Never implied that it could ( dont think Ive taught from the book in 30 plus yrs ).. Point is.. the very reason that one does NOT use the term shldr, because that is precisely what people with little knowledge will emphasise, when attempting the more complex figures .
You must assume that peole who are teachingt from techn. books are apt to make literal translations.

I'm sure that we would prefer to believe that students and inexperienced teachers had been properly taught to interpret the technique, and then to use the published texts as a (study) guide, rather than as hard-and-fast statements of fact.

Hi Interested,

You wrote:
/* i think i understand why the sidewards component is there on step 2 of the forward lock (to create space for the partners foot as it comes into a crossed position */

Why didn't this foot position occur for the lady when dancing the forward lock on the V6?

In the mean time - whilst thinking about the above - what happened to Jonathan's Heel Pull on the Slow Foxtrot Natural Turn?

lluv2dance. The book does say a type of Heel Turn and then calls it a Pull Step. I think Victor Silvester is the more acurate description. He instructs.
Pull RF back to the side of LF, turning from L. heel on to RF ( feet slightly apart ) then brush LF towards RF . Thats it word for word.
I take it that if i drag my R to my L with feet slightly apart, thats it. Isn't that what Jonathan demonstrates.
We might now ask. With that timing as it is in the book, what can we follow the Natural Turn with.

A Heel Pull is much more closely related to a Heel Turn than you imply. But there isn't one 'correct' way to dance one.

Compare, if you will, the following:

Quickstep: Natural Turn with Hesitation
Foxtrot: Natural Turn
Waltz: Hesitation Change
Quickstep: Natural Turn at a Corner
Foxtrot: Impetus Turn

And see subtle variations in the width of the feet apart at the end (together, obviously, in the Impetus - the only actual heel turn). Note too the differences in the division (or not) of the Lady's turn. Much here for a student to ponder. But don't say in an exam that you draw the feet together - you don't. We are scribing an arc with the R heel around the floor, moving from one open position to another open position. By comparison, heel turns are a doddle.

If we look at Hilton or any other Professional who we can find on you tube, you will find that the Featherstep in the Foxtrot is on beats 1 2 which is a Slow. The same on an Open Telemark or a Double Reverse Spin, Curving Three Step. All are on beats 1 2.
And yet in Alex Moore's book as well as the much later ISTD Ballroom Technique we find that the suggested move after the Natural Turn is a Feather Step. With the timing given for the Natural Turn if followed by a Feather Step would not be acceptable on the floor in a competition today. Not only does it put us out of Rhythm if we continued we would also be out of phrase.
What can follow is a Three Step followed by a Feather Step taken diag to the centre. Which is exactly what Marcus does after a Change of Direction. See Marcus Hilton Basic Foxtrot.

Don, (Three Wise Men)
You wrote:

/* What can follow is a Three Step followed by a Feather Step taken diag to the centre. Which is exactly what Marcus does after a Change of Direction. See Marcus Hilton Basic Foxtrot */

Just a thought. Did the Hiltons know what the music track was before they danced, or was it just a random selected track?

All music used for ballroom ( unless a " show " piece ) is written the same way, as is most music...Intro , Verse and chorus...

Hi Terence,
What you write is quite true. It was Ross Mitchell (Band Leader) who said that his record sales had almost doubled since he now records his tracks in sequence.

But my question still stands, to Don. I believe all experienced demonstrators would agree that the dance is choreographed to the tune. What you call a 'Show' piece.

I believe you will already know that, Don, (writing under the name of Quickstep) kept this query going for weeks. Quoting everybody and anybody that you must always dance in a musical phrase. That was until he watched the Monaco Open, transmitting live.

There was an interesting discussion on another site recently, about the " old " days, when the pro,s would dance in Competitions, and they literally "freestyled" ( as we pretty much all did! )... today, everyone is obsessed with "routines ", the skill levels are so different...