How do you dance on early CBM on the first step of the natural turn in the waltz, from a previous figure or from a prep step. Dave

Not really early, but well timed.

Unwind as you complete the previous step, so you are more or less square to your feet as your right foot passes the left. As you move forward into the step, the left side overtakes the right and is already somewhat in advance when the right foot is placed - it's the movement of the body into the step that brings the right foot.

But many mistakenly teach the opposite - placing the foot ahead of the body and moving onto it. It works for a while, but makes a small, overshaped look.

Suomynona. Thank you for your information. I have just tried it and fortunatly I dance it that way . I have noticed that if I rotate the left shoulder to stongly this gives me an early turn around the axes of the right foot and less forward flight. I beleave the turn should not take place untill both feet are touching the floor and then we pivot equally on both feet untill our back is almost backing the line of dance, completing the turn as we lower, Is this correct?

It will feel like you are turning the body early in step one, but not turning the feet until nearly the end of step two.

Backwards of course you turn out the free foot as you swing towards step two.

A strong right side lead into natural may explain why many men do not cover their partner with their left side.

Dave. Different dancer different interpretation. From a Prep Step I was taught to walk away from my L.F. and with my R.F. foot in position to swing my left foot and shoulder. Which would be CBM rather late. Then I use sway on Three which helps the closing foot into position. I have after a syncopated chasse basicly the same technique. So as some dancers dance slightly behind the beat. Some use a late CBM on certain steps. This is why we all don't look the same when we dance. One of my teachers once said the technique comes in a soft cover so that you can bend it.

Don .This seems more than just a slight interpretation . one minute we are saying right shoulder lead and the next a left shoulder lead. When I went for my walk this morning . I made note of what my body was doing. Result: My left shoulder arrived either just before my right foot or at the same time,it was difficult to be exact, but never after my foot. I believe we should always use our body's as naturally as possable,unless we have the skill of a top pro. We also have to consider our partner and what they feel is best for them,helps them to dance freely and keep their poise,grace and balance. Gleaves method was demonstrated dancing a feather in the foxtrot with a right side lead on the first step.

Dave. I think as you mentioned the lady must feel comfortable with the whole operation.It must be recognised that dancing is an art and not a science. We should also stick to one dance which is Waltz. I would be doing a turning action then a swinging action off the first step R.F.after my preperation step which is my left. Remembering that in the Waltz this is the only preperation step I am going to get. I'm with John Wood who calls the first step R.F. as swing.I don't know about you but after a Syncopated Chasse into a Natural I find it very stilted to have a early CBM. On another step it might be different. I don't think that all steps can be danced the same way. I would like to draw attention to something that is often not understood and that is. Turn is turning the body from right to left and left to right.A foreward or backward action is Swing. A sideway action is Sway. These can all be practised standing in one place. According to my Gleave tape the first action is turn, then swing and than sway
CBM is hardly mentioned except I believe it to be on the turn before the swing. But then can it be late or early.
If your coach and your partner like the way it is being done. It must be looking good or something will be said. I believe that as the first step is actually on The R.F. try starting there Doesn't an early CBM feel so awkward going into your Natural. That's why I try to leave it slightly behind.

"I don't know about you but after a Syncopated Chasse into a Natural I find it very stilted to have a early CBM."

After the chasse you are stepping out with left side lead already, to take the first step of the natural outside partner in CBMP. Because of this, the CBM will be fairly subtle - you start the first step in a position very near that which would be achieved as the foot is placed when the inside version is done with well-timed CBM.

"Turn is turning the body from right to left and left to right"

yes

"A foreward or backward action is Swing."

Not necessarily. A swing is one type of action, in which the rotation of the body in the vertical plane sends the leg from a position behind the body to a position in advance. The other type of action, the one more applicable to heel leads, is for the body to simply translate across the floor, carrying the leg under it.

"A sideway action is Sway."

Incorrect. A sway on a basic figure in ballroom language is not an action, but rather is the position which results from swing.

"CBM is hardly mentioned except I believe it to be on the turn before the swing. But then can it be late or early."

No, if it's "the turn before the swing" then it has to be: before the swing!

Sumynona. I'm not saying that I agree with this. But in Dance Vision 4 Richard Gleave says. Swing is the foreward or backward movement like a pendulum. (I always called that step). Sway is a sdeway motion. (I always called that swing ) Sway to me was always the last little bit after the swing. Now the Turn. According to the tape turn is a movement around the spine , feet still.So putting the tape together we have a turn and a swing. Next we have Sway right to the end. Trying to make sense of all this it would seem the turn is actually the CBM combined with the Swing. I think that I will continue to to say to myself Step Swing. Sway on three. After all they are only names. Shakespeare wrote What's in a name.He must have been referring to the first three of a Natural. Way ahead of his time that man.