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Choosing figures5 minutes

Which Quickstep figures are right for beginners to add to their repertoire

By Bernhard De LucaUpdated

In brief
  • The quarter turn is a sensible starting point once you can transfer your weight confidently and maintain direction as a couple.
  • The Progressive Chassé adds to your repertoire once you can close sideways without losing the shared flow of movement.
  • The Forward Lock requires controlled crossing while moving forward, along with a matching counter-movement.
  • The Backward Lock is a sensible next step once you can also control space, balance, and the crossed position while moving backward.

A long list of dance figures doesn't help much if you have to work out what to do next after each one. A small repertoire becomes useful when every figure has a clear purpose and you can gauge the extra effort it takes to learn it.

This is how the selection is organized

  • Prerequisites Before Extensions

    The sequence progresses from changes of direction and closing to cross positions, backward control, and optional extra practice.

  • A recognizable task in space

    Each of the four figures offers a clearly defined action: turning, moving sideways, or crossing while traveling forward or backward.

  • No Paid Placements

    No one has paid for the inclusion or order of these figures or the additional practice option.

  • Editorial update: October 28, 2026

    The selection is a teaching recommendation for your first course repertoire, not a required sequence for an exam syllabus.

Even in comfortable training shoes, controlled movement matters, not how much it resembles a competition performance.
Even in comfortable training shoes, controlled movement matters, not how much it resembles a competition performance.

Four moves and an optional deep dive

  1. 01

    Quarter Turn to the Right

    Quarter Turn to the Right, Right Turn, closed dance hold

    • Changing direction
    • shared endpoint
    • introduction

    It comes first because you learn to reach a new orientation together through a manageable turn: the prerequisites are confident weight changes and a dance hold in which you don't have to turn with your arms. Its value lies in changing direction, not in turning as much as possible; as long as you end up facing different directions, adding more figures won't help much, and a quarter turn is not yet a complete solution for every corner of the dance floor.

  2. 02

    Progressive Chassé

    Chassé figure, sideways movement with feet closing, closed dance hold

    • Closing
    • progressing
    • keeping the movement flowing

    This figure adds a different challenge to the turn: you need to be able to close your feet while your body keeps moving and the connection between you remains intact, rather than stopping when your feet close. It fits into your repertoire early on, once you can already control sideways movement; unlike Lock Steps, it doesn’t require a crossed position, but it still calls for precise weight transfer and room to move together.

  3. 03

    Forward Lock

    Lock figure, leader's forward movement, crossed position

    • Forward control
    • crossing
    • covering ground

    The Forward Lock is the next progression once you can maintain your forward movement and a crossed foot doesn't throw you off balance: In a couple, the person dancing backward needs a corresponding counter-movement, not an identical foot sequence. The figure is suited to controlled movement along a clear path; it is less helpful if you actually need to change direction or can only reach the crossed position by pulling on your dance partner.

  4. 04

    Backward Lock

    Lock figure, leader’s backward path, crossed position

    • Backward control
    • counter-direction
    • later addition

    The Backward Lock comes later here because crossing adds the need to control a backward movement: you need a reliable sense of your balance, a direction of movement you already know, and coordination with the person dancing forward. It expands your options with a figure that travels backward, but it is not a substitute for an uncertain Forward Lock and is not a suitable evasive move if you suddenly run out of space behind you.

  5. 05

    Lock Steps with Switched Dance Roles

    Practice option, two dance roles, no extra figure

    • Understanding roles
    • familiar figures
    • going deeper

    This option deliberately comes after the four figures and does not count as a fifth: Once both Lock Steps are familiar, you can work on a familiar figure again in class with the dance roles switched, and get to know the other movement task in the process. This helps you understand the difference between a figure name and your personal direction of movement; for your very first steps, this extra coordination is less useful than a figure you can perform confidently in your chosen role.

A useful repertoire doesn't have to be symmetrical

One thing stands out in this selection: the two Lock Steps don't appear at the same stage. Their names sound like a matching pair, but the effort they take to learn isn't automatically the same. You may already be able to cross forward with confidence and still feel unsure going backward. You don't have to master both Lock Steps for your first repertoire to be complete enough for the course.

What matters is the task you're still missing. If you need a new direction, a turning figure is a good fit. If you need to progress with control without crossing, the Chassé is the more obvious choice. It's only once these tasks feel reliable that another Lock Step adds more options. This isn't tied to a set course week: different levels of prior experience affect how quickly you meet the prerequisites.

You can also find guidance on figures and shared movement paths in the introduction to Quickstep. A dance course for couples gives you the setting to work on both movement tasks together. If only one person can perform their figure confidently, it's not yet available to you as a couple. So start with a few figures where you both know what your individual task is, rather than simply ticking off the list by name.

The scope of this selection

Figures for your first repertoire
4
Lock figures with a crossed position
2
Optional deep dive into role switching
1

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. No, you don't need to jump for the four selected figures. They are part of a smooth, traveling repertoire where weight transfer, direction, and coordination matter. Small, controlled steps are more useful when you're starting out than trying to imitate the sweeping effect of a show by hopping.

Standard dance classes for your first Quickstep repertoire

In the beginner course, you'll learn which of these figures you can already use with control with your dance partner.

View all suitable courses

Your repertoire needs a partner

On udansa, you can find dance partners to build a small Quickstep repertoire in class. That way, you can work together on the figures still missing from both your dance roles.

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Your repertoire needs a partner

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