Round Dance Instruction

Fig 7   Left Turning Box:

This is a 4 measure figure in which every Half Box includes a quarter turn to the Left, so you finish where you started.   

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We will start by dancing this as solo dancers.  Face the wall with Left feet free. 

Forward Left & turn ¼ Left-Faced, Side Right,  Close Left ;    {Face LOD} 

Back Right & turn ¼ Left-Faced, Side Left,  Close Right ;       {Face COH} 

Forward Left & turn ¼ Left-Faced, Side Right,  Close Left ;    {Face RLOD} 

Back Right & turn ¼ Left-Faced, Side Left,  Close Right ;       {Face Wall} 

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As this is a Left turning figure, the turn is late ie you take the step before you turn.  Step forward onto the Left heel, transfer weight onto the ball of the foot then you can safely swivel ¼ to your left.  When stepping back onto the Right foot, keep the weight on the ball of the foot until you have made the turn.  As you take each Forward or Back step, turn your head a little to the Left to look towards the next facing direction – this will help you make crisp quarter turns.   

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We can also practice starting with the Right foot free, facing the wall. 

Back Right & turn ¼ Left-Faced, Side Left,  Close Right ;        {Face LOD} 

Forward Left & turn ¼ Left-Faced, Side Right,  Close Left ;    {Face COH} 

Back Right & turn ¼ Left-Faced, Side Left,  Close Right ;       {Face RLOD} 

Forward Left & turn ¼ Left-Faced, Side Right,  Close Left ;    {Face Wall} 

 

Now if we begin in Closed position, facing the Wall with Lead feet free the dancers will rotate as a couple.  It is important that dancers maintain a good Closed position throughout, keeping their heads slightly to the Left. 

 

Man:    Forward Left & turn ¼ Left-Faced to face LOD, Side Right,  Close Left ;     

Back Right & turn ¼ Left-Faced to face COH, Side Left,  Close Right ;    

Forward Left & turn ¼ Left-Faced to face RLOD, Side Right,  Close Left ;     

Back Right & turn ¼ Left-Faced to face Wall, Side Left,  Close Right ;    

 

Lady:   Back Right & turn ¼ Left-Faced, Side Left,  Close Right ;    

Forward Left & turn ¼ Left-Faced, Side Right,  Close Left ;     

Back Right & turn ¼ Left-Faced, Side Left,  Close Right ;    

Forward Left & turn ¼ Left-Faced, Side Right,  Close Left ;     

 

Practice 7.1:

In Closed position with the Man facing the Wall, with Lead feet free 

Box ;;   Balance Left & Right ;; 

Left Turning Box ;; ;; 

 

Note:  It is possible to execute this figure as individual dancers, starting facing but not touching.  This is cued as  “Solo Left Turning Box”, but we will not look at this in detail here. 

 

We can use fractions of the Left Turning Box to turn a quarter, half or three quarters to the Left.  We might cue “Left Turning Box Half way” or “2 Quarter Left Turns”, followed by other figures while facing the opposite direction. 

 

Practice 7.2:

In Closed position with the Man facing the Wall, with Lead feet free 

Box ;;   Balance Left & Right ;; 

Left Turning Box Halfway to face COH ;; Balance Left & Right;; 

Box ;;   Balance Left & Right ;; 

Left Turning Box Halfway to face Wall ;; Balance Left & Right;;