Natural Turn

Foxtrot Natural Turn

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

  1. S: RF fwd | LOD | HT | start to turn R | Sway(S) | CBM | rise at e/o 1

    • Early rise to lead a heel turn, it's difficult for lady to do heel turn on bent knee, so man needs to rise enough to allow to have straight legs for heel turn.

  2. Q: LF to side | BDC | T | 3/8 to R btwn 1-2 | Sway(R) | up

    • It's really a forward step, transfer weight and then turn hips.

  3. Q: RF back | BLOD | TH | 1/8 btwn 2-3 | Sway(R) | up, lower e/o 3

    • After turning feet and hips to face may partner on step 2, hips and shoulders stay flat, as lady steps between leader's feet.

  4. S: LF back | BLOD | TH | start to turn R | Sway(S) | CBM | -

  5. S: RF to side, small step (Heel Pull) | FDC | H, IE of foot, WF, IE of LF | 3/8 btwn 4-5 | Sway(L) | -

    • Turn less at corner to face new LOD or DC of new LOD. See note.

  6. S: LF fwd | FDC | H | body turn to L | Sway(S) | CBM | -

Note:

    • The figure can start Man facing DW, in which case, the first step will turn 1/4 between 1-2 and 1/8 between 2-3.

    • The figure can also be used at corner, in which case, Man turn 1/4 between 4-5 to face new LOD, or 1/8 to face DC of new LOD.

Follower

  1. S: LF back | BLOD | TH | start to turn R | Sway(S) | CBM | rise at end of 1, NFR

    • Connect L shoulder down, R side positive. Do not move upper body too quickly off the feet. Allow lower center to rotate.

    • In Foxtrot, this first step has less of a curve than Waltz Natural Turn (which is not a heel turn), it is fairly straight back step with a very slightly curve.

    • Roll weight onto LF.

  2. Q: RF closes to LF (Heel Turn) | LOD | HT | 1/2 btwn 1-2 | Sway(L) | up, NFR.

    • Heel turn is not on straight knee, legs are slightly bent all the time.

    • At end of the step, shoulder should not be square, R side positive (fwd) - body is rotated to 1/8 L (i.e. don't over turn in previous heel turn). Wind up.

  3. Q: LF fwd | LOD | TH | - | Sway(L) | up, NFR, lower e/o 3

    • Really push RF to get LF fwd further, don't fall short.

    • When LF is step forward, body is still diagonal, R side positive.

    • Then dissolve the sway when coming down to 2 feet together.

    • Hips and frame are square to LOD (different from Natural Weave).

  4. S: RF fwd | LOD | HT | start to turn R | Sway(S) | CBM | -

    • Be careful, this is inline with Man, not outside partner as in Natural Weave. Lower first and then step forward.

  5. S: LF to side | BDC | TH, IE of T of RF | 3/8 to R btwn 4-5 | Sway(R) | -

    • Continue moving center to LF, do not leave weight in between feet.

    • Then continue moving L hip back to prepare for next step

  6. S: RF back, having brushed to LF | BDC | T | body turn to L | Sway(S) | CBM | -

Difference between Waltz and Foxtrot:

    • In foxtrot, we only drive on the first step, and swing the leg on the second step. In waltz, we drive on the first and second step, and the swing is what brings our feet together to settle at the end of the third step.

    • In Waltz Natural Turn, step 1 is a driving step, then, Man puts his left foot forward on the ground, without weight, pointing it, and then Man push off the right foot. Man is turning around lady's outside shoulder. (Both steps are driving steps.)

    • In this Foxtrot Natural Turn, after the first step, Mans turns his body, bringing his left foot under his body, before swinging the RF foot back. This is part of the difference between leading the lady to pass her feet or do a heel turn, respectively. Man is turning around lady's sternum.

    • The Foxtrot Natural Turn, Natural Weave, and Hover Cross have the same steps for the first two steps, and it is after that they differentiate. For the leader,

        • Step 1: RF forward, with CBM

        • Step 2: LF forward, and then when transferring weight, turn hips. Brush RF to LF before taking next step on RF.

Preceding Figures

  1. Closed Telemark

  2. Hover Telemark

  3. Three Step

Following Figures

  1. Feather Step

  2. Natural Weave (at corner for Bronze, side of room for Silver and Gold)

  3. Closed Impetus and Feather Finish (after step 3)

  4. Open Impetus (after step 3)

  5. Hover Feather (after step 5)

  6. Curved Feather to Back Feather (at corner)