[Tango-L] Ballroom vs Tango: Cross feet

[Carol Shepherd]

Sounds like "shadowing" = "mirroring".

Ordinarily lead and follow are not on the SAME foot (as in, they are 
both on L, they are both on R).  More typically, in a dance that 
progresses, they are on opposite feet on the same side of the couple 
facing each other (as in, lead is on L, follow is on R).

As I'm writing this I see what Michael is saying -- I can think of 
several figures in many traveling ballroom dances, where lead and follow 
are both on L, then they are both on R.  Either when they are side to 
side traveling down the line of dance (American samba), or when they are 
stepping across and outside partner in one direction, then in the other 
direction, in a zig zag, as they travel around in the line of dance.  I 
forget what that figure is called, it has an elegant name.  But it is 
definitely outside partner, and it is definitely on the same foot (both 
on L, both on R) for the lead and the follow).

Someone's changing feet to get into and out of that (ie, hidden step, 
stutter step, held for two beats) to get into that...probably the lead, 
right?

We have this issue in partner charleston all the time (not a ballroom 
dance, but definitely has set figures, and lead and follow are 
definitely on the same foot some of the time, and alternate feet some of 
the time).

Huck Kennedy wrote:
> On Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 12:48 PM, Michael <tangomaniac at cavtel.net> wrote:
>> If Jay means cross-foot as in dancing on cross feet,
>> ballroom DOES have cross foot figures. In Foxtrot and Slow
>> Waltz, there is shadow spirals figure. In Samba, there is
>> Shadow voltas figure.
> 
>      Yes, the emphasis being on the word "shadow."  From what I've
> seen, pretty much the only time they stay on same feet for any
> appreciable length of time is in shadow position.
> 
>> As a general rule, shadow positions are on cross feet because the woman is in front of the man.
> 
>      Huh?  It is normal for the woman to be in front of the man.  The
> criterion is rather that they are facing in the same direction instead
> of facing each other (which is probably what you meant).  They dance
> on the same feet because in shadow position, opposite feet would both
> feel awkward (particularly if they were almost glued together at the
> hip in tandem) and look stupid.  I say "same feet" and "opposite feet"
> because the corresponding AT terms "parallel" and "crossed" don't
> really make sense unless the two people are facing each other,  When
> you are in shadow position, being on the same feet feels a lot more
> "parallel" than being on opposite feet.
> 
> Huck
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Carol Ruth Shepherd
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