I can't do them!! (Well, not without pushing against my partner to shove me onto the second outside edge - and I'll never pass the dances with that technique!) I know I need to learn to do them solo, and I've spent several hours doing nothing but trying to get them, with very little progress.

I can hold the first edge. I can hold the second edge. (Better than the first says coach.) I'm lucky in that I have very good turnout. Despite all this, I absolutely cannot change feet without doing a bee-yoo-tiful choctaw (and toe scraping into the bargain).

Any hints anyone?

A really really strong check helps, and keeping your weight over the first foot as you change feet (stops you toe-scraping on the back edge).

Major plie into and out of the mohawk. If you're doing a choctaw & have good turnout, I'd suspect that you are looking down, therefore your shoulders are coming forward/hips go back, therefore your weight shifts & puts you on an inside edge.

You should do the entrance/step/exit with shoulders pressed back against the circle, and projecting your sternum slightly up toward the stands, as it were. Your body has to stay in a straight line from hips to top of head, so you are actually leaning backward a bit as you go through this section.

Hope that helps!

Have you worked on the 8-step mohawk. I don't do the dances you mentioned, but the 8 step may put the mohawk in an easier context making it simpler to learn and then apply in your dance.

Kay

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I don't think the 8-step exercise is part of the Moves in Australia, where the OP is based; it isn't here, either.

The only way I can do the 14-step Mohawk is making sure I'm facing out of the circle; then it's easy - and when I was learning the Ten-Fox earlier this year, it was a doddle in comparison as the tempo is slower. But we will not talk about the Foxtrot mohawk.... no, we will not go there!

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Yes! Everything Phoenix said! Deep plie (ankle bend) and press shoulder blades together while pressing your back against the inside of the circle you are on.

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