Lesson 7 Triple Steps & Turns A. A. Triple Steps Triple steps are three steps in two beats of music. You will be stepping on the downbeat as well as the upbeat, and the count is 1&2, 3&4, etc. This means triple steps are syncopated, as they are danced on the upbeat as well as the downbeat. Some folks call them Cha Cha Cha steps to remember them more easily. Triple steps come in many varieties, as detailed below, but the count is ALWAYS the same 1. Basic Step right, left, right or left, right, left in place. Stay on the balls of the feet to be graceful and also be able to move around easily. If all your weight is on the full sole of the foot, you ll have to transfer your weight forward to move around so it makes sense to be there first, so the transfer is unnecessary 2. Forward & Back Move the triple step forward as you perform the step, or backwards. The footwork is the same, but it travels. You can chain multiple triple steps together as you travel forward and back 3. Side Together Side (Side Chasse) & Lindy Step Only one triple step can be done at a time traveling to the side. It s called a chasse when done to the side, and it s still right, left, right or left, right, left. Since we are talking about doing exactly the same step, we must go the other way (to the left, if we started to the right, and vice versa) to repeat the step, and usually a rock step behind is inserted before we go the other way. The triple with the rock step is then called a Lindy/Lindi Step (triple to the side for beats 1&2, rock behind in extended third or fifth position on beat 3, and recover the weight forward on beat 4, taking four beats total) 4. Crossing Triple The first step is done across the standing foot instead of to the side of it. In a right crossing triple, cross the right over the left and angle the torso a bit to the left, stepping onto the right on beat 1. Step onto the left foot while traveling a bit to the left on the & count, and then step onto the right again as it is still crossed over the left on beat 2. It will feel like you are urgently trying to get to a restroom, and it s affectionately nicknamed The Pee-pee Step. Classy name 5. Mambo Step Mambo Steps in the Latin & Ballroom world are technically four-count moves, but in line dancing they ve become triple steps, as we count the beats faster, in double time. The exception is Rockin The Wagon Wheel (choreographed by Jamie Marshall), where they are done as they should be, as 1-2-3-hold on 4 moves. In normal line dancing, they are counted as 1&2 (hold on the & count after 2) moves.
For a right Mambo, rock forward on the right foot, recover the weight back onto the left, and replace the right foot from where it came (back home ). Think rock, recover, replace, or rock, step, step. We don t travel; we just rock forward and back with an extra step after the conventional rock step 6. Coaster Step Coaster Steps are gliding, redirecting triple steps. To start on the right: step back onto the right, step the left together (next to) the right, and step forward on the right. Coasters reverse the momentum of the step. You go back, usually after already traveling backwards in prior steps, gather your weight under your body, and then step forward. Think of the gliders at retirement centers for a picture of a coaster step. The gliders swing back and then forward, but on a level plane. There is no swoop down and up as there is in a regular U-shaped swing. Imagine a book on your head when dancing a coaster step; the book should not fall off your head. Coasters are SMOOTH and usually difficult for beginner dancers to grasp. If a new dancer struggles with a coaster step, encourage him/her to simply triple in place until it becomes more comfortable 7. Sailor Step (Sailor Shuffle) Sailor Steps are thus called because they have the feel of dancing on a ship, and moving with the water below the ship. They have a distinctive swingy feel. Think about Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly in the movie, Anchors Aweigh. Remember how their pant legs swung out when they danced this step? That s the look we re after. When you dance a Sailor step, think behind, side, step. Picture yourself standing on a railroad track, and the other track is directly behind you so you are perpendicular to the tracks. For a right Sailor, step with your right foot behind and past your standing left foot (cross it behind the left) onto the track behind you on beat 1, step onto your left foot to the side and above & past the back right foot (and still on the original track) on the & count, and step onto your right foot shoulder width apart next to the left on the original track, directly above where it is on the back track, on beat 2. You only stepped onto the back track on the first movement. Just before you step on the first beat onto your right foot, kick your right foot to the right side a bit that will swing your pant leg out, if you are wearing your sailor s outfit. If this is difficult to imagine, try picturing yourself standing on the railroad tracks (parallel to/with them), so your right foot is on the side of/next to the right track, and the left foot is on the right track. Your tracks should be no more than shoulder width apart so you look graceful! Move your right foot behind your left foot, onto the right track, on beat 1, and step onto your right. Step with your left foot above and to the side of your right foot onto the left track on the & count. Step your right foot next to/parallel to your left foot (above where it was) onto the right track on beat 2. Don t forget to kick your right foot to the right side a bit before beat 1, to get the sailor look. **Your bottom half should move/swing while dancing a Sailor step, but your shoulders and upper torso should remain pretty still. Move those hips!**
