Sept 26 Bronze lesson

Good job tonight! Tonight we worked on Quickstep. At the Bronze level, this dance is strategically placed in the syllabus to introduce outside partner actions and syncopated chasse actions.

The terms "left side leading", "right side leading", and "outside parter" all describe the same position. This position for both man and lady is the body rotated to the right of the direction the feet are pointing. This can be accomplished in one of two ways: 1) rotating the body to the right or 2) rotating the feet to the left.

(When I say feet, it is actually more technically correct to say the standing foot since you only really stand on one leg at a time; however, in Standard dancing, the feet, whether free or standing, should be parallel and pointing in the same direction).

Recall from the lesson my little friend the broom or arms 3 and 4. Using this kind of visualization will make it easier to dance through your back. People may refer to this type of action as "dancing through your back", "dancing actively", "dancing your sides", "rotating over the standing leg", etc., but they all mean the same thing. It works best for me to think of it as dancing my back.

Prior to taking any step Outside Partner position, you will always take a step in a Left Side Lead or Right Side Lead position (depending on whether you are going forward or backward, respectively).

Practice exercise. Walk with body contact with your partner is a practice hold or closed hold. Once walking is done comfortably (hint: walking diagonally will aid this exercise), then practice getting into and out of outside partner steps.