backing Diagonal Wall, take your first step backwards on your Left foot. Step side onto your Right foot, and then bring your Left foot together with the Right foot. (Slow, Quick, Quick)


You are then facing Line of Dance, and begin the lock step by stepping forward on your Right foot, another step forward on your Left foot, then cross your Right foot behind your Left foot, and one more step forward with the Left. (Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow)



Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- As with the "normal" lock step, be careful not to have the Lady end up under the Man's armpit. You ARE slightly outside each other, as it would be impossible to be on the same foot track, but remember you are working together... not running a race. It doesn't matter who gets there first!

Glossary - Fan Position

When you are looking at steps such as the Open Hip Twist into Fan in either Rumba or Cha Cha, it is integral that you really hit Fan Position properly for the rest of the movements to work. As it can sometimes be a little difficult to picture exactly where your bodies are positioned, here is a breakdown of both foot and body placement.

The whole shape of the position, when looked at from above, is much like its name suggests: a fan!

Your bodies are slightly more open than your foot placement which means that the opening of your fan, using your upper body and arms is as important as what your feet are doing.