Hi to All,
Still on about Ken Akrill, at Blackpool. When he had finished his lecture he said if you have any questions you can see me in the bar but make sure your first question is: Will you have a drink, Ken? I asked him this. This question is about the New York. Hold the arms as for gent when dancing a forward half basic in the Rumba. Dance and make a 1/4 turn to left over the first 3 steps. The Laird technique states that because of the turn, step 3 for gent, becomes a Backward Walk Turning (BWT). Now, repeat the 3 steps but this time with the hold as for Left Side by Side Position (Open Counter Promenade Position) with the free right arm, as gent, held to the side. Dance 1 to 3 of the New York. Make the same amount of turn to the left, over the first 3 steps to face partner. The Laird technique now states that step 3 is a side step. Why isn't it a BWT? Ken replied, 'Make it a double and I will answer?' Ken got his double and I got the answer.

LLuv2dance. You've really lost me on this one. Beat three on a New York is not a step , it is a weight transfer in place. I dont think in a New York I have ever met a Backward Walk. What I have seen on that step is a strong turning in of the body towards the partners which does affect the third step on beat four. Were you drinking tripples and more than one.

Hi to Don,
I'm referring to the Laird technique. If you read his charted figures then column one are the step numbers. You know that is what I'm referring too. Not beat three! If you keep on being a naughty boy I'll request that "Anymouse" comes back >

lluv2Dance. Reading from the book can cause a multude of problems unless the reader is already a experienced dancer.
If we go to columne one it has written in the second place step two...If you glance across the page it says.... Wt tranfer in place... and the next columnis 1/4 to R*... which if you look below says 3/8 if finished in Open CPP. When I went to beats and not steps that was not an accident.
As Shakespeare once said.
This is the deadly spite that ails me. My partner can only speak in steps. And I in beats.

Don,
Let's go down the page to one of the postings by you in answer to 'Cha Cha Cha, Urgent Help...' The end part to your answer, I've Cut and Pasted, below:

/* I have no idea why Walley Laird in his book describes a Checked Forward Walk and at the same time the ladies step as a Backward Walk only. If we go to a New York for both we have a Checked Forward Walk. On a Spot Turn the Walk comes first. There probably is a reason which I can't see. Can anybody else.*/

Your last sentence, 'Can anybody else?' Well, I can and I gave you the reason why there is NO Checked Backward Walk. (I digress here) For those not conversant with the Latin technique there are 4 Forward Walks and 3 Backward Walks. Seven all told. I did not get any thanks from you just derogative remarks about drinking, in this post. If you say these things in jest then put a smiley after it. Mind you, I'll still give you answers if I know them.

Ken Akrill is an examiner. He is bound to agree with the official technique even if he believes it should be updated. Ask any normal thinking person when shown , call it a Back Basic, would not say it is a Checked Walk. If Ken were to say that. His fellow friends would say Ken has just rewritten the technique book. As for being back weighted The lady is in a 3" heel and the man is in a Cuban heel. Both keep the weight over the ball of the foot.

Hi,
/*As for being back weighted The lady is in a 3" heel and the man is in a Cuban heel. Both keep the weight over the ball of the foot*/

With the weight of the body over the ball of foot it is not necessary to have a BACK CHECKED WALK. The reason we have a FORWARD CHECKED WALK is to arrest the body from moving forward. Giving this walk it's full title explains this: A Forward Walk to check forward progression.

To come back to the message title, I'm surprised that only Don (AKA Serendipidy; Luvlatin; Anon3 and many many others!) tried to give an answer. But as usual he decided it was a chance to 'spout some knowledge' which as usual had nothing to do with the question. It's a wonder he did not throw-in the amount of turn for lady on a Open Impetus