A short test distinguishes the cause from the compensatory movement
The first three errors on the list are connected: stepping too far back makes it harder to put weight on the back foot and then prolongs the return. That’s why you start with the step length instead of trying to change several things at once. Extra bouncing may disappear once the return step gets smaller.
To practice, work only on the backward step and the return, first without music and without holding hands. Repeat this sequence three times with the same correction. This is one practice set, not a prescribed training duration. Pause briefly once at the back and once after the return. At the back, look for steady pressure through the ball of your foot; after the return, for a back foot that can move freely. These are two different positions: the backward basic step doesn’t require you to stay fully on one leg at the back, as you would in a balance exercise.
Have someone observe just one feature, such as your foot placement. You don’t need to be in a fixed partnership, as the guide to dance classes without a regular partner explains. Keep your arms still for now; practicing arms and legs separately reduces the number of tasks you’re handling at once. Afterward, note only the error and the helpful correction, following the template for useful step notes. Only once you can do the sequence without extra compensatory movement should you add it back into your familiar basic step.
