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F

FFF (Feet Follow Frame)

Move your CPB first and your feet will follow. That is, don't think moving the feet. Think moving the CPB.

Example: Move your CPB in any direction more than about 4 inches while standing perfectly upright -- don't bend over. If your feet don't follow then you will fall down.

Flashlight

An imaginary flashlight protruding straight forward from the dancer's CPB.

Flogging

Flogging is not a dance. However, flogging could cause a dance instructor to dance in free-form including some undesirable explicative utterances. You have probably heard the old expression, "you need to hit a mule in the head with a board just to get their attention." Well, something similar, such as flogging, occasionally needs to be done to dance instructors.

Flogging is a whipping that what should be given to any dance instructor who teaches a Delayed Single Rhythm (touch step - odd rhythm) to basic students in West Coast Swing. The Triple Rhythm Unit (odd rhythm) should be taught instead.

Any student of West Coast Swing who is taught a Delayed Single Rhythm (touch step) first will be severely handicapped when trying to improve their dancing. They have a great deal of difficulty breaking away from the touch step to use triple rhythm.

Triple Rhythm
(Odd Rhythm)

Bad Basics

Delayed Single Rhythm
(Odd Rhythm)

Flying Lindy

......

Follow-Thru

This is the action that occurs between the time the Leader executed the lead to the end of a step pattern.  After the lead has been executed the connection between the dancers becomes neutral -- reducing to a passive connection.   Also see Resistance and Centering/Centered.

Foot Action Listing

Ball
Ball Change
Bounce
Break
Break Turn
Brush
Chug
Cross
Dig
Dig Swivel
Direction
Double Tracking
Draw **
Foot Positions
Gallop **
Grapevine
Hook
Hop
Jump
Kick
Leap
Lift
Lunge
Opposite Foot
Point
Pull
Run
Same Foot
Scoot
Scuff
Serpentine
Shuffle
Single Tracking
Skate **
Skip
Slap
Slide
Step
Stomp
Sugar Foot (Sugars)
Swivel
Swivel Walk
Toe
Touch
Tracking
Turn
Vine
Walk

Foot Leads

Heel Lead
Toe Lead
Press
Sending Foot
Receiving Foot
Same Foot
Opposite Foot

Foot Positions

The following are the commonly accepted foot positions. However, I fudge their definition a little when writing dance step patterns.  For kicks forward or back, I would annotate as being a 4th Foot Position.  For Kicks to either side I would annotate as being 2nd Foot Position.   For a pull or lift of the foot to the calf or knee level, I would annotate as being 1st Foot Position.  Go ahead, "shoot me" - or show me a better method of annotation.

1st : Feet together
2nd: Feet about a shoulder's width apart
3rd : Heel to instep
4th : Walking with one foot in front of the other.
5th : Toe to heel
Cross: A foot position that places the free foot in front of, and over the weighted foot
Hook: A foot position where the "hooking foot" (free foot) goes behind the weighted foot and positions itself next to the outside arch of the weighted foot.

Forward Break Turn (AKA: Military Turn)

Is a ½ Turn (180 degrees) in the opposite direction of the forward foot which returns you from whence you came -- leaving the receiving foot in the same position on the floor but facing in the opposite direction. This is also commonly referred to as a Military Turn because it is similar to an "about face" while marching. Also see Break Turn

Forward Foot

Most turns occur in the direction of the forward foot. The forward foot will normally be in either closed or open 3rd, 4th or 5th foot position prior to the turn.  There are other type of turns that may occur in the opposite direction to the forward foot such as Break Turns and Torque Turns.  Also see Turns & Turn Technique.

Frame

Proper frame, centering and connection is an absolute must for anyone wanting to become a good dancer.

Posture

See Posture for techniques to perfect good posture.

Closed Position (Ballroom)

Body Positions: Facing each other with the right side of the leader's torso in line with the vertical center of the follower's torso. The distance between the dancers may be from a few inches to full body contact, depending on the type dance and dance technique used. The intent is to attain an alignment in which the leader's right foot is on a line that is centered between the follower's feet.

Arms/Hands (Leader's Left & Follower's Right): The arms shall be bowed out horizontally with the hands meeting palm to palm at about the center of a line that could be drawn between the eyes of the two dancers. This helps compensate for differences in heights of the dancers.

Arms/Hands (Leader's Right): The leader's right arm shall be bowed out horizontally with the right hand flat on follower's back just below the shoulder blade positioned such that the finger tips just about touch the follower's spine

Arms/Hands (Follower's Left): Shall be near the top, front of the leader's right shoulder.

Closed Position Swing

Body Positions: The leader and follower shall almost be hinged at the hip. The leader's right hip shall be almost touching the follower's left hip. The other sides of their bodies shall be positioned open in the form of a "V" -- similar to a slightly opened book.

Arms/Hands (Leader's Left & Follower's Right): The upper arms are positioned down with lower arms held in a position such that hands can grasp each other at about waist level. The leader's left hand shall be cupped inward and follower's right hand cupped over the top of the leaders hand.

Arms/Hands (Leaders Right): The leader's right arm shall be bowed out horizontally with the right hand flat on the follower's back just below her shoulder blade with the finger tips just about touching the follower's spine.

Arms/Hands (Follower's Left): Shall be near the top, front of man's right shoulder, or (2) on man's upper right arm.

Open Position Swing - One Hand Lead

Body Positions: Facing each other about one arms length apart.

Arms/Hands (Leader's Left & Follower's Right): The upper arms shall be down with the elbows just slightly in front of the vertical center of the rib cage. The lower arms shall extend straight forward. The leader's left hand shall be cupped inward. The follower's right hand shall be cupped over the top of the leader's left hand.

Arms/Hands (Leader's Right & Follower's Left): The upper arms shall be down with elbows slightly behind the vertical center of the rib cage. The lower arms shall be held straight forward and close to the waist. This positioning of the follower's arms and hands is very important so the leader can always find the follower's left hand in the same location when needed.

Open Position Swing - Two Hand Lead

Body Positions: Facing each other about one arms length apart.

Arms/Hands (Leader & Follower): The upper arms of both leader and follower shall be down with the elbows just slightly in front of the vertical center of the rib cage. The lower arms shall extend straight forward. Both of the leader's hands shall be cupped inward. The follower's hands shall be cupped over the top of the leader's hands.

Free Foot

This is the unweighted foot, the foot with no weight applied.

Funk Swing

This is an advanced styling of west coast swing dance that allows the leader or follower to extend patterns at will with their own interpretive styling to the music. The term Hijacking is sometimes used when the follower takes control throughout their interpretive extension of a step pattern. Leaders should use a feather light lead to give the follower as much freedom as possible.

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