The correct way to do the small square step is to stand with your feet spread out, with your feet at a 45 degree angle apart from your front (a 90 degree angle between your feet), step left, step left towards your toes (i.e., the 45 degree angle in front of you), land on the ground with your heel, then follow with your right foot. Step right, heels together as before the start of the double foot position. Then step right again at a 45-degree angle to the right and follow with the left foot. Complete the true march to the front.
The small square step of Bagua Palm is actually two triangular steps of Bagua Palm, two triangular sets together into a small square step. So it is called the small square step. Opera actors on the stage to walk on stage, some people call the small square step. So people often say: "Don't walk with the same stage, always take a small square step."
Since art comes from life, why are the steps on stage different from those in life? This is because the art of opera should be derived from life, but also the art of life, and not the life as it is on the stage. It is necessary to make the audience feel the reality of life while enjoying the art.
Since opera is to express life through song and dance, the words and actions of opera actors on stage must form a harmonious whole with song and dance to the accompaniment of music, and their footsteps must be organically coordinated with the musical accompaniment to become danced and rhythmic footsteps, which is also known as stage steps.
Small quadrangle step and quadrangle step are common steps in folk square dance, and their differences are as follows:
1. The starting position is different: the small quadrangle step starts with the left foot taking a step to the left, and the right foot follows, becoming the position of the left foot in the front, and the right foot in the back; and the starting position of the quadrangle step is with the left foot taking a step to the left, and the right foot follows, becoming the position of the right foot in the back; and the starting position of the quadrangle step is with the left foot taking a step to the left, and the right foot follows, becoming the position of the right foot in the back. The right foot follows, becoming the posture of the right foot in front and the left foot behind.
2. The order of footsteps is different: the order of footsteps in Small Square Step is left front, right side, left back, right front, left side, right back; while the order of footsteps in Four Square Step is left front, right front, left back, right back.
3. Different dance forms: the dance form of small quadrille is "one front side and one back, one front side and one back", i.e., left front, right side, left back, left front, right side, right back, while the dance form of quadrille is "one front, one back, one front, one back", i.e., left front, right front, left back, left back. Left front, right front, left back, right back.
4. Difficulty of the steps is different: compared to the quadrille step, the difficulty of the steps is lower, which is more suitable for beginners to practice.