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Round Dance Tips by
Tim Eum—
The
Telefeather
The Telefeather, a
phase 6 foxtrot figure, can be
described as a Telespin to SCP with an extra step turning to BJO. But
this only
makes sense if you know what a Telespin is.
Here’s a
description more suitable to a phase 4 dancer
– The Telefeather is a two measure figure where you begin in CP or BJO
facing
LOD with a Telemark to SCP except that the man points instead of taking
his
third step and the lady syncopates her third step (thus taking 2 steps
while
the man points) swiveling to pickup into CP on her fourth step. Then in
the
second measure, the couple does a progressive left pivot in 4 steps to
end
BJO-DLW. The timing for the man is thus SQ-; QQQQ; while the timing for
the
lady is SQQ&; QQQQ; Roundalab actually specifies a slightly
different
timing with the lady delaying her pickup until the second measure – but
this
causes the couple to rush the execution of the second measure steps
instead of
it being more smooth & progressive like a Foxtrot should be.
Here's a little
more detail. Begin the Telefeather
just like a Telemark for the first two steps – The man steps forward
turning
LF, - , then side R rotating LF around the lady, and then points his L
foot
side. The lady steps back with her R foot into a heel turn, - , closes
her L
foot finishing her heel turn rising to L toe ending in SCP, then
quickly runs
forward/forward swiveling to face man (i.e., pickup). A common mistake
when
going to SCP is to open up so much that the lead shoulders separate
away from
partner and the dancers end up more side by side than in SCP.
The second measure should start
in loose CP man
facing DLW with lead foot free. You will now do a progressive left
pivot in 4
steps in QQQQ timing ending in BJO-DLW. The man steps forward (lady
back)
pivoting LF, then the man steps back (lady forward) continuing the LF
pivot,
then man steps side & forward to BJO, and finally crosses in
front (lady
crosses in back) ending in BJO-DLW.
One dance that has both a
Telespin to SCP and a
Telefeather is “I Will Wait for You” by Randy & Marie Preskitt,
FT-6 (March
2017).
Tim Eum has
prepared many Round Dance Tips for Calls 'n' Cues,
WASCA, for his weekly
Rocket Rounds email reports, and for other
publications. DRDC is
grateful for permission to collect and reprint. A Tim Eum archive.
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