Advanced
Check
Advanced Level
Full mastery — nuance, personal expression, and artistry
A check is a sudden stop-and-redirect that says 'not that way — THIS way' — the exclamation point of partner communication.
Tips
- •Think of a check like pressing the brake in a car — firm but smooth. You don't want to slam the brakes; you want decisive deceleration.
- •Practice checks with music off, then add music. Feel the mechanical quality first, then apply it to musical accents.
- •Film yourself doing checks from the side. The sharpest checks show zero forward drift after the stop point.
Common mistakes
- •Making the check too soft — it should be crisp and decisive, not a gradual slowdown
- •Losing balance on the check because the core isn't engaged to handle the direction change
- •Checking too hard with the partner, creating an uncomfortable jolt instead of a clean redirect
Practice drill
Dance a basic step and add one check every 8 counts on a different count each time. Check on 1, then on 2, then on 3, and so on. This trains you to place checks at any point in the musical phrase. With a partner, play 'check conversation': the leader checks, the follower responds with their own check. Back and forth like a rhythmic dialogue.