Do you remember when under arm turns were not included in Country Western dancing? A couple danced forward or backward with a transition from one direction to the other but seldom included underarm turns. What a difference underarm and free turns made.
Dancing is not fun when one of the partners complains he didn’t lead or she didn’t follow! This is surely the biggest problem of turns. He leads too late and she does not have her foot in the proper foot position to make her turn and is automatically late in executing the turn.
Turns
A 1/4 turn is a one wall (90 degree); a 1/2 turn is a two wall turn (180 degree); a 3/4 turn is a three wall turn (270 degree), and a full revolution (360 degree) is a four wall turn. A turn is a rotation of the body taking one or more steps or weight changes to complete. Rotations are usually executed in solo, open, closed, right and left parallel positions. Couples dancing in closed dance position turn in the same direction. They turn in opposite directions when they turn their backs to each other.
Quarter Turns. Step forward or backward turning the foot in extended 5th position. The turn starts from the center. The center moves first and the foot follows.
Outside and Inside Turns. On an outside turn, the dancer goes under his or her raised arm and the forward shoulder moves in the same direction as the turning foot. On an inside turn, the arm, of the dancer is raised making a loop, and the opposite shoulder forward toward the opposite direction.
Spins. A spin is a 360 degree turn on one foot. Spins are usually done individually except in a pair’s spin. The number of spins depend on the dancer’s ability. Spins are executed in 3rd or 5th position.
Paddle Turns. A paddle turn is a 360 degree rotation with the weight centered over one foot while the other foot executes a pushing movement. Counted as 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 (using definite weight changes and leaning in the direction of the turn. Paddle turns may be started on the “&” count (as in Pony) but normally done starting on the “1” count.
Break/Pivot/Step Turns
A break turn is a ½ turn executed in 3rd or 5th position turning to the opposite direction (two definite changes of weight) of the forward foot.
Pivot (three step) turns. Not to be confused with Line Dance three step turns, which are closely linked to Chaine’s turns.
A traveling half turn in the direction of the forward foot, turning forward or backward. Performed with the thighs locked and feet apart in 3rd or 5th position.
Forward/Backward. The dancer steps forward on either foot in 3rd or 5th position making a 1/2 rotation, then steps backward making a 1/2 rotation. Two changes of weight. The dancer steps backward in 3rd or 5th position on the opposite foot in the direction of the turn making a 1/2 rotation. Two weight changes.
Twist Turns/Half Twist Turns. The dancer crosses (locks) his foot in front or behind the other foot in 1st or 2nd position, and turns on the balls of both feet a 1/2 rotation.
In a full twist turn, the dancer crosses (locks) his foot over or behind the other foot and turns on the ball of one foot and the heel of the other, making a 360 degree rotation . Changing the weight to the heel of the foot and the ball of the other foot, making it necessary for the feet to recross by the completion of the tum. Example: A backward twist turn to the left, cross the left leg and foot behind the right foot .
Initiate a strong C.B.M. to the left and unwind, turning 1/2 to the left with weight placed on the ball of the left foot and the heel of the right foot. Continuing the C.B.M. to the left, quickly transfer the weight to the heel of the left foot and the ball of the right foot and complete another 1/2 turn (total 360 degree tum) allowing the left leg and foot to end “crossed” in front of the right foot.
Chaine. (Shen-ay: also spelled Chainne). Chaine turns are traveling side turns. The word Chaine means chain; as each step taken forms another link in the enormous chain. The technique of spotting should be observed while turning, in order to avoid dizziness. Step in 3rd or 5th position, making a 1 /2 turn, step together or slightly to the side making an additional 1/2 turn.
Spiral. A spiral or serpentine is a Waltz school figure. A spiral (sometimes called a spiral turn or a spiral pivot) is not a turn but a position achieved after making a turn in the opposite direction of the forward font. The free foot crosses over the weighted foot. All turns originate from the diaphragm, the center. The center moves slightly in the opposite direction of the turn to form “torque”. Torque gathers momentum to initiate the turn. Even a simple turn moving from facing LOD to turning right to a quarter turn (using a 5th foot position) to end facing wall 1 has a small amount of torque to place the body in the proper position. For the center to move toward the direction of the turn, the head moves first and the shoulders follow; opposite shoulder moves forward, directional shoulder moves backward simultaneously.
Example: Turning left. When turning left, the left shoulder moves backward as the right shoulder moves forward . There may or may not be a slight dip of the lead shoulder depending upon the direction of the next foot pattern. Some may say the shoulder does not dip, the opposite shoulder lifts. Either explanation is correct as both movements are taken simultaneously.
The Technique of Spotting
The dancer faces front, head erect, shoulders back, chin up, eyes focused on an object or a spot in the line of vision. As the body begins to turn away from the object or spot, the eyes remain fixed on the focal point, looking over the .shoulder(over the right shoulder if turning left and over the left shoulder if turning right). The body continues to turn and the head snaps very quickly to the opposite shoulder so the eyes can find the focal point immediately.
The object of spotting simply put is “to look to see where you are going”. Spotting helps keep the feet in LOD and is a good way to keep from becoming dizzy.
Kelly Gellette is the President of NTA. The NTA (National C/W Dance Teachers Assoc.) is a non-profit organization with over 3,000 members. For NTA information call Bill Teresco, 2nd VP. 516 379-4564. For information regarding your membership write NTA, P.O. Box 39, Ekron KY 40117 or phone 502 828-8887
