I would like to know your techniques in doing the 8 running steps from promenade position in Quickstep. Particularily,
1. Do you use toe actions on all 8 steps?
2. How much do you bend your knees or not bending them at all?
3. Is there any body contact at all?

Please also including your ending techniques after the 8 running steps.

Thanks in advance;

Keh Gough

Sorry, I don't really have an answer to your question. It sounds like an open figure to me and if it is I'm not familiar with it, so I'd be interested in seeing a more detailed description of the figure. If you'd care to elaborate or if someone else would in their response, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

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

Note to James:

The step is exactly as it sounds... just 8 quick runs in PP. It's a very common competition element. A person with decent floor craft can probably work it around a social floor as well, provided the floor is big and not too crowded.

The most common entrance would be an Open Impetus (SQQ), then a step-hop on RF (QQ) and chasse LRL in PP (Q&Q), followed by the 8 runs. Endings are listed below.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Jonathan

>> 1. Do you use toe actions on all 8 steps?

Yes. Heel shouldn't lower until you plan to exit on the last count on your left foot.

>> 2. How much do you bend your knees or not
>> bending them at all?

You should bend your knees lightly; enough to absorb the shock so that the body can glide smoothly across the steps. No hevy compression is warranted, and it would probably slow you down anyway.

>> 3. Is there any body contact at all?

For sure. In Int'l Standard, the goal is to always remain in body contact. For Promenade Position, the contact is roughly between man's right front and lady's middle. (See Glossary of Dance Positions at www.ballroomdancers.com/Learning_Center/Dance_Positions/ )

>> Please also including your ending
>> techniques after the 8 running steps.

After lowering on your left foot at end of count 8, step forward & across with RF in PP & CBMP, using a heel lead to the count of "Slow". You can use any figure you know which begins RF forward and across in PP, such as Progressive Chasse from PP, Open Natural Turn from PP, Wing or Weave from PP, Big Top, etc. It's also very common in Quickstep to follow with a step-hop action on RF leading into Polka Chasses or something similar.

We had a Quickstep variation not too long ago, which included four runs in PP followed by a Natural Turn from PP. I'll try to remember to rerun that one soon.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Atkinson

Hi Jonathan:

Thank you for your clear explaination of quick runs.

While watching world top standard dancer's competition tapes, namely Hiltons' and Luca Barricci and Loren Barry, their feet seemed to be flying above the floor somehow. Is there any exercise to improve my quick runs?
I know my quick runs look pretty much like ducks after get shot at with a shotgun.

Regards,
Keh Gough

Hard to say what the problem is without seeing you. But body flight plays a large part in giving the pros that "airborne" look.

Sincerely,
Jonathan