Actually turning your body early is good. This is CBM, and it should happen on step 1. However the change in your direction of motion - where you feet are going, happens later in the figure. Classically between step 2 and 3 for the more progressive 3/8 turn figures, but also between step 1 and 2 for the choppier 1/4 turn figures.

CBM is a preparation to change direction, accomplished by rotating the body while it continues to move in the preceding direction. Only later does the direction of motion changes to catch up to the one suggested by the CBM.

To do a reverse turning figure, turn your hips and eyes (but not head) first, start the step letting your shoulders turn as your take it, but place the first step in the original direction without much turn. Only subsequent steps will follow the body rotation to a new direction. To do a natural turning figure, turn your upper body first, then your hips.

You head tends to change its orientation at the same point in the figure when your moving foot does.

But you already have rotation from the DRS or a slip pivot,so how do you control the amount of rotation so that you can dance the LF straight down the LOD if thats the direction you wan't to enter the curved tree step. I could strart the DRS down the LOD instead of DC that would put me in the right position,but to change the amount of turn on the DRS any where from under to over is complicated and confusing for my partner.

Dave . As you practise more and more you should be able to go into or come out of a DRS as you wish. Like a tennis player. If you are likely to have to play five sets then you train for eight. Bearing that in mind try Double Reverse Wings instead of Double Reverse Spins. Another very good one is across the narrow side of the hall. try a Fallaway straight into the corner Followed by a DRS straight into the corner also. Finishing facing the corner. Everybody is begining to wonder where you are going. Cap this off with a Open Telemark finish facing straight out on the same line you came in on. This is one of Michael Barr's frome his tape and is an excercise on knowing where you are in the ballroom. If you want the finish from the Telemark he taught a Syncopated Quick Open Revese with a Chasse Finish. The Double Reverse Wing is also one of his. He is due here next month for teaching and lectures.

Don. I have a vidio of Barr teaching the waltz a beautfull upright stanze and excellent use of the knees a style of dancing that is unique to him and may be because Vicky is a lot shorter than him ,so he has to lower more into the floor compared to Gleave who floats across the floor. Janet GLeave in high heals is taller than Richard but you would never know that to see them dance. I wish I was going to that lecture. Please ask him about his lowering technique and posture and a thousand other questions.

The issue is not that step 1 of a figure must go in the direction you had planned, but that step 1 must go in the direction in which the previous step has you already moving. Even if that's the wrong direction compared to what you wanted you have to take it (barring an emergency) - you can only modify the direction of motion after step 1, as a result of CBM and/or sideways pressure as you move through the foot from step 1 to step 2.

I understand what you are saying,but the DRS is a circular rotation and if you danced a pivot after it,you could continue in the same relative direction. But say that you were to dance a change of direcion you would have to stop the revolution somewhere would you not such as on lowering

The DRS doesn't really turn much at all.

It rotates, but it has very little turn of the direction of travel - maybe only 1/8 of a turn or by however much you miss completing 360 degrees.

If you dance two DRS in a row the foot is still aligned with the direciton of travel when you start the second one - you do not (or at least you should not) curve step 1 to match any continuing rotation (CBM) in your body.

In the general case the direction of foot movement catches up with the CBM only on step 3 - however in the DRS there really isn't any change of direction, all steps more or less moving down LOD.

Anonymous. You would be in trouble with our judges if you don't keep your head to the left at all times, unless a stationary step like a Wrong Foot Lunge. or a Throwaway Oversway just to mention two is being performed. Moving the eyes would also not be acceptable here.

Take a lesson with the judges and see where they want you to put you head; you might just be suprised.

There is a leftward position of the head, but that does not mean it is always rotated to the left.

And of course we have to ask rotated to the left relative to what?

The advanced technique gives the head weight for the curving three step as center,left,left. Center being the normal dance position of the mans head weight. I am talking here about head weight. So if on the first step my head weight is to the left this will cause me to tip left(spin out) turn to early. It seems that this happens because I am keeping my head to left of center from the previous DRS. So I am trying to correct this by bringing the head position back to normal for the first step of the CTS. Wow