What About Feathers?

by Roy & Phyllis Stier
December, 1987 

To "feather" is to step outside partner while still maintaining parallel shoulders; in other words, a reluctant banjo or sidecar deviation from closed position. We borrowed the feathers from ballroom, where it is a fox trot mainstay, so we need to check out some interpretations. They do not use the sidecar position except for a few occasions where the man is backing up. 

Now, as to the other figures that are part of the feather family — just a few comments. Probably the next in line for common usage is the Curved Feather Check, which is often confused with the Hairpin, as used in waltz rhythm (normally 4 steps). Again, the slow, -, quick, quick; is used to curve around the lady to end with a right sway to check forward motion and set the stage for a backward step on the man's left foot. The Back Feather often follows, as the lady is kept outside in strong contra banjo, and the man steps back on his left while starting to change sway (right shoulder lead), then passing steps R, L, while curving to the left. The Left Feather is a little more tricky because it is a left-face turn on a slow to start outside partner, then 4 quicks that resemble a weave then never blends to closed position with the man's head kept to the left. Almost always this leads to a Feather Finish. There is a figure called the Back Left Feather which follows a Reverse Turn that puts the lady outside in contra banjo for a couple of passing steps in preparation for a Feather Finish to diagonal wall. 

One group, called the Four Feathers, has been used on occasion for round dancing and consists of the following: A standard Feather Step moving line of dance or thereabouts, then the Left Feather, followed by the Back Left Feather (3 steps) and then the Feather Finish to end diagonal wall. 

Actually, we can work in any combination that fits, even if we split measures — as long as you get back on the downbeat soon. The technique of looking well on the floor doing the feathers is tied up in body rise (end of 1st step but not too high) and in using a subtle sway to accompany the smooth transition from one step to the next. The "regrouping" between figures that is characteristic in waltz is not used in fox trot. Good luck, you feather fans!

this article was published in the
Dixie Round Dance Council (DRDC)
Newsletter, January 2009