I'm having trouble making sense of the pattern descriptions. For example the Am. Foxtrot Left Box Turn Overview includes a table showing step 1 "Facing diagonal center" and step 3 "backing line of dance." In my way of thinking that translates into at least 135 degree of turn over three steps, but the description of the pattern indicates a turn of up to 3/8, which would complete the rotation in the first three steps. The table also indicates a comparable additional rotation on steps 4 through 6. That would be 270 degrees in six steps. What am I missing?

Wlraft. If you were to face the center of the ballroom and turned 1/4 of a turn to the left you would be backing the Line of Dance. Being that on a Reverse Turn we are facing Diagonal to the center, which is 1/8th of a turn and then finish backing the L.O.D. we will have turned 3/8 of a turn.

As far as I can tell, you don't seem to be missing anything.

3/8 = 135 degrees, which is correct over the first 3 steps. You begin facing diagonal center, turn 3/8 over steps 1-3, and end backing line of dance. You then do the same over steps 4-6 to end facing diagonal wall. The total turn is 3/8 + 3/8, which is 3/4. That is the maximum amount of turn one should take on a Left Box before it becomes a different figure, the Left Cross Turn.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
BallroomDancers.com