No 16 - Pas de Basque

Question: Is the third position used in the pas de basque different from that used in skip change, and should the feet come into contact?

Answer: As stated in the latest edition of the Manual, page 30, the third position  used in pas de basque  is a modification of that used in skip change,  in that the heel of the front foot is placed slightly over the instep.

When dancing the step, the front foot is placed sufficiently far from the back foot that, if the heel was lowered to the ground, it would  just come into contact with the back foot as it scraped past.

Slight contact is made by the instep of the rear foot just coming into contact with the front foot, as the change of weight occurs, i.e. as the rear foot comes off the ground. (To quote from one well respected teacher and examiner: "Dirty marks on the instep at the end of an evening are a sign of steps being danced correctly").