Jerryblu wrote:
In American FT, Silver, there are two basic sets of steps.
I think of more like 6 to 8, the main two being Open Left and Open Right Turns (not unlike the basic bronze syllabus, which starts with closed left and right turns).
The way I normally present the Foxtrot and Waltz syllabus for Int'l Standard, American Smooth Bronze, and American Smooth Silver is to start with the premise of the turn and change combo. Every one of those 6 dances starts with the basic formula of a Natural Turn, a Reverse Turn, and the "connector" steps (eg Changes). Almost everybody recognizes this formula in Bronze American and In't Waltz, because it's cut and dried: Left Box, Change, Right Box, Change (or vice-versa). And I think most people also recognize this formula in Int'l Foxtrot as well -- the Feather and Three Step being the change or "connector" actions. But fewer people realize that the same formula applies to American style Waltz & Foxtrot in Silver -- and can even apply to American style Bronze Foxtrot.
In Silver Waltz/Foxtrot, the first thing I show is an Open Reverse and an Open Natural (all closed position -- no promenade). Then I connect them with a Feather and a 3-step. (Depending on who I'm teaching, I might opt for a non-turning Hover Change in place of the Three Step, which is almost the same, except a bit safer and easier to pick up). This completes the turn & change formula.
Since the Twinkle in its various forum is a staple of American style, I then introduce the Forward & Back Twinkles, and incorporate them into the turn & change combination in their respective locations. The Forward Twinkle replaces the Three Step/Hover Change -- In other words, the Forward Twinkle becomes the "connector" between the Reverse and the Natural Turn -- and the Back Twinkle replaces the back half of the Natural Turn.
The introduction of the Twinkle also requires a slight variation in the approach into the Natural Turn, namely the fact that you commence from promenade position. As well, the Back Twinkle converts what was the Feather
Step into a Feather
ending, also being taken from promenade position.
So now we have Open Left Turns, Open Right Turns, Passing Changes in closed position (eg Feather and Three/Hover Change), Forward Twinkle and Back Twinkle, and the resulting variations they impose on the initial 4 figures. One might think of these as separate figures in and of themselves -- Twinkle to Open Natural, Back Twinkle to Feather Finish, but I tend to think of them as variations of the basic actions. At any rate, with just those basic actions, depending on how you count them, we're up to about 4 to 6 fundamental Silver patterns.
The other movement I consider very fundamental in Silver is the Passing or "Hover" Change, which is the Silver version of Forward Changes when taken outside partner in a zig-zag fashion. International dancers know this as a Hover Telemark (although they typically only dance it on one side, whereas in American we dance both). This comes in two varieties, forward and backward. That adds two more figures to my list, making a total of 6-8 basic figures. This is what I would consider Beginning Silver.
Intermediate Silver will add more variety of moving figures to aid in floorcraft as well as adding some open variations. Depending on who you talk to, common elements are Curved Feathers and Three Steps, any of various Chasses, Underarm turns, and some staple elements such as Grapevines and Open Side Lock. At this level, syncopated figures tend to be limited to Chasses -- That is to say, syncopated running figures (Running Weave, Tuble Turn, Syncopated Hairpins etc) are thought of as at least full Silver, if not Gold.
Full Silver is where we should see more variety. The most important elements are shadow figures, including the various transitions to and from the position, simple "line" figures such as Oversway and Same-Foot Lunge, Pivots (natural and reverse varieties), simple Standing Spins, and possibly some very simple syncopated running figures. By the time you get to this level, everybody has his own idea of exact figures or variations should be included, but suffice it to say that it should be absent of choreography, un-leadable actions such as those in open facing or side-by-side position, or highly complex actions (rhytmically or movement-wise). That's what Gold is for.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention Bronze Foxtrot. Here, too, you can apply the turn & change formula. Although I admit it's probably better to start teaching to a beginner the Forward Basic and Hesitation Left Turn, you can perhaps a little later on work towards the same turn & change formula that applies to all the other forms of Foxtrot & Waltz. In this case, I would use closed Left & Right Box Turns, with the "connectors" being a single Walk. This combination is a lot Foxtrottier than you might think, given that a LF walk followed by a Natural Turn is actually a Foxtrot Forward Basic. The Left Box is also a Basic Foxtrot action, so the only part of the turn & change combo that might feel unfamiliar to some is the back half of the Natural to the RF forward walk, but its nice once you get used to it. It adds more to your repertoire, giving you more options for floorcraft, emphasizes right turns (which are typically under-taught in Bronze Foxtrot), and most of all, shows that all swinging dances are rooted in the fundamental turn & change combo.
Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
