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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