Foxtrot Technique (Lady's perspective)

Foxtrot technique (mostly from Lady's perspective):

• This is all about the quality of movement.
• For Foxtrot, don't think about rise and fall, it's all built-in the footwork already. If you do rise, that probably means you are popping up and doing too much rise.
• Natural Weave: After heel turn, do not pop up, absorb rise in knee.
• Going into Three Step, Natural Turn, Natural Weave: really need to pay attention to:
• The previous last step (RF back): completely settle, before moving "across" on LF stepping back. Otherwise, it appears to have "double lowering" problem. The lowering/settling need to be in sync with the Man.
• Keep left. It's very easy to lean into Man's space during Natural turning figures. So really make sure to stay left.
• Practice Feather Step and Three Step continuously:
• Other than step 3 of Feather Step which is CBMP, all other steps are straight back in straight tracks (leave room for Man). The CBMP step makes the movement veering toward mans' left (lady's right), but other than that, everything else should be straight. Don't make waves (either to left or to right). 
• Feather Step connecting to Three Step (step 4, Lady RF back): make sure knee is top of right toe, straight, knee should not be turned out.
• Lady is on high heel and normally has smaller feet, so it's even more important to take the time to roll through the feet and not rush, as Man has bigger feet to roll through. Controlled rolling through feet, no wobbly feet.
• Reverse Turn: the heel drag on LF should not be too quick, it should be in sync with Man.
• Moving back: extend the thigh back to gain more length.

NDCA Proficiency Point System

From http://www.ndca.org/competitor-information/amateurs/eligibility-definitions/

C. ELIGIBILITY DEFINITIONS

1. A competitor is eligible to dance in the "Syllabus", "Novice" and/or "Pre-Championship" proficiency classifications until they accumulate three proficiency points. There is no limit to the number of proficiency points that may be accumulated in the "Open Amateur" level.
2. A competitor receives one point when they either a) place first in their current classification when a semi-final was danced, or b) dance in the final of a higher proficiency event where a semi-final was danced.
3. In the "Syllabus" categories proficiency points should be accumulated independently for each dance.
4. The eligibility to compete in a classification is applied to individual amateur competitors and not the couple as an entity.
5. An amateur couple is only eligible to compete in a classification if both members of the couple are eligible.
6. An amateur competitor's eligibility is based on his/her accomplishments regardless of the number or length of partnerships they have had.
7. It is the responsibility of all amateur competitors to ensure that they are eligible for the category in which they desire to dance.
8. An amateur competitor may enter at most two consecutive proficiency classifications in any particular style and age group at a particular competition.
9. An amateur competitor's ineligibility begins at the conclusion of the competition in which his/her third point was acquired. In this case the word "competition" refers to the entire event (generally a "weekend").
10. An amateur competitor's proficiency level as a Pro/Am shall not be used in determining his/her amateur proficiency level.

Footwork: toe or heel?

Dragging toe/ball of foot vs. dragging heel - when moving back: (example below is for Lady)

• If a previous step's footwork is TH (say, in Quickstep, after the 1st step in Forward Lock, which is TH on LF), that LF is already lowered to heel, after stepping RF back on 2nd step, you will drag the heel of LF on the floor before crossing LF in front of RF.
• If a previous step's footwork is T (say, in Quickstep, after 3rd step in Progressive Chasse which is T on LF, the chasse part), LF is on toe when stepping RF back/slightly side on 4th step, when settling on 4th step, you will drag the toe/ball of LF back to collect (not heel of LF).

Footwork when moving forward:

• If previous step is on toe, next step's footwork will be toe lead.
• If previous step has lowered to heel, next step's footwork is most likely a heel lead when it's a driving step. (There are exceptions.)