Yes I am lucky enough to have an autographed first edition of Henry Jaques book. Not signed for me though, it was signed before I was born - just!

Social Dancer. I if I new then what I know now. I could have bought a bundle of those books. Its 52 years ago when I used to have lessons at Henry's studio in Shepherds Bush London. My teacher at that time was a close friend of Henry's and taught at his studio. As coincidence would have it 12,000 miles, away I ran into a teacher who learnt off Henry just after World War 1 at the same studio.,

Hi Quickstep,

You've been at it a long, long time. You obviously a 'true believer' and a great lover of ballroom for dancing itself. You earned my admiration. Great going.

In all these years of dancing and taking instruction from some of the greats what has been your single greatest challenge as a dancer and what would you like to change from what is generally accepted in ballroom.

Thanks for keeping this forum alive.

Best Wishes,
Rha

Rha. Thanks for your comments. There are so many changes in moves in all dances even the V. Waltz. In the Quickstep we have incorporated into our routine a High Change of Direction and a few other things that I didn't know could be done. The reason for the High Change of Direction is because on the next move we need to be on our toes. There are other moves where I would have expected to come out on one. Suprise we come out on four because it suits the next move. One thing I would have liked to change in my ballroom dancing is that I should have had my present teachers one for modern and the other for Latin a long time ago. There are so many things that can be done for a better effect. Have you come across a Running Finish all on the toes and all quicks with the Running Finish taking up no more space that the width of a doorframe. This follows a Tipple Chasse which is repeated. To me it shows that we are bound only by our imagination. My final word is find a teacher, if it is possible. who has been, or is at the top of the their tree. I am very lucky to have found two. Anyway Best Wishes.

Hi,
I was suprised to read that the basic step in the Slow Foxtrot is the Three Step. I always thought it was a Feather Step.

The feather step is an outside partner variation of the three step.

This will be confusing unless you go back to the formal definitions of the steps, in which the three step starts on the man's right foot, rather than on the step preceding that as it is often taught.