That may be the formal description but in practice by the time the feet are passing the body weight is over the ball and toe of the foot and is on it's way to the next step. I wish you people would make up your mind, one minute you say the text is only a guide and the next minute your quoting from the damn text . Anyway when did I ask for a descption of a step. the message was directed at me. I will continue to dance and think of a step as the swing of ONE foot from it's backward position to it's forward position which is the way any soldier or band time the steps . The idea of moving two feet to take one step is idotic.

". . . by the time the feet are passing the body weight is over the ball and toe of the foot and is on it's (sic) way to the next step."

This statement is something of an oversimplification. It would certainly not apply to a step with toe-heel footwork such as the third step of the feather in the Standard Fox Trot or the fourth step of a Chasse' from Promenade Position in Waltz.

Also, this entire discussion is ignoring backward steps.

jj

Children: let's not squable.

Dude, the word is "squabble."

jj

"That may be the formal description but in practice by the time the feet are passing the body weight is..."

Indeed, in the traditional language of ballroom dance the definition of a step has nothing specifically to do with the movement of the body weight.

It's merely a bounded unit of dancing for purposes of description.

If you look at things in terms of movement, for many dances the borders between steps are usually non-existent and it's impossible to say where one ends and the other begins, other than to arbitrarily agree on something, which is what has been done by the teaching community.

"I will continue to dance and think of a step as the swing of ONE foot from it's backward position to it's forward position which is the way any soldier or band time the steps ."

You may do that, but it will put you at odds with the established language of dance teaching and technical discussion.

Why not simply refer to this a a "leg swing" ? That would be quite specific, and avoid confusion with textbook steps, and also with weight transfers (a leg swing often implies a weight change, but by no means always does so).

cdroge. I think everybody is aware that the person going backwards has there next moving foot slightly behind. If they didn't and started feet together they would be pushed onto there step. For the purpose of where does the step begin and where does it end is always from the person going forward.That little extension by the person moving backwards is the beginning of the next step. It can be on the count of three (and). In the Waltz. Or four (and ) Foxtrot. If you work it out it coresponds with the bending of the standing knee.If the foot didn't move and you bent you would be stuck. No extension without a bend .

Or four (and ) Foxtrot. If you work it out it coresponds with the bending of the standing knee.If the foot didn't move and you bent you would be stuck. No extension without a bend .
Polished ; you are so out of touch with the timing of today's international foxtrot where most people lower on or near the first beat. You may enjoy living in the past but we have to dance Today.

As the originator of this topic, I have enjoyed reading all of the responses. It sounds like most of you have had years of experience, however, I am only a beginner and very interested in learning the proper techniques, timing, etc, in order to make myself a better dancer.

There were many terms with which I am not yet familiar, such as "feather step". I dance American Smooth (not international) and have had (some) instruction from the Arthur Murray program, but currently am using the Fred Astaire preogram. I vaguely remember the feather step in my Arthur Murray instruction, while Freddie's program has not yet mentioned this term. All this to say that as a beginner, most of the responses, while I do appreciate them, are too difficult for me to understand. Some of the responses were so difficult, it would almost scare me away from dance :)

For whatever it is worth, from my personal view, the two responses best understood by ME were the first couple on July 9 from "anymouse" and "CliveHarrison". The others were just a little too deep (for me).

Perhaps some of you have been dancing so long that you have forgotten what it's like to be a beginner?? Simplicity and clarity are best for us beginners. However, I can see that most of you have enjoyed discussing this subject, and it was great reading your different views, even though I would have to really "study" some of the views before I could understand them.

Maybe in a short while, I will be good enough to join in on your forums and know a little more about steps, timing, etc. One of the best things I've done for myself so far is going on ballroom.com's message board and requesting help. I am sure I'll be back. Thank you all.

40niknar, you would have helped yourself a great deal by providing the information in this latest response in your original post.

Threads on a message board tend to wander off on their own tangents. You could have participated more aggressively and kept the focus where you wanted it.

The feather step is one of the basic figures in International Fox Trot. Most of the more experienced dancers and instructors on this board have an affinity for International Standard (Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Fox Trot, and Quickstep), also known as Modern and Ballroom.

It helps to specify which dance and style you want to discuss. In your case, that's Smooth and many of the folks here are quite conversant in it.

Get yourself some manuals for the style of dance that you're studying. This site has several of them; so does www.usistd.org for all of the four major categories.

While you're at it, do your best to find an amateur partner. You're never going to learn to dance by taking lessons without one. You have no one with whom to practice and, without practice, lessons are virtually useless.

Don't expect an instructor or a studio to help you find a partner; they have no financial incentive to do so. Contact the nearest chapter of USADance for information about dancing in your area (USADance Chapter Locator).

But don't stay away from this board. If you don't understand something then don't hesitate to ask the poster to explain it. I'm giving one particular user on this board hell for repeatedly posting stuff that's so badly written that no one can understand it.

Also, get yourself some ballroom dance CD's and listen to the music over and over. The timings will become more and more clear to you.

Always remember that, as an amateur, you're one of the folks who pays for all of this stuff. You have as much right to be on this forum as anyone.

jj

Very well written, jofjonesboro. And very good advice. Thank you. Yes, I should have given more specific info in my original post and will know better next time. This was my first post and not realizing there are so many different categories, I just didn't think of it until I read the responses. I am learning.

You are most correct in that it is helpful/necessary to have a partner to learn and become a better dancer. Actually, I do have an ameateur dance partner, and we are learning together with classes that we attend a couple times weekly. Because of living in a rural area, we have converted the garage into a little ballroom and practice what we have learned. So as you can see, we are very serious and eager to learn.

While I am not a musician and cannot read notes, etc., I do have a good ear for music and am able to very easily find the beginning/ending of each measure, etc. I had just been counting the measures wrong with 12345678 instead of 1234.

There is a USA Dance Chapter in my area, and we have made the effort and attended, however, it seems the attendees are mostly couples, and they are very tight and clickish, mostly dancing with people at their own table. I would like to go to a dance where everyone dances with everyone in order to improve my leading and following ability. Yes, I am learning the lead as well as the follow parts. If I happen to be at a dance without a partner, I want to be able to lead the ladies which are always plentiful. It's just too painful to hear the beautiful music, and just sit and watch other people have fun. Learning the lead also tends to help me follow better.

I live in the Seattle area and to get to the best location for dancing (as far as I know, it's the "Washington Ballroom"), I would have to drive a couple hours from home, catch a ferry, and return home with another couple hours drive late at night. So as you can see, cost can also be a factor.

I am not a bad dancer and my timing is great. I will do more research and see if I can find another chapter location nearby. Maybe another chapter will be different. I'm not giving up yet.

To change the subject, I am getting ready to inquire on this board once again (with a NEW post) about how to dance "the fallaway". An instructor tried to teach it to us (me with a different partner) years ago, but we just never could get it. But I remember how beautiful it was. My partner gave up, so I never had a chance to finish learning the step.

Thank you, JJ, for your encouragement. I need it.