Curved Feather to Back Feather

Foxtrot Curved Feather to Back Feather

The Foxtrot Curved Feather to Back Feather is a Gold Level 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 | Facing LOD | HT | Start to turn R | Sway(S) | CBM | Rise e/o 1

  2. Q: LF diag fwd, preparing to step OP, L side leading | Facing DW | T | 1/8 between 1-2 | Sway(R) | Up

  3. Q: RF fwd in CBMP, OP | Facing wall | TH | 1/8 between 2-3 | R | CBM | Up. Lower e/o 3

  4. S: LF back in CBMP | Backing DC | TH | 1.8 between 3-4 | S | CBM | Start to rise e/o 4, NFR

    • Gradual rise is used in Back Feather.

  5. Q: RF back R side leading | Curving toward LOD | T | - | Sway (L) | | Continue to rise on 5

  6. Q: LF back in CBMP | Backing LOD | TH | 1/8 between 4-6 | Sway (L) | | Up. Lower e/o 6.

  7. S: RF back | Backing LOD | T | - | Sway (S) | CBM | - |

Follower

  1. S: LF back | Backing LOD | TH | Start to turn R | Sway(S) | CBM | Rise e/o 1, NFR

    • Curve, the rotation is mostly in the hip area, follow Man's hip, don't stop turning to R (other you'll block Man), continue the rotation and give Man middle and side and stay connected.

    • Upper body/shoulder should not turn too much which will pull off from partner (but it does turn to R, otherwise Man can't pass). Upper body is diagonally stretched (R side is upward), keep parallel to partner.

    • Push off standing leg to move.

    • Forward with body and arms.

  2. Q: RF back, R side leading | Backing DW | T | 1/8 between 1-2 | Sway(L) | Up

    • Follow leader's direction - there maybe feeling of a forward step, then body turns.

    • Hip turns more with Man, body turns less (wind up, shoulder should not be flat with hip), body prepares to swing for next step. Shoulder keep parallel with Man.

    • Lady can lower her R heel on step 2.

    • Head to L.

  3. Q: LF back in CBMP | Backing Wall | TH | 1/8 between 2-3 | Sway(L) | CBM | Up. Lower e/o 3

    • Small step LF behind RF, shape to L, like winding up to go. Lady should lower late on 3.

    • Hip and body rotating to R, follow Man's hips, rotate hip to Man, connected with Man, hip is still in front of Man, not to the side of Man's hip.

    • Leave RF loosely in front, do not stick R leg too early.

    • Prepare to really use LF to push for next RF fwd step. This is the circling movement action, get weight into heel and then push forward.

  4. S: RF fwd in CBMP, OP | Facing DC | HT | 1/8 between 3-4 | Sway(S) | CBM | Start to rise e/o 4

    • Rotate hip more and lower more into L knee, push off LF/L leg to drive for bigger movement.

    • Do no t going downward in this step. The lowering happens in previous step (weight into heel on previous Q). This steps drives forward and up (rise e/o this step).

    • Left side now swings forward (body does not stop - which will make it look like going backward), do not swing too much up, focus on forward, body rotate a lot to the right.

    • Head turns and shapes to R. Do not cross into Man's space. Smooth changes.

    • Movement should feel "free", not constrained. Body breathes.

  5. Q: LF fwd L side leading | Curving towards LOD | T | - | Sway(R) | Continue to rise on 5

    • If Man shapes, Lady turn her head to R, but stay very left, keep ribs/side to Man.

    • Really needs to turn body (rotate to R)

  6. Q: RF fwd in CBMP, OP | Facing LOD | TH | 1/8 between 4-6 | Sway(R) | Up, Lower e/o 6

  7. S: LF fwd | Facing LOD | H | - | S | CBM | -

    • Typically, continue with Feather Finish SQQ.

      • This first LF fwd on S, do not follow Man's curve, step straight forward in between Man's legs, otherwise, at the end of Feather finish, Lady's hip will gap/end up to the side of Man's hip.

      • When swing on Q: do not dip shoulder low, keep should flat, swing forward, traveling. Give center to Man, shape.

      • Breathe, release so body does not stiff up.

      • if Man shapes, Lady turn her head to R on QQ, keep ribs to Man.

Preceding Figures

  1. Change Of Direction

  2. Closed Telemark

  3. Hover Telemark

  4. Hover Telemark to PP

  5. Natural Turn

  6. Open Impetus

  7. Outside Swivel

  8. Reverse Wave

  9. Three Step

Following Figures

  1. Closed Impetus and Feather Finish (Feather Finish; or After steps 1-3, Closed Impetus)

  2. Basic Weave (At corner)

  3. Open Impetus (After steps 1-3)