Michael Choi Michael Choi

Continue Turning...

Why do they bother mentioning that we continue to turn?

Let's look at where we can find mention of "continue to turn"

  1. Natural Spin Turn for Man and Lady on 5
  2. Outside Spin for Man on 2
  3. Running Right Turn for Man (5 and 8) and Lady (5)
  4. Rumba Cross for Man and Lady on 3

Let's remember that this phrase "Continue to Turn" falls under the "Amount of Turn" chart heading. Generally when we talk about "Amount of Turn" we are trying to measure the degree of turn between two foot placements. For instance, in the Waltz Natural Turn we make 1/4 to the R between 1 and 2, and 1/8 the between 2 and 3. When we get to step 4 we say "Commence to Turn" rather than "Continue" because we finished our swing on step 3 and are beginning a new action. So if we use that logic these are places where we are following through on the strong rotational action of the preceding step and not starting something new.

In the case of the Natural Spin Turn and the Running Right Turn on step 5 that "continue to turn" amount of turn follows a pivot or pivoting action. The man's outside spin has a pivot on step 1 so he is following through that turn on the way to another foot placement. In the Rumba Cross we have basically the same elements but the man is not entering the third step backwards and lowers so he won't have a true pivot. In all of these instances that strong rotational step has set up a step in CBMP for the fwd moving person.

There are some other figures that use a similar phrase like the man's step 2 of the Weave from PP in Waltz, but that is a slightly different case (continue to turn L). In this case we have the "Continue to Turn" because of the turn before the figure following into a change of position (PP to closed).

For the Lady's part of the Hover Corte she will continue to turn 1/8 on 2 or over 3-5. The turn is made ON or OVER depending on the timing, but in both cases the body weight is on her right foot. Contrast this with cases where we have slight body turn like the Progressive Chasse or Four Quick Run. There the body turn is used to achieve a new position but there is no extra turn in the feet.

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Michael Choi Michael Choi

Body Turn

So...I'm going through all those places with Body turn as I prep for my Examiner's assessment. These are places where the body turns on top of the supporting leg without any turn of the foot. Do you know of any others?

Body turn L

Left whisk

Natural turn in ftrot 

Contra check

Closed wing (slight on 2,3)

Open telemark and wing for lady (slight on 3)

Open telemark and cross hesitation for lady (slight on 3)

Quick open reverse (slight on 3 for lady)

Progressive Chassé and PC to R

 

Cross Hesitation

Open impetus and cross hesitation for man: Turn body R on 3 then left on 5

Open telemark and cross hesitation for man: BTL on 3 then body completes turn on 5

 

Wings

Open telemark and wing on 5 man has body turn 6, 1/8 left in foot. Lady does not make that last amount of turn in feet only body

Open impetus and wing on 5 and 6?body turn

 

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