Could I ask what is the footwork of Big Top in Waltz and Tango and what precedes of it?

Thanks!

Ballroomdancer

1. Man steps forward & across with RF foot in PP and CBMP. Lady steps forward LF in PP & CBMP. This is a very long, deep step. Commence turn to left. Commence to rise (body only) on end of 1.

2. While holding his LF back in PP, man leads lady to step forward around his RF with her RF. (This is done by a combination of following through with his weight, continued rise, and some body rotation). He then pivots 3/8 to L on the ball of his RF with LF held back in CBMP.

3. Man transfers weight back to LF in CBMP. Lady meanwhile brushes LF to RF without weight, on toes. Note: In order to keep the lady balanced on her toes, the man's back step must circle around the lady's standing foot, not step back away from it.

4. Man slips RF back into normal Reverse Pivot (lady LF forward). End as in Reverse Pivot and follow with any reverse figure.

Timing in Waltz is 12&3 or 123&. Foxtrot and Tango SQ&Q or SQQ&.

The most interesting thing about the Big Top is the fact that man and lady both have only 3 steps, yet there are 4 movements (and thus the syncopated quality). This is due to the fact that the second step is taken at different times. They both step together on 1, then she steps on 2, then he steps on the "and" count, and finally they step together again on 3.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
www.ballroomdancers.com

You can precede with anything that ends in PP, taking the first step of PP on [man's LF, lady's RF]. You then have your [man's RF, lady's LF] free to take the Big Top. Such figures as Whisk, Open Impetus, Open Telemark, Hover Telemark to PP, Outside Change ended in PP, Link to PP (Tango), Outside Swivel, etc., are all viable entries into Big Top.

Steps 1-2 of Reverse Outside Swivel is a very popular method for entering a Big Top. However, in makes phrasing a bit difficult. It's not too much trouble in Tango, being a 6-count amalgamation to which you can add 2 counts on either end. For example, start the Outside Swivel on count 1 and follow with a Contra-Check on 7,8. However, the same Outside Swivel Big Top takes four counts in Waltz, which means that you're either commencing the next figure on count 2 (not a wonderful count to begin a figure on), or you have to begin the Outside Swivel on count 3 of previous measure.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Jonathan

[This message was edited by Jonathan W Atkinson on 06-17-01 at 10:36 AM.]