I am wondering with regard to these Quick Step figures.

Is the zigzag, backlock with running finish considered the silver figure? I find it nowhere in "The Ballroom Technique" by ISTD.

Was the cross swivel considered a silver figure in the past? Our class includes it in a silver quick step class????

I do not wish to be left in the "dark and oblosute zone." Can anyone with updated knowledge help me?

There is nothing wrong with the ZZ/BL/RF except that it is rather difficult for a bronze level dancer to execute. It was therefore removed from the Ballroom Technique book. An outcry from those who had labored to perfect it caused it to be returned in the last revision, being added in the back as an alternate figure.

I think one of the main difficulties with the Zig Zag, Back Lock, Running Finish is the Zig Zag. As I read it in the book, the Zig Zag has the man leading the lady into a (reverse) heel turn that ends with her stepping OP. Knowing how hard it is to lead a lady's heel turn in foxtrot where it comes up rather frequently (and you normally stay in line), I'd imagine that it's even more difficult when you increase the speed to quickstep tempo. I've never been taught this figure in class probably because it's not commonly used around here.

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James Marshall
marshall@astro.umd.edu
http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall

FWIW, it is my understanding that the former Brz figure ZZ/BL/RF was moved off to "additional" on the grounds that it tends to slow down the dance (comments?).

I have curious why V-6 is a Sliver move...anyone know?

Thank you Carol,and Dronak. I checked the end part of the book and found the page!

If the instructor does not keep up with the changes, it is quite sad. I hate to turn blind myself.

This talk room is an important outlet for me.
katy

carol is correct -- the Zig Zag, Back Lock and Running Finish is listed as an Additional Figure at the very back of the technique book (page 130, as she said). Since it's listed as Associate, that equates to Bronze syllabus. The Cross Swivel is currently listed as a Fellow figure which is Gold syllabus. According to information I have, it was considered a Silver syllabus figure (Licentiate in the book) in the past; it looks revisions made to the standard syllabus back in 1993 moved it from silver to gold.

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James Marshall
marshall@astro.umd.edu
http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall

Thank you Dronak, Eric, and every one. I am thinking all these points when I practice. Whether I have an intelligent and able leader or not, I should know my part. I always appreciate all feedbacks from this talk room.
katy

The Zig-Zag, back lock, and running finish figure is on page 130 ot the Ballroom Technique book. It is at the Associate level which I believe is Bronze.

The Cross Swivel is at the Fellow level which I believe is a Gold step.

Hope this helps...

It seems to be important to update the figure list now and then. I thought I could completely relax once I got one technique book! Do they announce when there is a change?

With regard to the lady's part of the zz/bl/rf, executing them itself is not too bad, but the challenge is to get the signal when to do it. How does the man's body language signal the lady?????? What kind of common body movement from a man???

How can a lady dancer prepare with what sort of signal? Can anyone analyze?
Thank you in advance.

katy, as I noted, leading a lady's heel turn is generally not that easy. You might want to see if there are posts about it in the archives; I think there's one discussion right now on heel turns in foxtrot, but I'm not sure if it's on quite the same thing as here. Someone else will probably be able to explain things better, but here's what I remember about it drawing on notes about heel turns in other dances.

I believe that to lead a lady's heel turn the man will usually have a faster rise so that he will already be Up when taking the second step. The man's second step also tends to be shorter than for other figures and has a stronger rotation because he needs to come around the lady while keeping her basically in place. I know there's a lot more you can talk about including correct swing and sway and such and *if* everything's done correctly the lady shouldn't have a choice but to close her feet into the heel turn. As long as no one says I'm totally wrong here hopefully these two points will help a bit -- the faster rise and the shorter, more strongly rotated second step should be signals that you're being led into a heel turn. But hopefully you'll get some more responses with additional, maybe more detailed, information.