The Chasse from PP

Chasse from Promenade Position.
Wow, this figure is danced incorrectly all the time. I see entirely too many new dancers AND veteran dancers dancing this figure and similar figures wrong. The main problems are in the rise and fall of the figure and in the footwork of the figure. Let's go over the proper rise and fall and footwork for this figure. These descriptions will be equally valid for both the man and the lady.

There are 7 types of rise and fall in syllabus technique. The Chasse from PP requires the use of the "four step rise and fall" which is

• Commence to rise at the end of step 1.
• Continue to rise through steps 2 and 3.
• Up on step 4. Lower at the end of step 4.

The "four step rise and fall" can be applied to many figures including any of the chasse figures in waltz and quickstep as well as locking steps.

Knowing the rise and fall practically dictates the required footwork:

• step 1, HT (roll from heel to toe in order to start the rising action)
  
• step 2, T (continue to rise on this toe)
  
• step 3, T (continue to rise on this toe)
  
• step 4, TH (up on the toe, but lowering to a smooth landing on the heel)

It is also worth mentioning that the following step (step 5, or step 1 of the following figure) will be taken in an outside partner position.

So a few general rules:

• To commense a rise on a forward step, you must roll through your entire foot from heel to toe creating a graduate elevation.
  
• To lower from a risen position, you must lower by first contacting the floor with your toe and then gradually lowering the heel to the ground as the free leg is passing the new standing leg.