Quickstep

The music has 4 beats to the bar and about 50 bars per minute. Half a bar is one slow (S) or two quicks (QQ). Many step groups or figures are one and a half bars long making it impractical to count actual beats. It is possible to work in half bars (counting 1, 2 for each half) but easier to use slows and quicks.

The couple should remain in close hold throughout. Most steps are inline, with some outside partner (usually to the right) or in promenade position.

In general the first step (beat 1 of each bar) is forwards on the heel first or backwards on the toe first. The supporting knee is bent slightly to take the step before straightening to push off. The other steps are on the balls of the feet and should glide rather than bounce.

Basics

These are step and chassé figures. The step is taken diagonally and the chassé travels along the LOD. On the forwards basic the man usually steps outside partner on the right. The quickstep used to begin with a left forwards step for the man before the forwards basic shown below (similar to social dancing). In recent years, this leading step has been dropped. As a result the first basic is often taken inline instead of outside.

		Forwards Basic (ORP-FP, CH)								Backwards Basic (FP, CH)
Count		S		Q		Q		S		S		Q		Q		S
Man		RxF		LS		RC		LS		RxB		LS		RC		LS
Lady		LxB		RS		LC		RS		LxF		RS		LC		RS
		Forwards Basic (ORP-FP, CH)								Backwards Basic (FP, CH)
Count		S		Q		Q		S		S		Q		Q		S
Man		RF		LFS+1		RC		LSB+1		RB		LBS-1		RC		LSF-1
Lady		LB		RBS+1		LC		RSF+1		LF		RFS-1		LC		RSB-1

A lock basic is used to move towards the wall as well as progressing along it. Whereas Forwards and Backwards Basics have to be alternated, a Lock can be immediately followed by another Lock. A Lock would be preceded by a Backwards Basic and could be followed by a Forwards Basic or Natural Turn of some sort.

		Lock Basic (ORP-FP, CH)
Count		S		Q		Q		S
Man		RXF-1		LF		RkB		LF
Lady		LXB-1		RB		LkF		RB

Zig-Zag

This is 4 twisting steps. If taken at a run the closes may become small side steps.

		Zig-Zag (ORP-FP, CH)
Count		S		S		S		S
Man		RxF		LS		RxB		LC
Lady		LxB		RC		LxF		RS

The left foot Zig-Zag has to begin with the man facing the line of dance. A single preceding step would do. The Zig-Zag could be followed by an inline Forwards Basic (turn right on the first step if not at a new wall) or Natural Turn.

		Step (ORP, CH)		Zig-Zag (FP, CH)								Step (FP, CH)
Count		S		S		S		S		S		S
Man		RXF-2		LFX-1		RS-1		LXB-1		RC+1		LXF+2
Lady		LXB-2		RBX-1		LC-1		RXF-1		LS+1		RXB+2

Fish Tail

This is actually a pair of forward locks with different timing from normal. It is used to turn gradually right from facing LOD (diag. to centre) to facing wall (diag. to wall). The first step is outside partner on the right.

		RF Lock (ORP-FP, CH)						LF Lock (FP, CH)
Count		S		Q		Q		Q		Q		S
Man		RFX+1		LkB		RDF+1		LF		RkB		LF
Lady		LBX+1		RkF		LDB+1		RB		LkF		RB

Natural Chassé Turn

This is a step and three consecutive chassés to turn right. The sway on the chassés distinguish the figure from the spin turn above. It is the equivalent of a forwards basic in terms of the figures that can precede or follow it. It can be used instead of the natural + spin turn along the side of the room or at a corner (with less turn).

		Natural ... (ORP-FP, CH)								... Chassé ... (FP, CH)						... Turn (FP, CH)
Count		S		Q		Q		S		Q		Q		S		Q		Q		S
Man		RxF		LS		RC		LSB+2		RBS+2		LC		RSF+2		LFS+2		RC		LS
Lady		LxB		RS		LC		RSF+2		LFS+2		RC		LSB+2		RBS+2		LC		RS

Reverse Chassé Turn

This is a step and three consecutive chassés to turn left. It is the equivalent of a backwards basic in terms of the figures that can precede or follow it.

		Reverse ... (FP, CH)								... Chassé ... (FP, CH)						... Turn (FP, CH)
Count		S		Q		Q		S		Q		Q		S		Q		Q		S
Man		RxB		LS		RC		LSF-2		RFS-2		LC		RSB-2		LBS-2		RC		LS
Lady		LxF		RS		LC		RSB-2		LBS-2		RC		LSF-2		RFS-2		LC		RS

Natural Turn + Spin Turn

This is just like the Waltz figures except for the timing of the first figure. Also the man usually steps outside partner on the right. The amount of spin would be less at a corner than along the side of the room.

		Natural Turn (ORP-FP, CH)						Natural Spin Turn (FP, CH)
Count		S		Q		Q		S		S		and		S
Man		RxF		LSB+2		RC		LBX+1		RSFX+3				LDBX+2
Lady		LxB		RSF+2		LC		RFX+1		LSBX+3		RC br		RDFX+2

The spin turn may be followed by a backwards basic. The pivot steps in the spin may be repeated to extend the turn.

Back Lock + Running Finish or V6

The Back Lock usually follows a Natural Turn as an alternative to the Spin Turn. The Running Finish is used to cut diagonally across a corner. The V6 includes the Back Lock but then reverses towards the centre of the room before continuing along the wall. Either ending is followed by a forwards basic.

		Step (FP, CH)		Back Lock (FP, CH)						Running Finish (FP, CH)
Count		S		Q		Q		S		Q		Q		S
Man		LB		RB		LkF		RB		LBX+1		RSF+2		LF+1
Lady		RF		LF		RkB		LF		RFX+1		LSB+2		RB+1

		Step (FP, CH)		Back Lock ... (FP, CH)						and Reverse = V6 (ORP-FP, CH)
Count		S		Q		Q		S		S		Q		Q
Man		LB		RB		LkF		RB		LXB-1		RBX-1		LS
Lady		RF		LF		RkB		LF		RXF-1		LFX-1		RS

Natural Hesitation

This also follows a Natural Turn. The next figure could be a left foot Zig-Zag. With or without the Zig-Zag, 2 Reverse Chassés will turn back to the original line of dance. At a corner, the couple are already in position for the new LOD but need the old-fashioned left forwards step lead.

		Hesitation (FP, CH)
Count		S		S		S
Man		LBX+1		RS+1		LC+1 br
Lady		RFX+1		LS+1		RC+1 br

Tipple Chassé to the Right

This is another way of turning a corner after a Natural Turn. It is a step into a left backwards Natural Chassé (or Basic the other way round!) followed by a forward lock.

		LB Natural Chassé (FP, CH)								Forward Lock (FP, CH)
Count		S		Q		Q		S		Q		Q		S
Man		LBX+1		RS+1		LC		RSF+1		LF		RkB		LF
Lady		RFX+1		LS+1		RC		LSB+1		RB		LkF		RB

© Susan Foord (sf@pedag.org) 2010-06-28
Linkage: | Home | Dance Index | Dance Styles | Quickstep Sequences |