You are right, everything in that book is worked out very well! Fully calculated. I looked at it again and now I see that there's a bit of turn between the impetus turn and feather finish.

OK, my faith in the holy book of Silvester is restored!

Thanks, DG

In many cases, but not all, the last step of a figure overlaps the first step of the following. I'm not sure exactly what the reasoning is, but there must be one... everything in that book is extremely calculated.

All you have to know is this: Sometimes the figures connect directly; sometimes they overlap by one step. It's not too difficult to figure out which is the case in any given situation. These are the only two possible scenarios which are "assumed". All others are noted, such as:

"At corner -- 1-3 Natural Turn may be danced to end backing DW of new LOD to follow with Back Lock." [Quickstep, Natural Turn & Back Lock, from p.85 of 'The Ballroom Technique', ISTD].

I hope this helps.
Jonathan

Thanks!

"but yes, the Feather Finish following the
Impetus does begin back RF for man. The rhythm, therefore, is SQQ (imp) SQQ (ff)."

Oh I see... So in the bronze level combo step ("Impetus turn with Feather Finish") the last RF back of the impetus turn gets chopped off and replaced by 4,5,6 of the reverse turn [back RF; side LF slightly forward; RF forward, CBM, OP], with 7 of the reverse turn forming the first step of the next reverse figure. (unless one takes the 3-step next, in which case presumably the written LF forward at the end of the feather finish is followed by the RF forward of the 3-step?)
Of the reverse turn, 5,6,7 are called out as the "feather finish" portion.

This reviser of Silvester really should have made this more clear.

"The LF in line w/ partner is written in the technique book at the end of the Feather Finish, but really belongs to step 1 of the following figure."

Definitely something that should be rationalized.

"Hover Feather, which is a Silver level figure."

Not there yet!!!

DG

Dave,

Not sure what you mean exactly by the hesitation, but yes, the Feather Finish following the Impetus does begin back RF for man. The rhythm, therefore, is SQQ (imp) SQQ (ff). The LF in line w/ partner is written in the technique book at the end of the Feather Finish, but really belongs to step 1 of the following figure.

Following the man's 1-2 of the impetus directly with 2-3 of a Feather Step is known as a Hover Feather, which is a Silver level figure. You can dance it in a freestyle portion of a Bronze exam, but at a competition in Closed Bronze division you'd be out of category.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Atkinson www.ballroomdancers.com

In advanced variation, you may do anything you like (provided that it is reasonable in some sense).

But in your case, in theory, it seems not easy to do this cause the step two of impetus turn has sway to L while the LF side step of the feather finish is to R.

The Closed Impetus and Feather Finish is of course for foxtrot entry level dancer. If you are more advanced, you may do a heel pull with rise (SS), then a Hover Feather (QQ), followed with LF fwd, partner in line into any Rev figure. It serves the same purpose.

I hope this helps.

Terence