Saunter / Stroll / Glide
The music has 4 beats to the bar and about 28 bars per minute.
Half a bar is one slow (S) or two quicks (QQ).
These dances are merely Old-Time versions of the Foxtrot - often with a Swing or Blues rhythm.
They share many of the same steps but frequently use shadow and side-by-side positions.
The footwork is more casual than in formal Foxtrot.
Walks
Walks are slow steps forwards or backwards.
They can be danced facing partner (as natural opposites) or in shadow.
| |
Walks Fwd (FP, CH) |
Walks Back (FP, CH) |
Beat | |
S | S |
S | S |
Man |  |
LF |  | RF |  |
LB |  | RB |  |
Lady |  |
RB |  | LB |  |
RF |  | LF |  |
| |
Walks Fwd (SRP, LLH) |
Walks Back (SRP, LLH) |
Beat | |
S | S |
S | S |
Man |  |
LF |  | RF |  |
LB |  | RB |  |
Lady |  |
LF |  | RF |  |
LB |  | RB |  |
¼ Turn Checks
Saunters often use open ¼ turns that check and then reverse direction.
They are a little like cross-whisks but the last step is not locked behind and the couple are usually in shadow position.
| |
¼ Rev. Turn Check (SFP, LLH) |
¼ Nat. Turn Check (SFP, LLH) |
Beat | |
Q | Q | S |
Q | Q | S |
Man |  |
LF |  | RFSB-2 |  | LB |  |
RF |  | LFSB+2 |  | RB |  |
Lady |  |
LF |  | RFSB-2 |  | LB |  |
RF |  | LFSB+2 |  | RB |  |
Sways
Sways are side steps with optional brush close which check progress in that direction.
They can be danced facing partner or in shadow.
| |
Sway along LOD (FP, DH) |
Sway against LOD (FP, DH) |
Beat | |
S | and |
S | and |
Man |  |
LS |  | RC br |  |
RS |  | LC br |  |
Lady |  |
RS |  | LC br |  |
LS |  | RC br |  |
| |
Sway along LOD (SFP, LLH) |
Sway against LOD (SFP, LLH) |
Beat | |
S | and |
S | and |
Man |  |
LS |  | RC br |  |
RS |  | LC br |  |
Lady |  |
LS |  | RC br |  |
RS |  | LC br |  |
Chassés
Chassés are side-close-side figures that may also turn.
They can be danced facing partner or in shadow.
| |
Chassé along LOD (FP, DH) |
Chassé against LOD (FP, DH) |
Beat | |
Q | Q | S |
Q | Q | S |
Man |  |
LS |  | RC |  | LS |  |
RS |  | LC |  | RS |  |
Lady |  |
RS |  | LC |  | RS |  |
LS |  | RC |  | LS |  |
| |
Chassé along LOD (SFP, LLH) |
Chassé against LOD (SFP, LLH) |
Beat | |
Q | Q | S |
Q | Q | S |
Man |  |
LS |  | RC |  | LS |  |
RS |  | LC |  | RS |  |
Lady |  |
LS |  | RC |  | LS |  |
RS |  | LC |  | RS |  |
© Susan Foord
(sf@pedag.org)
2010-07-18
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