Common Technical Mistakes in Standard

[DanceMentor]

I was taking a lesson the other day, and we were doing the Natural Spin Turn (overturned at the corner) to the Turning Lock to Right. It was with a teacher I had never worked with before. She was coaching my wife and I and she said, "that is a toe lead on 1 for the lady on the turning lock". I did not believe her. What forward steps could possibly lead with the toe on 1? (I thought the teacher was crazy). I went home and opened the manual, and sure enough, the lady steps with the toe on 1. I've been discussing it a little, and it seems the step is also turning sideward. In addition, the toe allows the lady a little more reach to help her get around.

Have you encountered any other exceptions like this?

 

[Kitty]

but it is always a toe in a lock or in a chasse,
so to me it doesn't seem like an exception.

 

[DanceMentor]

but it is always a toe in a lock or in a chasse,
so to me it doesn't seem like an exception.

Good point....

...but to support my idea that this is an exception, tell me another step with a forward toe step on 1 in the ISTD manual.

 

[Kitty]

but it is always a toe in a lock or in a chasse,
so to me it doesn't seem like an exception.

Good point....

...but to support my idea that this is an exception, tell me another step with a forward toe step on 1 in the ISTD manual.

basic weave?

hmmm just checked the book.
it says heel on step one of basic weave but then below says "more advanced lady dancers may use ball of foot on step 1 of this figure"
I'm just used to the idea that a weave is always all toes...


turning lock (the one to the left, the one that is silver)

 

[Chris Stratton]

Turning lock to left ;-)

Reverse pivot

2-12 V6 when following a spin turn

Hover feather (man)

All of these are cases of "continuations" that can be added onto a previous figure in a way that change the ending - it's no longer a swing down through a full lowering. You could argue the man does something similar in the middle of a tipple chasse before going into the lock portion.

 

[Kitty]

yes, Chris, you worded it very well... I was going to say same thing...

It is a toe forward when It "stays up". I know you do lower on 3& of the previous figure, but it is not the same, you are up the whole time... kinda like in a weave in foxtrot.

 

[DanceMentor]

Good examples, Kitty and Chris. I hope I didn't come across as arguing. I really appreciate these examples, because I am trying to get ready for competing in the closed categories with my wife. I'm hoping to do closed bronze, and maybe closed silver (if I can do both) at Hotlanta. I am also going to be competing in Open American Ballroom with a student if all goes well.

 

[macha]

Alohomora!

*runs off cackling idiotically*

 

[Chris Stratton]

I think there actually is more lowering than in the middle of a foxtrot weave. It might work to explain it as step 1 really being a step 2 type of action, which requires that the usual step 1 action be merged back into the preceding step 3 so it can take place on the same foot - you start to swing down, but then push out of the foot and swing up instead. I could be wrong about that though.

 

[madmaximus]

Here's something I see often with this common figure:

• 
  Lady not releasing the LF toe from the floor on 1 into 3 when doing a lock backwards.
  
  Another fault is a Lady's foot rise on 1 of the same figure.
  

maximus