Dance step
A natural turn is a dance step in which the partners turn around a common center clockwise. Its near-mirror counterpart is the reverse turn , which is turning counter-clockwise.[ 1]
This terminology is used mainly in the "International Standard" group of ballroom dances .[ 2] "Natural turn" and "reverse turn" are names of syllabus figures in waltz , Viennese waltz , foxtrot , quickstep . In addition, the words "natural" and "reverse" are used in some other figures that amount to turning to the right or left, respectively, e.g. natural twist turn in tango and foxtrot.
The name "natural" has two explanations. In a standard ballroom closed dance position the partners are somewhat shifted to the left with respect to each other, which makes the right turn easier.[ 3] [ 4] The second reason is related to progress around the floor along the counter-clockwise line of dance . Turning to the right is partly compensated for by the line of dance's leftward curve, so that it takes less effort to stay on line of dance while turning to the right than while using opposite footwork and turning to the left, especially at the corners.
Natural turn Leader (man)
Beat
Foot position
Alignment
Amount of turn
Footwork
1
Right foot forward
Facing diagonal wall
Begin to turn right
Heel – toe
2
Left foot side
Backing diagonal center
1 ⁄4 between 1 and 2
Toe
3
Right foot closes to left foot
Backing line of dance
1 ⁄8 between 2 and 3
Toe – heel
4
Left foot back
Backing line of dance
Begin to turn right
Toe – heel
5
Right foot side
Pointing diagonal center
3 ⁄8 between 4 and 5, body turns less
Toe
6
Left foot closes to right foot
Facing diagonal center
Body completes turn
Toe – heel
Follower (lady)
Beat
Foot position
Alignment
Amount of turn
Footwork
1
Left foot back
Backing diagonal wall
Begin to turn right
Toe – heel
2
Right foot side
Pointing line of dance
3 ⁄8 between 1 and 2 (body turns less)
Toe
3
Left foot closes to right foot
Facing line of dance
Body completes turn
Toe – heel
4
Right foot forward
Facing line of dance
Begin to turn right
Heel – toe
5
Left foot side
Backing center
1 ⁄4 between 4 and 5
Toe
6
Right foot closes to left foot
Backing diagonal center
1 ⁄8 between 5 and 6
Toe – heel
[ 5]
Reverse turn Leader (man)
Beat
Foot position
Alignment
Amount of turn
Footwork
1
Left foot forward
Facing diagonal center
Begin to turn left
Heel – toe
2
Right foot side
Backing digonal wall
1 ⁄4 between 1 and 2
Toe
3
Left foot closes to right foot
Backing line of dance
1 ⁄8 between 2 and 3
Toe – heel
4
Right foot back
Backing line of dance
Begin to turn left
Toe – heel
5
Left foot side
Pointing diagonal wall
3 ⁄8 between 4 and 5, body turns less
Toe
6
Right foot closes to left foot
Facing diagonal wall
Body completes turn
Toe – heel
Follower (lady)
Beat
Foot position
Alignment
Amount of turn
Footwork
1
Right foot back
Backing diagonal center
Begin to turn left
Toe – heel
2
Left foot side
Pointing line of dance
3 ⁄8 between 1 and 2 (body turns less)
Toe
3
Right foot closes to left foot
Facing line of dance
Body completes turn
Toe – heel
4
Left foot forward
Facing line of dance
Begin to turn left
Heel – toe
5
Right foot side
Backing wall
1 ⁄4 between 4 and 5
Toe
6
Left foot closes to right foot
Backing diagonal wall
1 ⁄8 between 5 and 6
Toe – heel
[ 1]
References
External links