Thanks Jonathan and Philip.

I've been looking around the various dance sites on the internet and actually dropped an email to the ISTD and they also confirmed no easy answer.

I think I'm coning to the same conclusion in that the technique books all reference starting on the Right as a they way it has always been written - I bought the latest ITSD Ballroom Technique book and it still references RF - but teaching tends to describe it starting on the Left and as you say, makes it similar to Waltz.

Having said all that, the steps are the same regardless so I'll not worry and just keep using LF

for info, I did find this also that tries to explain the history and the reason for the difference

http://idans.nl/resources/blog/2017_03_01_three_step_QQS.html

Thanks for taking the time
Dave

The ISTD technique book is confusing for a non-expert, and sometimes for an expert. You are correct that the 3 step starts on the left foot. I believe (my syllabus book is upstairs), however, that often steps in foxtrot are shown ending with an 'extra' step. I think this is in part so that they can discuss inline/outside positions, etc. In short, you need to know in order to know. Looking at the Precedes and Follows for the steps should help. Also check out http://ballroomindex.weebly.com/ they have an interesting presentation for this: http://ballroomindex.weebly.com/choreography.html

If you want another excellent example of the technique book having...er... issues... Look up the Open Finish in Tango.