"Technique books are written in code. You have to pay serious money, as a student, to be let into the secret world, so that you can understand what they actually mean.

Watch a Waltzer take the second step of the outside of a Natural or Reverse Turn, as see how many place the foot side on - Oh dear! "But that's what the book SAYS, isn't it?" Nope. But you can't tell 'em."

And this is exactly why you may get practical answers from a working teacher that don't match what an examiner would want to hear.

Officially the step is a sideways one, but practically a teacher may well prefer to tell you what you should do, which is to swing forwards towards it before turning the feet.

But that's a well known and generally well understood issue. There are more subtle differences that mislead even fairly experienced dancers.

Good grief, no it isn't!

The foot position is "to side", but only at the end of the step, following a forward step and foot swivel. I would agree that the technique is not always written in very accessible language, and you have to look at more than the Charts, but a decent teacher understands the limitations of the language, and more importantly, that sound technique underpins everything else.

"Officially the step is a sideways one

Good grief, no it isn't!"

It in fact is documented as a side step. (don't forget that directions are given relative to the orientation not of the body, but that of the standing foot)

"The foot position is "to side", but only at the end of the step, following a forward step and foot swivel."

We all know that, but this is not explicitly stated in the book.

You can only decode the book's terse statement to reveal this when you have an awareness both of the book's writing style and how everything fits together.

"I would agree that the technique is not always written in very accessible language, and you have to look at more than the Charts, but a decent teacher understands the limitations of the language, and more importantly, that sound technique underpins everything else."

Most teachers understand this obvious case, but there are more subtle ones that still confuse the majority. At that point they either dance their mistaken reading, or dance what works while mistakenly rejecting the misread book as outdated.

Quote. " The foot position is to the side but only at the end of the step forward following a forward step and foot swivel. But we all know this is not explicitly stated in the book ".
I would contradict by saying that in my book at the beginning of the chapter it tells you exactly how it is done.
Quote. " On the forward part of any turning figure it is more important to feel a forward swing rather than a concious twist of the body " ( see the word Twist is the word used )
" It should be remembered that the first step is a strong step and from the swing of this step it should be possible to take a wide second step ".
That tells me that i complete the first step turning at the end of, and not into.
Should a teacher know the book inside out as well as back to front. Of course they should and should be able to explain every part of.

I'm afraid you have misunderstood the text. By definition, 'Positions of Feet' refers to the position of one foot in relation to the other at the end of the step. That Chart column has nothing to say about the direction of movement.



Yes it is. The correct understanding of the actions of an Outside Turn and Inside Turn are set out quite clearly (In 'General Notes', in Howard, for example), and as they are of general application, it would be pointless cluttering the individual charts with such basic stuff.

What do we find there... "This indicates that turn is made following a forward step. ... There will be foot swivel on step 2." If the foot had been placed to the side, why on earth would you swivel?

Apart from anything else, you only COULD place the foot to the side, if you had turned on 1, whereas we only "Start to turn on 1", and then not to any measurable degree, as regards the feet (but up to about 1/8 in the body through CBM). The turn is achieved between 1 & 2 and completed between 2 & 3.

The text is terse, but clear. It is dangerous in the wrong hands.

anymouse. could you give us an example ?

"anymouse. could you give us an example ?"

How about right foot held in CBMP during a pivot?

Many people have trouble understanding how to accomplish that, because they misinterpret how to apply the definition of CBMP to this situation - they mistakenly try to make a CBMP position relative to their right foot, when what they actually need is one relative to their left.

When you realize what that actually means, you discover that the natural toe in of left foot in the backwards step easily accomplishes the requested CBMP, at least through the majority of the action.

On a natural pivot the left foot will only be in CBMP if it is placed onto or across the line of the right foot. The toe turn in is a ntural feature of the correct use of strong CBM, and doesn't create the CBMP. FWIW, the toe turned in instruction is part of the direction and alignment, and not given as a foot position.

Contrast that with the reverse pivot, where the turn commenced on the preceding step achieves the CBMP, before the foot is held in that position on the turn.

Have to dis agree with you on your assumption that instant recall is a hallmark of a well trained prof.

here,s a scenario for you to ponder...

I,m a Fellow with 3 Soc. in ballroom and latin ( intern. style, some have slightly differing theories/ techn. )..plus a Fellow in 13 dances in the American style .. .. PLUS..5 additional indigenous dances...

add to this mix,,Age.. as one gets older, it is not always humanly possible to instantly recall or remember, not only the above in Syl, but all the numerous variations of Comp. mateial etc.

I dont disagree in principle with your expectations.. and yes 99% of syl is embedded... but 100% ?

I'd be quite happy with 99%!