DANce StepsNotes from Dan

An Ideal Basic Amalgamation

Begin with leader facing DC.     ||      # of Bars    ||      Leader’s Ending Alignment

1. Natural Turn        ||            7                ||           Backing DC
2. LF Backward Change Step          ||          1        ||                  Backing DW
3. Reverse Turn, starting w/ back half      ||    7              ||             Facing DW
4. LF Forward Change Step     ||    1    ||              Facing DC

The Rules

1. Every measure begins with a heel lead for the person stepping forward. Never miss a heel lead.
2. Do not rise. Tango has more rise than the Viennese Waltz.
3. Establish perfect continuity in rotation and progression down the floor for the beauty it creates and to make it easy. Fluctuation in rotation or progression is inefficient and tiring. “Fatigue makes cowards.”
4. Sway on Natural Turns only.
5. Do not use a Change Step near a corner.
6. Relax and just swing. Use your weight and good technique, not your muscles. The swing dances are about releasing Alternate the focus between swinging head weight and hip/base weight.
7. Every measure is a Feather Step or a Three Step. “The second step of all turns is forward.” Turn right with the left foot and turn left with the right foot.
8. Overbalancing: Do not be on balance. If you’re not falling, you’re working too hard. However, do not fall like a bookcase.

Inside and Outside of Turn

1. Going forward: Move. Going backward: Shape. Alternate between flying a kite and being the kite.
2. One person is the power, the other is the distance. (“Wet sock on the inside of the dryer,” Quilliam)
3. The center of a right turn is the left shoulder/hip of the inside partner; right shoulder/hip for left turns.

Leveraging the Position

1. Turning to the Right: Pass your partner with your top. Going backward, your partner passes you on your right side.
   Turning to the Left: Pass your partner with your hips/base. Going backward, your partner passes you on your left side.

2. Overuse every practice position you know
   1. Use only leader’s left hand and follower’s right hand
   2. Dance with his right arm over her right shoulder, then with her right arm over his right shoulder
   3. Dance with her right hand and his left hand on the near side of each other’s face
   4. Dance with her hands on the fronts of his shoulders, fingertips pointing inward
   5. Take turns dancing with your hands on your partner’s hips
   6. Take turns dancing with your hands on your own hips

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