Sailor Steps are difficult and take practice to dance correctly & smoothly, and so that every eye will be riveted on you. I suggest you practice them in front of a mirror. Picture a book on top of your head as you do them the book should not fall. Keep it smoooooooth 8. Behind Side Cross Starting on the right, you will travel left, and vice versa; this is a traveling triple step similar to the crossing triple, but with more motion. For a right Behind Side Cross, step behind your left onto your right foot on beat 1, step to the left side with the left foot on the & count, and step onto your right foot crossed in front of your left foot on beat 2 9. Kick Ball Change If a Kick Ball Change is done repeatedly, it will always be on the same side, with the same foot kicking. Another step needs to be done to get out of the step before it can be done starting with the opposite foot, as in a Side Chasse. Starting on the right, kick (not necessarily in the air; placing the heel on the floor in front of you will suffice and provide better balance) the right forward on beat 1, step onto the ball of the right foot slightly behind the left (in an extended 3 rd position) on the & count, and change the weight to the left foot as you step in place with the left on beat 2. Placing the right foot slightly behind the left as you do the ball part of this step will cause a bit of lilt and bounce, which is the look of the step. Make sure the knees are gently bent while dancing this step 10. Sugar Foot Often called Toe Heel Stomp, the correct way to think of this step is Toe Heel Step (and a loud step, for effect). The weight transfers at the end of a Sugar Foot. Normally two of these steps are done in a row. Dance with your thumbs in your belt loops and your fingers curled in for extra points, in true country line dancing style. Starting on the right again, touch the right toe to the instep of the left foot while tipping the right knee in towards the left leg on beat 1, touch the right heel next to the left toe while tipping the right knee out towards the right on the & count, and step forward onto the right foot on beat 2. Repeat with the left for beats 3&4 11. Heel Twists For right heel twists, step the ball of the right foot forward but keep weight on the back left foot as well on beat 1, swivel both heels to the right on the & count (split weight, which means weight is equally split between both feet), swivel both heels back to starting position (heels parallel to the wall) on beat 2 with weight primarily on the left. A right coaster step often follows. Can be done on the left as well, as usual B. Turns Many turns exist; these are simply the ones most commonly used in line dancing. All turns rotate left or right
1. Step Turn/Pivot Turn ( Oh Crap Turn ¼, ½, ¾) Also called Military Turns, a Step Turn steps forward and turns. The key is to change weight, but not pick up either foot from the floor. Thus, a step forward onto the right requires a turn to the left, and a step forward onto the left requires a turn to right. We always turn toward the open legs, not our backsides. As you step forward onto the right (for a left Step Turn), step into an extended fifth position for a better base and more graceful turn. Keep the step about the size of the width of the shoulders for the same reason. Transfer the weight to the right as you step forward, then pivot around (or push off the right) to the left and step forward onto the left foot. Literally, think Step, Turn. We are changing direction with this turn, so if you start facing the front, when you do a ½ Step Turn, you will be facing the back. We turn ¼, ½, or ¾ with this turn. The key is to change weight on the second movement; it s usually counted in two beats. When doing this turn, visualize seeing your ex in front of you, and you want nothing to do with that person. What do you think and do? Oh Crap!, and you do an about face, turn away, and head in the opposite direction 2. Chase Turn (1/2) A Chase Turn is a Step Turn with an extra step forward, and is counted as a triple step. Chase Turns combine Step Turns and triples, and make a step turn into a triple step turn. A left Step Turn would step forward onto the right on beat 1, turn left on the & count, and step forward on the right on beat 2. The second time you are stepping on the right, that right foot is chasing past the standing left foot 3. Push Turn/Paddle Turn (¼, ½, ¾, or full) Paddle and Push Turns are basically the same things in line dancing, and the terms are used interchangeably. They are usually syncopated, which means the & count is danced, and take 2 or more beats. If a push or paddle turn is done to the left, the right is pushed into the front and the weight is recovered onto the left as the turn is begun. That continues until the turn is complete. The count could be 1&2& OR &1&2 (or four beats, or however many beats the turn is). The turn could be a total of ¼, ½, ¾, or a whole turn, and the degree of dance would be noted. Examples follow. ¼ turn to the Left taking two beats, starting on the downbeat: Press the ball of the right foot in front on beat 1 as if you are paddling a canoe; you re pushing against the water. All the weight doesn t go onto the right, as in a step turn, but enough of your weight does to start a rotation to the left. Rotate 1/8 of a turn (to the angle) onto your left foot on the & count. Repeat for counts 2 &. Weight ends on the left. ½ turn to the Right taking 4 beats, starting on the upbeat: Press the ball of the left foot in front on the & count as if you are paddling a canoe; you re pushing against the water. All the weight doesn t go onto the left, as in a step turn, but enough of your weight does to start a rotation to the right. Rotate 1/8 of a turn (to the angle) onto your right foot on beat 1. Repeat for counts &2, &3, &4. Weight ends on the right.
