11 Free Turns

COURSE: Basic Turns

FOCUS: This lesson teaches free turns in dance, focusing on executing outside and inside turns without hand connections, and how to seamlessly reconnect afterwards.

TIP & TRICKS:

• Leaders lead free outside turns without lifting the left hand and let go as the follower starts rotating.
• Followers maintain the pathway set by the leader by looking in the direction of travel and keeping posture slightly forward.
• Keep arms at an available height during free turns to allow for easy reconnection with the partner.
• For free inside turns, leaders step back to initiate the turn, relying on existing body rotation in the follower.
• Ensure rotation is present in the body before leading a free inside turn to avoid walking straight forward.
• Practice transitioning from a slow outside turn into a free inside turn without stopping.

REMEMBER:

• Free turns involve letting go of hand connections while maintaining body rotation and momentum.
• Communication through body positioning and eye direction helps maintain alignment during turns.
• Arm placement is crucial for seamless reconnection after a free turn.
• Leaders should focus on stepping and body movement rather than pulling to lead free turns effectively.
• Followers must keep their pulse and posture to avoid imbalance during rotation.
• Free turns allow for creative variations and smooth integration into dance sequences.