Natural and reverse turns

A natural turn is a dance step in which the partners turn around each other clockwise. Its near-mirror counterpart is the reverse turn, which is turning to the counterclockwise. ^[1]

This terminology is used mainly in the "International Standard" group of ballroom dances. ^[2] "Natural turn" and "reverse turn" are names of syllabus figures in waltz, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, quickstep. In addition, the words natural and "reverse" are used in some other figures that amount to turning to the right or left, respectively, e.g. natural twist turn in tango and foxtrot.

The name "natural" has two explanations. In a standard ballroom closed dance position the partners are somewhat shifted to the left with respect to each other, which makes the right turn easier. The second reason is related to progress around the floor along the counterclockwise line of dance. Turning to the right is partly compensated for by the line of dance's leftward curve, so that it takes less effort to stay on line of dance while turning to the right than while using opposite footwork and turning to the left, especially at the corners.

"Natural" figures

Natural turn
Natural spin turn
Natural pivot turn
Natural promenade turn
Natural twist turn
Natural ronde turn
Fallaway natural turn
Natural weave
Natural telemark
Natural hover telemark
Natural zig-zag
Natural hover
Natural lock hover
Natural hover whisk
Natural fallaway whisk
Natural fallaway
Natural hairpin
Natural top
Natural opening out
Natural roll
Natural basic movement (I.S. Samba)
Impetus is a basic natural-turning figure as well
Natural fleckerl

"Reverse" figures

Reverse turn
Chasse reverse turn
Open reverse turn
Pivot reverse turn
Basic reverse turn
Checked reverse turn
Reverse corte
Reverse pivot
Fallaway reverse
Reverse wave
Double reverse spin
Quick open reverse
Reverse top
Natural basic movement (I.S. Samba)
Reverse finish or reverse ending (second half of the Reverse Turn)
Double reverse wing
Swivel reverse
Reverse lock (turn)
telemark is a basic reverse-turning figure as well
Reverse barrel roll
Reverse fleckerl

References

International Standard Waltz

Pre-Bronze	Closed Changes Natural Turn Reverse Turn Natural spin turn Whisk Chasse from Promenade Position

Bronze	Closed Impetus Hesitation Change Outside Change Reverse Corte Back Whisk Basic Weave Double reverse spin Reverse Pivot Back Lock Progressive Chasse to Right

Silver	Weave from PP Closed Telemark Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation Open Telemark and Wing Open Impetus and Cross Hesitation Open Impetus and Wing Outside Spin Turning Lock Drag Hesitation

Gold	Left Whisk Contra Check Closed Wing Turning Lock to Right Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot Hover Corte Fallaway Whisk

Standard Dances	Tango Viennese Waltz Foxtrot Quickstep

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