IDB 2015: The Twenty Worst Faults of Standard/Smooth Dancers
- Posture and poise
- Rushing the music, especially closing the feet too quickly
- Clarity of intention with timing
- Footwork faults, especially omitting left foot heel leads or ending figures with a heel lead
- Unarticulated foot/ankle action and releasing contact with the floor
- Anticipating turns with the leading foot.
The second step of all turns is forward. Turn left with the right foot; turn right with the left foot.
- Lacking attacking, decisive movement. Commit.
- Initiating CBM too late
- Insufficient overbalancing/metronomic swing
- Lack of effective practice principles
- Inflexibility within the frame, especially the back, or conversely, breaking within the frame
- Lack of coordination of the two oppositional alignments: Head/feet to left; body turned to right toward partner
- Inadequate lowering/peaking
- Lack of emotion: Dancing only from the outside in or inside out
- Lack of power/initiative from the follower (forward and backward)
- Under dancing on the insides of turns (“wet sock on the inside of the dryer”)
- Lacking flow: Stay on and use the standing leg longer and be intentional in creating liquid movement
- Unfocused or misdirected gaze
- Ignorance
- Misplaced priorities