Kevin,

Larry Choi asked a very valid question stemming from confusion about two different forms of foxtrot not having been presented as different dances. There is the SQQ, or swing-drift foxtrot, and there is the SSQQ or rhythm foxtrot. Both are valid - and unfortunately, it's not uncommon for someone teaching one to neglected to mention the existence of the other, which creates quite legitimate confusion if they have or do ever encounter the other form.

There was no need for such petty insults.

Kevin B,
I believe there is a saying which is similar to the following: It takes one to know one!

This guy Larry Choi obviously is an idiot. First of all, he can't seem to speak English in any coherent manner. Second of all, he doesn't understand dancing or the foxtrot. He is a sniveling, wimpy feminine guy.

Kevin

By dancing in phase I mean 1234 and not 3412. I am told that no top competitor will dance in time but out of phase. But yet in the Quickstep if I dance a Quarter Turn followed by a Progressive Chasse into a Lock Step ( which is pretty standard ) I will enter my Spin Turn out of phase, that is on 34. I often wondered why one of my former teachers made us do on the Lock Quick and Quick, or a Double Lock. Any advice or comments on this one?.

Well, this is something that interests me too.
Quickstep has accented beats on 1 and 3 and my understanding is that it's legitimate to phrase 3,4,1,2 as well as 1,2,3,4
Waltz obviously has to be phrased correctly
Foxtrot is the one that really interests me...feather step phrased as 12,3,4, but i believe it can be danced 34,1,2. I feel 'uncomfortable' doing this.
But i'd like to know how judges look at competitors. If a lower grade dancer departs from the technique book apporach, then i suspect the judges mark him/her down, whereas a championship grade dancers can get away with all sorts under the banner of musical interpretation. Would this be a reasonably view?
I've seen top dancers doing feather-reverse turn - feather finish and take an extra bar doing it.Looked nice too

Phil. About dancing in rhythm with the music in the Quickstep. I often wondered when I watched a tape of a major championship or a demonstration they never do any basic steps. I used to think now come on, when are you going to do my steps. Now I know why, its because the basics will take them in and out of rhythm. Like you I also feel very uncomfortable dancing Foxtrot on 3412 instead of 1234. Having said that I watched a important senior event where this couple danced every round including the final back to front. He did his introductory step on 12 and took of on 34,and stayed like that throughout. They came third which I think was a disgrace. A top dancer who has been taught correctly will always be able to keep in rhythm, if necessary they will syncapate a step or alter the timing to suit. If you are interested, Latin is now more than ever being phrased over eight bars. Samba of course is, but if you want a task try counting Jive in eight barr sequences. My tape of Michael Wentink does just that. So to be absolutely correct, if you are putting groups together yourself - Beware. In the modern Waltz John Woods goes into how you have the strong bar then the not so strong and he dances accordingly. Also mentioned is 4/4 timing where three is strong but not as strong as one, which leaves the other beats softer.

Hi onlooker
Like yourself, i've watched top dancers at comps, especially in foxtrot. It's not easy to work out what they're doing - in fact observing and analysing top dancing seems as hard as doing it!!
Definitely, they depart from the strict technique book, they do start sequences in the 'wrong' place (if there is such a thing).
I think the 4/4 timing you mentioned with strong emphasis on 1 and weaker on 3 is foxtrot music. The stronger 1 (the chord sequences usually start on the first beat of a bar)is ,i think, what makes me uncomfortable dancing 34, 1,2 instead of 12,3,4.
By the way, which John Woods video talks about such things.? I'd love to find good videos which discuss these issues instead of just showing nice steps. In fact, i'd strongly welcome a discussion thread which reccommends videos (hint)

Sam. The John Woods tape is Dance Dynamics Waltz and Foxtrot. It has in it a lot of talking. Like balancing all your blocks of wood one upon the other and keeping them there. In practice in the Waltz how we should both count aloud 1 and 2 and, right through to 6.and to the end of your grouping. I dont know if it it is still on the market but it beats most of the tapes I have because he does n't go into heaps of variations, but as I said , a lot of talking and instruction
in a language which I can understand. And for the ladies Anne Lewis, her explanation on how to do a Heel Turn in the Foxtrot is a revelation. Like the Reverse Turn, after turning her hips towards the new alignment does not worry about where the right foot goes, that's on the first step of the Reverse Turn. Happy Hunting.

The info about the tape was for Phil and not as I put Sam. Sorry

Hi onlooker - Sam is fine. My brothers get called Sam too.