Learn how to beautifully dance
the Open Natural Turn
This page gives detailed information on how to dance the Open Natural Turn in the Slow Foxtrot.
It includes the requisite timing, steps, footwork, alignment, movement, turn, sway, rise & fall and hold — for both the Man/Leader and the Lady/Follower, as per “The Ballroom Technique” publication.
It also contains notes, tips and advice that has been manually collated and typed in, from a variety of online and offline sources, as well as a compilation of (3rd party) YouTube videos demonstrating and teaching how to do a beautiful Open Natural Turn!
The Open Natural Turn is usually a silver level Foxtrot figure. For the full list of Foxtrot figures corresponding to each medal level, as per the Imperial Society for Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), see the Figure List for Foxtrot.
Open Natural Turn (Man)
Commence in Closed Position, facing Wall, body facing DW against LOD
| # | Steps | Alignment | Moving | CBM | Turn | Sway | Rise & Fall | Position | |||
| 1 | 12 | S | RF fwd | H T | Facing Wall | DW | Com to turn R | Com rise e/o 1 | PP | ||
| 2 | 3 | Q | LF to side & slightly back | T | Backing LOD | DW | 1/4 (1-1) | Cont to rise on 2 | Closed | ||
| 3 | 4 | Q | RF back, R side leading | T H | Facing DW | DW | 1/8 (2-3) | Up. Lower e/o 3 | Closed |
Technical Notes (for the Man)
Open Natural Turn (Lady)
Commence in Promenade Position, facing LOD, body facing DC
| # | Steps | Alignment | Moving | CBM | Turn | Sway | Rise & Fall | Position | |||
| 1 | 12 | S | LF fwd | H T | Facing LOD | DW | Com to turn R | com to rise e/o 1 | PP | ||
| 2 | 3 | Q | RF fwd & slightly to R | T | Facing LOD | DW | cont to rise on 2 | Closed | |||
| 3 | 4 | Q | LF fwd, L side leading | T H | Facing DW | DW | 1/8 to R (2-3) | Up. Lower e/o 3 | Closed |
Technical Notes (for Lady)
General Notes
- When the Feather Step is commenced with the Man moving back and turning Left, it’s called the Feather Finish
- When the Feather Step is commenced in Promenade Position (silver), it’s called the Feather Ending
- When only the second and third steps of the Feather Step are used (silver), it’s called the Feather Hover
- When the Feather Step is curved strongly to the Right (gold), it’s called the Curved Feather
- When the Man and the Lady dance each other’s steps (gold), it’s called the Back Feather
See also general technical notes on Foxtrot technique, and also general Modern Ballroom technique.
Preceding Figures
Commenced facing DC (as described above)
| Bronze | Natural Turn Change of Direction |
| Silver | Hover Telemark Reverse Wave |
Commenced facing LOD
| Bronze | Natural Turn (at a corner) Three Step Change of Direction (at a corner) |
| Silver | Reverse Wave (at a corner) |
Commenced facing DW
| Bronze | Natural Turn (at a corner) Three Step Change of Direction (at a corner) |
| Silver | Closed Telemark Hover Telemark (at a corner) Reverse Wave (at a corner) |
Following Figures
Ended Facing DC (as described above)
| Bronze | Reverse Turn & Feather Finish |
| Silver | Closed Telemark Open Telemark Outside Swivel Reverse Wave |
| Gold | Bounce Fallaway with Weave Ending Fallaway Reverse & Slip Pivot |
Ended Facing LOD
| Bronze | Three Step Change of Direction 1-4 of Reverse Turn to Basic Weave |
| Silver | Outside Swivel Reverse Wave |
Ended Facing DW (along a side of the floor)
| Bronze | Three Step Change of Direction 1-4 of Reverse Turn to Basic Weave |
| Silver | Hover Telemark Outside Swivel Reverse Wave Top Spin |
Ended Facing DW (into a corner)
| Bronze | Change of Direction 1-4 of Reverse Turn to Basic Weave |
| Silver | Hover Telemark Reverse Wave Top Spin |
| Gold | Fallaway Reverse & Slip Pivot |
List of Abbreviations
| Timing | S: Slow Q: Quick |
| Steps | RF: Right foot LF: Left foot fwd: forward diag: diagonally CBMP: Contra Body Movement Position i/e: inside edge |
| Footwork | T: Toe H: Heel F: Flat |
| Turn | L: Left R: Right cont: continue com: commence |
| Alignment & Moving | LOD: Line of Dance DC: Diagonal Centre DW: Diagonal Wall |
| Rise & Fall | NFR: no foot rise com: commence cont: continue e/o: end of |
| Position | OP: outside Partner PP: Promenade Position CPP: Counter Promenade Position PO: Partner outside |
| Sway | L: Left R: Right F: Forward |
For a more detailed explanation of terms and abbreviations, see the Glossary.
Demonstrations x
These 3rd party (external) demonstration videos typically show the Open Natural Turn being performed from different angles, perspectives and speeds. However, they generally have little or no commentary or explanation.
For videos that also include commentary and tips that are aimed at assisting you perform the figure properly, see the next section “Tutorials”.