Just imagine playing tennis hitting only forehand shots. After a while, it would be quite boring. As time evolves, every sport will develop many different moves to make life interesting. Dancing is no different. Everyday someone, somewhere comes up with an idea that adds to our repertoire and pleasure of dancing. The discussion today mainly involves Ballroom Dancing even though same concepts also applies to Latin. In Modern Ballroom Dancing (Standard) we usually tend to keep a Close Hold which of course means a light contact between partner bodies and Man holding Ladies right hand in his left. In the International (or the English Style) this does not change from beginning to the end of the dance. Now then! Being in Close Hold, most of the time we step "In Line". In other words when you move forward on left foot-leg, she moves her right foot-leg more or less in line with you. A beginner dancer must understand that the Man will usually place Lady slightly to his right so that he won't step directly on her toes but his LF will be slightly outside lady's RF and his RF will be slightly inside Lady's LF. What is Outside Partner? At times you want to step outside your partner. Say for example, as Man you step forward with RF, you will be stepping outside of Lady's RF as she steps back on LF. This is called 'Step outside partner, right side" or Right Ouside Partner. It is interesting to note that the Technique books usually define only right ouside; of course you can step outside partner on left side too! What is the difference between Outside Partner and Partner Outside (OP vs PO): Really quite simple? If you are stepping forward, you are stepping Outside Partner (OP). Your partner is stepping back and therefore her step is called Partner Outside (PO). So in general terms, a step forward outside will be referred to as OP and a Step back will be PO. I certainly don't write this tid-bits for advanced dancers only, so I thought why not. Same type of information used to be very valuable to me in my earlier days of learning to dance. So much for now and next time we will discuss "HOW TO." Thanks and Good Bye...Max Questions and comments to Dancemax@aol.com, thank you.