A natural turn is a dance step in which the partners turn around a common center clockwise. Its near-mirror counterpart is the reverse turn, which is turning counter-clockwise.[1]
This terminology is used mainly in the "International Standard" group of ballroom dances.[2] "Natural turn" and "reverse turn" are names of syllabus figures in waltz, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, quickstep. In addition, the words "natural" and "reverse" are used in some other figures that amount to turning to the right or left, respectively, e.g. natural twist turn in tango and foxtrot.
The name "natural" has two explanations. In a standard ballroom closed dance position the partners are somewhat shifted to the left with respect to each other, which makes the right turn easier.[3] [4] The second reason is related to progress around the floor along the counter-clockwise line of dance. Turning to the right is partly compensated for by the line of dance's leftward curve, so that it takes less effort to stay on line of dance while turning to the right than while using opposite footwork and turning to the left, especially at the corners.
| Beat | Foot position | Alignment | Amount of turn | Footwork |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Right foot forward | Facing diagonal wall | Begin to turn right | Heel – toe |
| 2 | Left foot side | Backing diagonal center | between 1 and 2 | Toe |
| 3 | Right foot closes to left foot | Backing line of dance | between 2 and 3 | Toe – heel |
| 4 | Left foot back | Backing line of dance | Begin to turn right | Toe – heel |
| 5 | Right foot side | Pointing diagonal center | between 4 and 5, body turns less | Toe |
| 6 | Left foot closes to right foot | Facing diagonal center | Body completes turn | Toe – heel |
| Beat | Foot position | Alignment | Amount of turn | Footwork |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Left foot back | Backing diagonal wall | Begin to turn right | Toe – heel |
| 2 | Right foot side | Pointing line of dance | between 1 and 2 (body turns less) | Toe |
| 3 | Left foot closes to right foot | Facing line of dance | Body completes turn | Toe – heel |
| 4 | Right foot forward | Facing line of dance | Begin to turn right | Heel – toe |
| 5 | Left foot side | Backing center | between 4 and 5 | Toe |
| 6 | Right foot closes to left foot | Backing diagonal center | between 5 and 6 | Toe – heel |
| Beat | Foot position | Alignment | Amount of turn | Footwork |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Left foot forward | Facing diagonal center | Begin to turn left | Heel – toe |
| 2 | Right foot side | Backing digonal wall | between 1 and 2 | Toe |
| 3 | Left foot closes to right foot | Backing line of dance | between 2 and 3 | Toe – heel |
| 4 | Right foot back | Backing line of dance | Begin to turn left | Toe – heel |
| 5 | Left foot side | Pointing diagonal wall | between 4 and 5, body turns less | Toe |
| 6 | Right foot closes to left foot | Facing diagonal wall | Body completes turn | Toe – heel |
| Beat | Foot position | Alignment | Amount of turn | Footwork |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Right foot back | Backing diagonal center | Begin to turn left | Toe – heel |
| 2 | Left foot side | Pointing line of dance | between 1 and 2 (body turns less) | Toe |
| 3 | Right foot closes to left foot | Facing line of dance | Body completes turn | Toe – heel |
| 4 | Left foot forward | Facing line of dance | Begin to turn left | Heel – toe |
| 5 | Right foot side | Backing wall | between 4 and 5 | Toe |
| 6 | Left foot closes to right foot | Backing diagonal wall | between 5 and 6 | Toe – heel |