Ballroom Blitz #132

Video

youtu.be/UaKw4KBEKbs

Transcript

Ian: Hey, boys and girls from the interwebs. My name is Ian

Lindsey: and my name is Lindsay.

Ian: Welcome back to

Ian & Lindsey: Ballroom Blitz.

Ian: Hello, Ballroom Blitzers, welcome back to the channel. Today we are going to be revisiting the Quarter Turn to Left in Quickstep. We're going to be upgrading your Heel Pivot taking you from the “penguin feet” in the previous version to a true Heel Pivot. Let's go.

[Demonstration without music]

Ian: So what exactly was the difference? Well, when we Blitzed this many moons ago, again a link in the description, we gave you the “penguin feet” version, which, if this is your first stab I highly recommend that is the one that you do. It gives you all the angles, keeps you in time, and it doesn't carve up the rhythm that the lead in the follow is dancing; so very, very useful to start out with. But we have also recently Blitzed the Reverse Corte in Waltz, and it did give me an idea that the true Heel Pivot, the real beauty of the Heel Pivot when danced in the Quarter Turn to Left, is that the leader basically dances two steps while the follow dances four.

So this is what we're going to upgrade you to today, and then if you start with the “penguin feet” version and then upgrade into this one, it will feel a bit different. It will feel a bit weird, but it will make it much stronger, much more useful, much more balanced, and much, much better. So let's have a look at how we upgrade from one to the other for the leaders. For the followers your steps are exactly the same. It will feel different but leaders this video is pretty much for you. So we're going to leave the followers as they are, and we're going to go over your quick revision, your upgrade to get you working a little bit better.

Ian: So leaders, I will let you go back and watch the previous video again, link in the description, that will give you the “penguin feet” version, but essentially there we were playing with four steps. We were accepting the drive from our follow Slow, and then the middle two steps was a Quick-Quick, with our “penguin feet”, and then walking out slow at the end.

Here, essentially, we're going to cut out the “quick quicks” in terms of foot changes and weight changes for us, and we're really going to pivot on the heel of our right foot. So the follower drives forward there driving forward on the left, we're going back on our right, that still hasn't changed. That cannot change. When we get our weight over a heel, we are going to lift the ball of the foot, retract the left foot slightly, but not quite into a closed position, we're going to pivot on the heel of our right foot over the, basically the quick-quick, while the follower is doing their side together, and then we are already ready on our left foot to take our walking step out. Still a heel walk and non-power heel step. So we're not really trying to drive out yet. We're trying to prepare for the drive in the next figure at the beginning of the next figure.

But this becomes for us, Slow “Quick-Quick” and Walk, and you can see there over the “quick-quick” over there would be “penguin feet” of the last time. I'm not doing anything. I'm not not adding any steps. I'm pivoting on my foot. Slow Quick Quick Slow out. Let's have a look at that with a partner.

[Demonstration with counts]

[Demonstration with music]

Ian: And there it is ladies and gents, boys and girls, Quicksteppers of all sorts, the Heel Pivot in the Heel Pivot slash Quarter Turn to Left. Upgraded from your “penguin feet”. Both of them incredibly useful. I highly recommend you try adding them between your Quarter Turns to Right and just remember that it's the easiest way to retain your follower in that closed position if and when you need to. Very, very versatile. You obviously can't follow it with your classic Forward Lock, but you can with all of your Natural Turns; they will go in line and outside. So, give it a go. If you've used the “penguin feet” version, then upgrade to this one. See how you go. If this is the first time you've heard [of] this figure, check out the “penguin feet” version, and then try upgrade into this one.

Find out which one is best for you. I hope you all arrive at this proper Heel Pivot version in the future. Just remember as when you're cutting out steps, you can't lead your follower to do the same, so you have to hold back and give them time to do all 3 or 4 of their steps in this one and in the Reverse Corte video, which gave me the idea. Until we do see you again, have fun with your dancing and we will see you next time.

Ian: Well, that's it for this Blitz boys and girls, don't forget to like,

Lindsey: comment,

Ian: share,

Lindsey: and subscribe.

Ian: See you next time.