In
Semi-Closed or Promenade position, your lead shoulders are turned a
little bit outward. The man turns his upper body a little to the left,
and the woman turns a little to the right. Both might be looking down
line of dance.
In Reverse Semi-Closed or Counter
Promenade position, it is the trail shoulders that turn just a little
outward. It is the man who turns a little to the right and the woman to
the left. Notice that the arm positions do not in any way "reverse,"
only upper body relations. Both might be looking toward reverse line of
dance.
There are small changes in hand and arm
positions. The man's right hand must move more to her shoulder or even
upper arm, as his right side moves away from her left. His left hand is
held a little higher, and the lead shoulders will be retracted or held
a little farther back than in Semi-Closed.
Reverse
Semi-Closed is a diffucult position in the same way that Sidecar is
difficult. Ideally, the lower body should still be positioned a bit to
the left (in Semi-Closed position; in Sidecar, the lower body should be
in Closed position). At the same time, the upper body is shifted a bit
to the right. Do we feel a little like contortionists?
The
b&w composite photo shows Victor Silvester and partner in
semi-closed position on the left and in reverse semi-closed on the
right. Click for an enlargement and to compare the two dance positions.
Brent and Judy Moore's foxtrot, Breathless,
makes nice use of Reverse Semi-Closed (and uses the ballroom term). In
part B, we do a Hover Telemark to face line and center; a Feather still
facing line and center; and then Counter Promenade to Extended Fallaway
to a Back Wing;;; (that's a "slow," eight "quicks," and a final "slow").
The
key step is the first one. We are in banjo position. The man steps
forward left and the woman back right, both turning to the left to end
in Reverse Semi. The next two steps are forward right and forward or
thru left for the man (forward left and thru right for the woman). This
sequence illustrates the nature of Reverse Semi well. There is a
tendency for the woman to cross behind, but don't do it. Just as you
would step together, forward on the lead foot and then thru on the
trail foot in Semi-Closed, so you step forward on the trail and then
thru on the lead in Reverse Semi.
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