I am a novice and learning Viennese Waltz. My questions are about the unusual footwork. My instructor had my partner and I working on all the mechanics of turning right and left, working our way up to Viennese tempo. When we could do 160 beats per minute without killing ourselves, we had the option of pursuing the "correct" footwork or not. Even though I am not interested in competition, it made some sense to me to learn the "right" steps so away we went. It is challenging but I am sure with enough practice we can make it work. I supplement my live instruction with videos. I have a V. Waltz video in which the instructor says that crossing the feet is necessary on the left (reverse) turns but not on the right (natural) turns. All of this background leads up to these questions:
1) What is the FUNCTION of crossing the feet in the VW turns? (It seems like we can execute the turns without it.) Please be gentle with me, I am a novice.
2) What does this panel of experts have to say about whether the foot crossing happens on both right and left turns OR only on left turns? Why?
Thanks for your time and thoughtful replies.
