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Figure technique5 minutes

Learn the Quickstep quarter turn to the right as a couple

By Mary De LucaUpdated

In brief
  • The Quarter Turn to Right consists of four steps in the rhythm Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow.
  • The leader dances forward with the right foot, steps sideways with the left, closes with the right, and steps back with the left.
  • The follower steps back with the left foot, sideways with the right, closes with the left, and steps forward with the right.
  • After a quarter turn to the right, the leader has their back diagonally toward the center of the room.

A small right turn can feel surprisingly cramped when both of you claim the same path. A clear place for each foot makes the figure easier to follow, even before you dance it to music.

What you need for the quarter turn

  • Two people with assigned leading and following roles
  • Familiar closed standard hold
  • Secure weight transfer between the right and left foot
  • A level, clear dance floor and suitable dance shoes
  • An imagined line of dance and an imagined center of the room

The turn changes your orientation, not the roles

The Quarter Turn to Right is a single right turn in Quickstep. In the version described here, the leader starts facing diagonally toward the wall: angled outward and in the line of dance. The follower stands opposite. At the end, the leader faces diagonally outward against the line of dance, with their back pointing diagonally toward the center. The follower correspondingly faces diagonally toward the center in the line of dance.

You turn a quarter to the right as a couple, but you don't follow the same footpath. Forward and backward steps complement each other, as do the two side steps. Right refers to your shared turn, not to a side step to the right for both of you. Your roles stay the same throughout the figure and are independent of gender.

The closing step involves a complete weight transfer. Simply drawing your foot in isn't enough. The explanation of fully closing your feet in Waltz helps you understand this foot position, but you don't use the Waltz timing here. The overview of the first Quickstep figures gives you the bigger picture, without requiring you to learn a whole sequence just yet.

A fixed point on the floor is more reliable than a mirror that changes where you're looking.
A fixed point on the floor is more reliable than a mirror that changes where you're looking.

Build the quarter turn step by step

  1. Set the starting and ending directions

    Mentally identify the line of dance, the wall, and the center. Stand opposite each other: the leader faces diagonally toward the wall and places their weight on the left foot, while the follower places their weight on the right foot. The goal is to make a shared 90-degree right turn.

  2. Walk the leader's footwork individually

    The leader steps forward on the right, steps to the side on the left with a right turn, closes the right foot to the left with a weight change, and steps back on the left. Distribute the quarter turn over the first three steps instead of pivoting around on a planted foot.

  3. Walk the following footwork individually

    The follower steps back on the left, steps sideways on the right with a right turn, closes the left foot to the right with a change of weight, and steps forward on the right. At the end, the weight is on the right, and the left foot is free. The side step opens up space for the shared turn.

  4. Count the four steps rhythmically

    Say Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow for each of your step patterns. A Slow lasts two musical beats, a Quick lasts one: count along, “one, two; three; four; five, six”. The four steps last six beats altogether, so they cross a bar line.

  5. Combine forward and backward steps

    Take closed position and dance only the first slow: the lead steps forward with the right foot, the follow steps backward with the left. The follow creates space with their own backward step. Both then stand on the new foot, without pulling on each other's hands.

  6. Turn to the side and close your feet

    Dance the two quicks: the leader steps left to the side and closes the right foot, while the follower steps right to the side and closes the left foot. Let your bodies turn together to the right. After closing, the leader's weight is on the right foot and the follower's on the left, and you've reached your new alignment.

  7. Take the last slow step and stop

    The leader steps back on the left, the follower steps forward on the right. Then stop with your weight on that foot: the leader on the left, the follower on the right. The leader ends facing diagonally backward toward the center, the follower diagonally forward toward the center, with no additional turn.

This keeps the turning path clear

Like this

  • Step sideways in the new direction as it opens up
  • Shift your weight fully with the closing step
  • Take the final slow step in a straight line, facing the final direction
  • Shorten your step as soon as space gets tight

Not like this

  • First step far to the side, then twist your body
  • Just tap your foot and stay on your original supporting leg
  • On the final slow, make another right turn
  • Pull your partner along with your arms through a big step

Your control from start to finish

Before the First Round

Preparation

After the Closing Step

Interim Position

After the last Slow

End point

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. No, the Quarter Turn to Right and the Natural Turn are different Quickstep figures. Both turn to the right, but they differ in their step patterns and amount of rotation. For this quarter turn, you need to follow the exact four-step path described, not the step sequence of another right turn.

Ballroom classes for your first Quickstep figures

In a ballroom class, you can practice the quarter turn with a partner and get direct feedback on your step patterns.

See all matching classes

Practice the turning pathway together

On udansa, you can find dance partners for ballroom who you can calmly practice individual Quickstep figures with. Name the Quarter Turn to Right and your dance role so you can start with the same practice task.

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Practice the turning pathway together

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