Can anyone tell me what this means? French Cross. Thanks, Larry

Larry. You mean Latin Cross, Which is simular to a lock step, and more times than not refered as a lock step. The correct name is Latin Cross which is the back toe is close to the front heel. In a Cha Cha Lock the toe of the rear foot can be under the heel of the front foot. The knee is in behind the front knee. The weight at this time is dead in the middle, which is refered to as split weight. Both feet are of course turned out. Now send the front foot on the ball of the foot. to what is called ball flat. Like pushing your toe through sand with a bit of snap about it.Keep the upper body square The Latin Cross foot position is exactly the same as one of those Ballet positions. I'm not sure which one. It might be fourth position. Somebody will tell us ?. Take note. Feet straight in Quickstep. Turned out in Latin.

I've heard WC Swing dancers use this term to describe the action they take on the "&3" (or "a3") counts of most side passes, tuck-in turns, etc. The action is similar to what ballroom dancers call the "Volta": Side (or diag forward) step on ball of foot on the "&" or "a" count, then cross the other foot in front, foot flat, on the next beat.

For example, here is the breakdown of the lady's part of a side pass or underarm pass:

1,2: Two walks, R,L. No turn.

&3: French Cross, R, L. 1/4 turn to L.

4: Side step on RF, swiveling 1/4 to L. and ending as a back step.

5&6: Anchor triple, LRL. No turn.

I hope this makes sense. Check back in a few months... we will have the entire WC Swing bronze syllabus posted, complete with diagrams, video clips and technical descriptions.

Regards,
Jonathan

I should have mentioned Votas in the Samba which are also a series of Latin Crosses.

I think the correct term is "Cuban Cross", but that's ballroom dancing nomenclature. To a WC Swing dancer, it's a French Cross.

Jonathan

Thanks, and I think it is the WCS one not the latin. But very interesting the different names for similar moves from dance type to dance type. Keeps us all busy mentally. hehe

i'm new to all of this and is very surprise the diffrent response, everyone is getting

Is there any historical connection with these different crosses and the ones in the Argentine Tango or in the Viennese Waltz? (Which, I believe, are actually similar to each other....)


Jerry