Lesson on Samba and Foxtrot

Samba technique review:

• Feet stay in contact with the floor
• On the up part of the samba bounce, the bottom sticks out. This powers the slip step of the samba walk, and allows the back foot to pass around the front foot on Voltas.

Foxtrot practice routine:

1. Preparation step LF, S, slightly left of LOD
2. Feather Step   (SQQ)
3. Three Step   (SQQ)
4. Feather Step   (SQQ) 
5. Reverse Turn   (SQQ S) checked, end BDW
6. Basic Weave   (QQ  QQ QQ)
7. Three Step   (SQQ)
8. Natural Turn   (SQQ)
9. Closed Impetus and Feather Finish   (SQQ SQQ) - changing LOD
10. Three Step  (SQQ)  
11. Natural Turn  (SQQ SSS)  

• It's important to collect before a slow step. Slow steps are driving steps, we coast on the quick steps. 
• Three Step footwork is special: as the second step is taken Heel-Toe (in the chart, it's listed as first step, the first Q. The previous S is the last step of Feather Step.), rolling up onto the toe. 
• Caution on the Natural Turn: After a lady learns the Natural Weave, it is very easy to go outside partner after 1-3 of the Natural Turn, but she should be careful to do that only if it is lead. 
• Where the Waltz is like being on a swing, the Foxtrot is like a monkey swinging from vine to vine, including the turning of the frame from left to right. Another way of describing it is that it's like rowing a boat. The need to collect and drive on the slow gives the image of the stroke of the oars in the water propelling the boat, and while the oars are out of the water, preparing for the next stroke, the boat coasts. Similarly, all the power to move across the floor comes on the slow step in foxtrot, and one coasts on the quick steps, until it is time for the next slow to drive further down the floor.