Interested. Find on any site showing pictures of dancers in competition. On the Progressive Link you will find that the ladies right knee is in contact with the man's left but behind.
The ladies left is behind the mans right but touching. The heads of both are in Promenade. If the next step is to be a closed Promenade. They will with the outside foot step one floor board wide which allows the inside foot to step through in Promenade. Its all there if you know what to look for.
I should have put that the heel is off the floor with the toe in contact on the man's left and the ladies right. This is a sure sign that what you are looking at is after the Progressive Link has been completed. I'm looking at one right now page 229 Alex Moore's book. You could also look at Jonathan and Melissa on this site and tell me if it differes from what is written above.

Anonymous. This might be a bit too technical for some but whether it be a Promenade step in any of the International Style Dances. The lady is always stepping behind the man, never with him . Her position is always to the man's right side and there she should stay. If I can illistrate this. We would never try to walk through a narrow doorway side by side, or if you like both being square with each other. So there is no need to attain a wide open position on a Promenade step. Think of a very narrow opening. If it is done correctly there will be no struggling for clean clear foot positions for each of the partnership.

"So there is no need to attain a wide open position on a Promenade step. "

I would agree that there is no productive need or reason to attain such an open position.

However, many less experienced dancers will do it accidentally. As you know the foot alignments in textbook promenade are divergent, and if the dancers were to mistakenly allow their bodies to match their foot alignments, then their bodies would be inappropriately turned out.

It seems more logical that there would be a warning about this easy to make mistake, than about avoiding the almost inconceivable situation that you suggested the passage was intended to warn against.

Anonymous. Years ago at the time that the lady stood right in front of the man instead of to his right side Promenade steps would have been wider for the simple reason the position of the bodies would not allow it to be done any other way.
I've often remarked Why wasn't I told years ago. I owe those former teachers an apology. How could they have taught me something that they didn't know and it wasn't done that way at that time anyway. Its only since I started to study on youtube what was being done in the early 60's did I realize that was the way we were being taught. It is easy for instance to find a World Championship Final and look at the Cha Cha. They are bouncing their steps and moving their arms in such a way that today they would not get out of the first round in a local competition. Yet at that time they were the best, I repeat again, that is in the early 60's
If you want a real eye opener . Have a look how the Tango was being done in 1920 by the then World Champion. All of the above are from British Pathe News Reels.

thank you terrence2.

i guess the fact that there is even slight turn implies that the upper bodies shoud be quite closed when in the promenade position.

It took me a while to find this from way back.
The reason I bring this one up is there is a shot of Mirko Gozzoli and Edita taken only a couple of days ago at the UK titles from Bournmouth. Would anyone care to tell me. Are they at the end of the Progresive Link and are they positioned to go into a Closed Promenade. This can be found on Dancesport UK, then Dancesportinfo Net, then under Amateur Latin and Professional Ballroom roll down and there they are. Pay particular attention to the contact of the front legs, and the top which is in Promenade whilst the legs and feet are not. Notice the ladies straight right arm and the protuding thumbs. Study and copy.

here we go with the " thumbs " thing again !...

Ya know, I saw ( and had lectures and lessons ) with many of the World champs ( the ones who WROTE the techn. ) and I NEVER heard or saw ANY of them advocate the thumb thing.

If any one can give me a sound theory on why this application is used, I would really like to hear it.

Trends and fads come and go, and people "buy " into them.

Does anyone honestly believe, by changing that detail, its going to improve their dancing ???

IF you do.. Ive got some great land I can sell you real cheap in S . Florida..

I believe there is a slight turn to the left between steps 2 and 3 i.e. when the guy crosses right in front and side left. Therefore when your feet close on 4 the turn is complete. To try and turn on 4 would make it tricky but I am sure it could be turn. It really depends on who teaches you.

There is probably a little upper body turn to the left on step four just as there us at the conclusion of a right foot walk when the body partially catches up to the new foot alignment that was created on the previous left foot walk. But the obvious turn in a closed promenade, that of the lady's feet, occurs between the alignments of steps 2 and 3.

Hi i agree with you.