How to make feet closed and beautiful in spiral action ? How to prevent from the imbalance in this figure ?
Please describe it step by step clearly. Thank you very much.
ylchen

Have you tried looking for a Latin Manual. I'm cease to be amazed that this website is used to write out detailed technical details of dance movements. The manuals are the source (written by hopefully someone qualified) and a dance video is a very good supplement. Then get your teacher to look at what you are trying to do and make adjustments.

Thanks for response. Latin manual. I will try to find it.
Yesterday,in my DVD and clip on net,
I noted feet apart in shirley Ballas 's spiral, but closed in Bryan x-partner. she showed a straight leg delayed walk , she stood on her left foot , put right toes forward without weight , then trnasfered weight on right toes, turning left with left foot hight toes sliding to RF in closed parellel shape. It did work following her instruction. ( open pivot action I called it .)
Before I saw her clip, I had tried to put feet in that shape , then right turn to check the initial position of my right foot and left foot, but not closed enough, and easy to off balance.
ylchen

Yichin. As Jim said. In my words you can't learn by correspondence. Hints or tips maybe, but not a step by step learning. Hint for the Spiral. You need a wind up with the body. Put the RF forward. At the same time pull the right shoulder back. Use that unwinding of the arms and body to get you around. Dont try to finish facing the way you started. Finish slightly off the full circle and straighten up on the next step. This I have been told. There are some differences on whether the RF should be with the whole of the foot in contact with the floor. Turning the other way is exactly the reverse of turning anti- clockwise. The Spiral is easier to do on a slippery floor. Good luck.

A spiral is a step in American Waltz. Why would a Latin manual help?

A Spiral turn is used in Int. Latin Cha Cha and Rumba--for example the Rope Spinning syllabus pattern. There is a very good explanation of it in the Cha Cha and Rumba Manual and shown visually several times in Corky and Shirly's Latin Technique videos.

Not sure about Am. Waltz. Is it syllabus movement? Didn't see it explained in the Dance Vision Manuals or syllabus tapes? The Dance Vision manuals and all the syllabus tapes by the Mananto's is all I have.

Jim. Good practice for a learning a Spiral is. The wall can act as a guide to how we may turn. Spiral anti-clock, Face wall step with LF then the RF and turn 1/2 of a turn over the RF. To take this further. Exactly the same but this turn 3/4 of a turn. Should be finishing in a crossed position with the feet. Then try the full turn. This part is debatable. Does the RF step across the body as it would on beat three when the lady goes to the Fan from a Cross body Lead. Or is it better to step straight or even slightly to the right. The only way is to try for ones self. And remembering that Hazel Fletcher says That on Spot Turns and Spirals the whole of the foot is in contact with the floor.

That explains it, I don't know International Latin. I hope to learn, though. The spiral step that I know of is in the American Waltz bronze syllabus at AM.

This is one of the reasons that I decided to learn Int. Latin. With American Rhythm and Smooth there are so many syllabus patterns from Dance Vision, AM, FA and whoever. At least there are good consistant, tapes and videos with Int. Latin.

Am. Smooth has good syllabus patterns with DV--good videos and manuals. But Rhythm gets inconsistant very quickly.
I even think that Int. Latin is easier to learn since it has well defined technique, resources or manuals, and better videos. Plus, you do dont have to be under 30 to do Int. Latin. I watched a Pro Am video stream of Donnie
Burns (how old is he?) and with the right partner I think he could still win. His technique and movement set the standard.

When is the Smooth Variations coming out? This CD will be a good example of some good choreography that is usable and has a Int. Standard look to it. And if I forget some of the movements I can go back to the cd. I'm using part of the waltz variation in an upcoming competition. I love the pivots with the ronde'. I did it with my partner and it felt wonderful. Thank you J.-----

The way i've been taught is to stay on the balls of both feet and gradually lowering the heel of the standing foot as you turn with the heel finally touching the floor at the completion of the turn. To do this smoothly, you must have strong ankle/calf muscles.