Foxtrot Feather Step
This is a Newcomer figure. This online reference gives a detailed description of the dance steps, including timing, footwork, alignment, and movement; steps diagram; a list of figures that may precede or follow the pattern; and videos providing instruction and demonstration of the figure, techniques and practice routines that include it.
Leader
| Step |
Timing |
Movement
|
Alignment |
Footwork |
Turn |
Sway |
CBM |
Rise & Fall
|
Notes |
1
|
S
|
RF fwd
|
LOD (*)
|
HT
|
|
S
|
CBM
|
rise at e/o 1
|
There is CBM, so frame turns to R.
Step in between lady's legs.
Keep straight line through the whole Feather Step, no zig-zag motion. |
2
|
Q
|
LF fwd, prepare to step OP L side leading
|
LOD
|
T
|
|
R
|
|
Up
|
|
3
|
Q
|
RF fwd in CBMP, OP
|
LOD
|
TH
|
|
R
|
|
Up, lower e/o 3
|
* OP: RF is on same track as LF for Man.
* When it's outside partner, it sometimes feels like Man's left side is tilting when in fact it actually is straight.
* Note the footword is TH, don't do heel lead. The excruciatingly correct footwork is: point right toe forward, touching floor with outside edge of toe, and sliding that toe forward as you push off your left foot.
* at the end, start unwinding as body lowers.
|
4
|
S
|
LF fwd
|
LOD
|
H
|
|
S
|
CBM |
|
|
Follower
| Step |
Timing |
Movement
|
Alignment |
Footwork |
Turn |
Sway |
CBM
|
Rise & Fall
|
Notes |
1
|
S
|
LF back
|
BLOD (*)
|
TH
|
|
S
|
CBM
|
rise at end of 1, NFR
|
Keep straight line through the whole Feather Step, no zig-zag motion.
Because of CBM, frame turns to R.
Don't transfer weight too quickly to LF, which will gap with Man.
Gradual smooth movement.
Turn body and hip to R
Think about taking L hip toward Man, which makes hip rotate to R. |
2
|
Q
|
RF back, R side leading
|
BLOD
|
TH
|
|
L
|
|
up, NFR.
|
Release toe of front foot as it starts to move back towards supporting foot.
Body and hip already turned at end of previous step.
Side leading, swing R hip and shoulder back, make sure connect middle left side of body to Man, stretch (really both sides are stretching), which will give bigger upper body shape as well. L shoulder forward.
This is a side leading back step, hip is not turned more on this step, RF is not a side step. Do not turn out RF, RF is straight back step. Pay attention to foot position.
Body is very stretched diagonally. |
3
|
Q
|
LF back CBMP, OP
|
BLOD
|
TH
|
|
L
|
|
up, NFR, lower e/o 3
|
Do not step short, do not step before Man put his step down. Slide foot back.
Finish outside partner. Lady's left side should be extending quite forward (CBM), may feel tilted. Lady's upper body feeling twisted to R.
Release R leg faster to prepare and give Man space to finish his leg (he will have space to bend his knee.)
|
4
|
S
|
RF back
|
BLOD
|
T
|
|
S
|
CBM
|
|
body recovering from the twist to start squaring up with Man again. |
Technique Notes
- (*) Feather step can also be danced DW or DC.
- The feet are always passing, so there is less rise and fall than in
waltz.
- On the feather step, there is CBM on the first step, so the
frame turns to the right. On the three step, CBM happens gradually
across the three steps, so the frame is wound to the left by the end of
the figure. The motion is like swinging like a monkey from vine
to vine.
- The feet stay in contact with the ground all the time.
When stepping back, the leg needs to swing back like a pendulum. The
tip of the toe touches first, and then one rolls back onto the foot.
The heel does not touch the ground until the feet are even.
- Feather finishes usually have a note "body turns less", but there is no note "body completes turn". Although there is slight turn to L on the second to last step of a Feather Finish, the body does not really complete turn until the last step.
Types of Feather
- Bronze: Feather Step
- Bronze: Feather Finish -- first step taken back -- see also Reverse Turn
- Silver: Feather Finished started with Partner OP on L side
- Silver: Feather Ending -- first step taken in PP
- Silver: Hover Feather
- Silver: Feather Step started OP
- Gold: Curved Feather
- Gold: Back Feather
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