Weight may not always end as noted; choreography varies by dance 4. Monterey Turn (¼, ½, ¾, or full) Monterey Turns are four-count turns where all the rotation happens on the second count. You will ALWAYS turn in the direction of the point on the second count, the turn originates from your center core/hips (more noticeably than the other turns), and it is always backwards, over your shoulder. Starting on the right, point your right toe to the right side on beat 1. THREE things happen on beat 2: pull your right toe into your left standing foot so it is next to the left (into first position), rotate, and step on the right. Point your left toe to the left side on beat 3, and bring the left foot in next to the right foot (into first position) and step on it on beat 4. Regardless of the degree of turn, the rotation occurs on the second beat 5. Cross Unwind Turn (1/2, ¾, or full) Cross right over left and take weight onto the right (as always; whenever the legs are crossed, the weight is on the front, crossed over foot) on beat 1, and rotate onto the left foot as you twist around to the left on beat 2. Usually this move takes two counts, but it could be elongated. Regardless of the degree of turn, the rotation occurs on the second beat 6. Hinge Turn (½) Hinge Turns rotate backwards, and are so named because your body turns as if it were a door opening on a hinge. They are done on a line, as in if each of your steps were connected, they would form a line parallel to the wall you re facing when you begin the turn, and they take two counts. From facing forwards, these turns are reversed depending on which way you are turning. Because they are rather unique I m including both directions. To turn right: Weight starts on the right. Step the left to left side on beat 1 and rotate ¼ turn over your right shoulder. This left foot is the hinge; imagine your body rotating around it like your body is the door. Continue turning another ¼ turn to the left and step the right to the right side, 180 degrees to the right from where you began, on beat 2. A good example of this turn can be found in the line dance Ex s & Oh s (choreographed by Amy Glass). To turn left: Weight starts on the left. Step right to right side on beat 1 and rotate ¼ turn over your left shoulder. This right foot is the hinge; imagine your body rotating around it like your body is the door. Continue turning another ¼ turn to the right and step the left to the left side, 180 degrees to the left from where you began, on beat 2. A good example of this turn can be found in the line dance Dust (choreographed by John Robinson).
It may help to rotate the whole ½ turn on beat 1, instead of thinking of the turn as a ¼ & ¼ rotation 7. Pencil Turn (full) Step forward on either right or left to turn either right or left, depending on the choreography. The key in pencil turns is to rotate all the way around on the first beat as you step forward, with your other foot next to the first foot (but not touching the ground). You ll be in 1 st position. Step onto the other foot on beat 2, staying in 1 st position. This turn technically takes one beat 8. Turning Pivots (full) An easier way to do a pencil turns, Turning Pivots take two beats to do a full turn. Step forward on either right or left to turn either right or left, depending on the choreography, and rotate a half turn. Step back on the other foot and rotate another half turn in the same direction. Think step, rotate, step, rotate. An excellent resource for turning pivots, and spins & turns in general, is Julie Hein s DVD, Spins & Turns **Special Note** What is the difference between a spin and a turn? In a spin, there is no traveling. Turns travel. So if the axis of rotation moves, you are turning, and if it doesn t, you are spinning.