Toe Struts. When you do a toe strut, it is done in two counts - first, the toe 'digs' into the floor, followed by the heel drop. Make sure you don't lift up your toe at all during these counts; put your weight onto that toe!
Monterey Turns. This is a four-count sequence. Without the turn, it looks like: Rt-foot point to right, then return to centre, Left-foot point to left, then return to centre. The turn can be a 1/4 Monterey turn, or a 1/2 Monterey turn, and it comes after the first point; here, you put your weight on the toes so you can push off from it, to rotate yourself around the desired amount (1/4 turn or 1/2 turn). The turn results in your body rotating backwards. You could also have a Monterey turn starting with the left foot, but it will still rotate around your body backwards (only, counterclockwise this time).
Step Sequences. Try to learn step sequences as soon as you can. It's easier to remember 'coaster step' than 'back, together, forward', and makes it quicker to learn new dances. Some step sequences that we're seeing a lot of in our dances are Lindy (= side shuffle, back-rock, recover), paddle turn (step fwd, pivot 1/4, step fwd, pivot 1/4) rumba box (some form of quick-quick-slow, or slow-quick-quick; I like to use mnemonics like 'L7' to convey the box shapes of (left) side, together, forward, hold ('L'); side, together, back, hold ('7'). Try to see the shapes that you're making on the floor, and come up with your own mnemonics.
Typical starting foot. Generally speaking, when dancing a Latin or ballroom dance, the dance will start on the left foot - so, rumbas, waltzes, tangos, bosa novas will generally start with the left foot. Other dances generally start with the right. However, it will depend on whether the choreographer knows (or cares) about these conventions!
Monterey Turns. This is a four-count sequence. Without the turn, it looks like: Rt-foot point to right, then return to centre, Left-foot point to left, then return to centre. The turn can be a 1/4 Monterey turn, or a 1/2 Monterey turn, and it comes after the first point; here, you put your weight on the toes so you can push off from it, to rotate yourself around the desired amount (1/4 turn or 1/2 turn). The turn results in your body rotating backwards. You could also have a Monterey turn starting with the left foot, but it will still rotate around your body backwards (only, counterclockwise this time).
Step Sequences. Try to learn step sequences as soon as you can. It's easier to remember 'coaster step' than 'back, together, forward', and makes it quicker to learn new dances. Some step sequences that we're seeing a lot of in our dances are Lindy (= side shuffle, back-rock, recover), paddle turn (step fwd, pivot 1/4, step fwd, pivot 1/4) rumba box (some form of quick-quick-slow, or slow-quick-quick; I like to use mnemonics like 'L7' to convey the box shapes of (left) side, together, forward, hold ('L'); side, together, back, hold ('7'). Try to see the shapes that you're making on the floor, and come up with your own mnemonics.
Typical starting foot. Generally speaking, when dancing a Latin or ballroom dance, the dance will start on the left foot - so, rumbas, waltzes, tangos, bosa novas will generally start with the left foot. Other dances generally start with the right. However, it will depend on whether the choreographer knows (or cares) about these conventions!