I'm having trouble making sense of the pattern descriptions. For example the Am. Foxtrot Left Box Turn Overview includes a table showing step 1 "Facing diagonal center" and step 3 "backing line of dance." In my way of thinking that translates into at least 135 degree of turn over three steps, but the description of the pattern indicates a turn of up to 3/8, which would complete the rotation in the first three steps. The table also indicates a comparable additional rotation on steps 4 through 6. That would be 270 degrees in six steps. What am I missing?

Wlraft. If you were to face the center of the ballroom and turned 1/4 of a turn to the left you would be backing the Line of Dance. Being that on a Reverse Turn we are facing Diagonal to the center, which is 1/8th of a turn and then finish backing the L.O.D. we will have turned 3/8 of a turn.

As far as I can tell, you don't seem to be missing anything.

3/8 = 135 degrees, which is correct over the first 3 steps. You begin facing diagonal center, turn 3/8 over steps 1-3, and end backing line of dance. You then do the same over steps 4-6 to end facing diagonal wall. The total turn is 3/8 + 3/8, which is 3/4. That is the maximum amount of turn one should take on a Left Box before it becomes a different figure, the Left Cross Turn.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
BallroomDancers.com

In these first few foxtrot classes I have attended, I thought I learned a left box turn as a turn that would negotiate a corner, with six steps resulting in a total of more or less 90 degrees. If this is the same pattern that variability in degree of turn is surprising. That is the cause of my confusion.
Also, the left box video on this web site shows what seem to me approximately 270 degrees of rotation over four "slow quick quick" counts, which is 12 steps.

3/8 of a turn is 135 degrees: (3/8) x 360 = 135. So your idea (135 degrees over three steps) and what the book says (3/8 in the first three steps) are the same idea. And the Foxtrot turn does go 270 degrees in six steps: starting DC and turning left to end DW. Why do you think you are missing something?

In these first few foxtrot classes I have attended, I thought I learned a left box turn as a turn that would negotiate a corner, with six steps resulting in a total of more or less 90 degrees. If this is the same pattern that variability in degree of turn is surprising. That is the cause of my confusion.

Also, the left box video on this web site shows what seem to me approximately 270 degrees of rotation over four "slow quick quick" counts, which is 12 steps.