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Natural
Turns
by Kay & Joy Read
The following questions are from a group of questions passed along in
part by Frank Valenta from our e-mail discussion group. Most of the
questions evolved around a discussion of the figures: Natural Turn,
Half Natural Turn, and Open Natural Turn and seemed to centralize on
the following themes.
Question #1: Isn't a
Half Natural Turn the first half of the two-measure Natural Turn?
Question #2: What makes an Open Natural Turn an Open Natural and a Half
Natural Turn a Half Natural?
Question #3: What are the correct/appropriate entry and exit body dance
positions for each figure?
The answer to Question #1 seems a simple "yes" at first glance. In
Round Dance and Ballroom dancing, however, we rarely choreograph both
halves of the Natural Turn. Instead, we dance half of the Natural Turn
(sometimes referred to as 3 of a Natural) and follow with a more
interesting figure for the second measure. We should also remember that
rhythm plays a role in the footwork and mechanics of the Half Natural
Turn. The execution of waltz and quickstep Half Natural Turns are
similar, and the figure ends with a foot close on step 3; whereas, a
foxtrot Half Natural Turn has a lady's heel turn with weight change on
step 2 and a progressive step back for the man (forward for the lady)
on step 3 . Note: Roundalab's phase II waltz Maneuver is, in fact, a
waltz Half Natural Turn.
The answer to Question #2 becomes a little more complicated. A Full
Natural Turn allows the dancers to change their line of dance
progression from Diagonal Line & Wall (DLW) to Diagonal Line
& Center (DLC) by means of a two-measure right-face turn while
maintaining both closed body position (CP) and the characteristics of
the rhythm, i.e., rise, fall, flight, sway, timing. By contrast, the
Open Natural Turn (Natural Turn from Promenade) allows not only a
change in the direction of dance progression similar to a Half Natural
Turn, but also allows more movement (flight) with an ending body dance
position in preparation (BJO) for exit figures not easily accomplished
from the ending CP of the Half Natural Turn. To accomplish this
movement and preparatory exit position, the feet are "open" (passing
steps) on all three steps of the Open Natural Turn.
The answer to Question #3 now becomes dependent on accomplishing the
answer to Question #2. By definition, execution of the first half of
the Natural Turn (Half Natural) requires a closing step (3rd step in
waltz and quickstep and 2nd step in foxtrot) by the lady to maintain
the characteristics of the rhythm. To comfortably accomplish the
closing of the feet during this turn the lady should begin with a back
step. Because the second step for the lady in waltz and quickstep is a
"swinging" side step followed by the closing step 3, this figure can be
accomplished from either CP or BJO (man outside partner). She would not
be able to maintain good position relative to her partner and would
have to dance the figure "square" if the figure began in SCP. In
foxtrot, because of the rhythm characteristics, this figure requires
the foot close with heel turn on step 2 and a progressive step 3. This
is an impossible task for the lady if the figure begins in SCP; she
must begin the figure with a back step. This heel turn is best
accomplished commencing the Half Natural Turn in CP. Entering the
figure from BJO results in the man being beyond the lady at the end of
the first step creating the "feel" for the lady that another "open"
side step is being led.
As to the Open Natural Turn, the lady cannot comfortably create added
progression and flight if she must step back, check her motion, and
then step forward. To accomplish the added movement, the figure is only
comfortably danced from SCP (Promenade) to allow the lady to enter the
figure with forward movement and sustain this movement through three
"open" steps (thus the name Natural Turn from Promenade). Because of
the added forward flight of his partner, the man is able to create
through his Contrary Body Movement Position (CBMP) lead, a body
position of BJO at the end of the Open Natural Turn that is preparatory
for the lady to dance outside the man on the first step of the exit
figure. Therefore, for comfortable execution, the correct/appropriate
entry and exit dance positions for the Half Natural and Open Natural
Turns should be as follows:
Half Natural Turns
Entry (waltz, quickstep) CP or BJO
Entry (foxtrot) CP
Exit (WZ, QS, FT) CP
Open Natural Turns
Entry (WZ, QS, FT) SCP
Exit (WZ, QS, FT) BJO
From the RAL Journal, Fall 1999,
and
reprinted
in the Dixie Round Dance Council (DRDC)
Newsletter, September 2018.
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