Quickstep Basic and Advanced Routine with Natural Pivot Turn

The short answer: this lesson gives you two Quickstep routines to follow along with. The basic routine uses the classic beginner figures: the Quarter Turn to Right, Progressive Chasse, Forward Lock and Natural Spin Turn. The advanced routine adds the V6 and the Natural Pivot Turn. Each routine is danced in full, then named figure by figure and counted in slows and quicks.

What is in this Quickstep lesson?

Two routines in one video, which I dance with my student Brittany. The basic routine uses the figures you'd expect to learn in a beginner class. The advanced routine adds the next layer: the V6, a Natural Pivot Turn and more locking actions.

For each one you see the routine danced in full, then every figure named, then the timing counted.

How do you make Quickstep look smooth?

Don't be fooled by the speed of the music. Your feet should always arrive at the beginning of the beat, but lengthen your steps and draw the beat out a little. The more you attack the beat, the worse it looks.

Hold off a little and find a swing in your step, like a pendulum. When your foot arrives, let your body follow over the top of it afterwards and you'll create a much smoother look.

What steps are in the basic Quickstep routine?

1. Wind Up: slow, slow, slow.
2. Preparation Step: slow.
3. Quarter Turn to Right: slow, quick, quick, slow.
4. Progressive Chasse: slow, quick, quick, slow.
5. Forward Lock: slow, quick, quick, slow. The lady dances a Backward Lock.
6. Natural Spin Turn: along the corner, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, slow.

What steps are in the advanced Quickstep routine?

1. Wind Up and Preparation Step: slow, slow, slow, then slow.
2. Quarter Turn to Right: slow, quick, quick, slow.
3. V6, steps 2 to 6: a lock and an Outside Change, quick, quick, slow, slow, quick, quick.
4. Forward Lock: slow, quick, quick, slow. Backward Lock for the lady.
5. Natural Pivot Turn: slow, quick, quick, slow.
6. Forward Lock: slow, quick, quick, slow.
7. Natural Spin Turn: underturned around the corner, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, slow.

Common mistakes

• Attacking every beat because the music is fast, instead of lengthening the steps and creating a swing.
• Ladies not pulling the heel to the toe in the Backward Lock, which throws your balance off and makes it very hard to dance with a partner.
• Exaggerating the side lead. The side going forward is only a little ahead, and your shoulders stay on top of your hips.
• Dancing the Natural Pivot Turn like a Spin Turn. It's unique to Quickstep, so leave out the last two steps of the Spin Turn and focus on the pivot.

Try this in your next practice

Dance the basic routine with the timing section of the video, counting the slows and quicks out loud. Focus on exceptional footwork: feet arriving at the beginning of each beat, body following over the top. Then in the Natural Pivot Turn, use both beats of the slow to enhance your footwork before you accelerate out into the lock.

Frequently asked questions

How do you count Quickstep?

In slows and quicks. A slow takes two beats and a quick takes one. The timing for every figure is counted in the video.

How fast is Quickstep music?

WDSF competition rules set Quickstep at 50 to 52 bars a minute.

What is a side lead in Quickstep?

Imagine your shoulders sitting on top of your hips. As you step, the side that's going forward is a little more ahead and the side going back is held back just a little. Don't exaggerate it. A good side lead is essential for good locking actions.

What is the difference between a Natural Pivot Turn and a Natural Spin Turn?

The Natural Pivot Turn is not a Spin Turn. It's unique to Quickstep: you take out the last two steps of the Spin Turn and focus on the pivot, using the full slow before you accelerate into the locking action.

Is this Quickstep routine for beginners?

The basic routine is. The Quarter Turn, Progressive Chasse and Forward Lock are your elementary introduction to Quickstep, though there's a lot of work within those simple steps.

Related lessons

• Quickstep forward and backward locks
• Quickstep basic and advanced routine
• Advanced Quickstep demonstration
• Q&A: dance confidence, less tension, pivots

Vaughan Liddicoat is a 4 time World Professional 10 Dance representative for Australia, an accredited coach and the founder of Ballroom Mastery. He has a passion for dance and wants to help you become the best dancer you can be and have an amazing time doing it.