Ice Dancing: Rhythm Blues pattern dance and the Cross Step Behind

The Rhythm Blues is the third and last of the Preliminary pattern dances.  It has steps that I already described: Forward Stroking, Forward Progressive and Forward Outside Swing Rolls as in the Dutch Waltz, and it introduces Forward Inside Swing Rolls and the Cross Step Behind that I'll describe after I describe the pattern.

Here is a link to the form judges use at tests, it shows the diagram of the dance and the skills they are looking for: http://usfsa.org/content/rhythm-blues.pdf and more explanation is in  the "Rule Book". You see in the drawing that the Rhythm Blues has 16 steps. This dance covers half of the rink's perimeter starting in one corner and finishing on the diagonally opposite corner and the hold is killian like the Dutch Waltz. The count is 12,34 where each is one beat.
Here is the dance done and explained by national competitors ice dancers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koDwfqUv_Jo

Starting point: is on the red cross on my drawing

Intro steps: 4 Forward Strokes: left, right, left, right.
The pattern dance: Again, I will explain this in lobes grouping the steps in the judges drawing, as I was grouping them in my mind to remember them.
1.2.3. Left Forward Progressive, 3 edges LFO.RFI.LFO (1-1-2, 4 beats total)
4. Right Forward Outside Swing Roll (4 beats)
5.6.7.8. (6 beats total). So, here, there are  two, 2 edges progressives, the actual Progressive is the inside edge as I was saying in the Forward Progressive description...
   5. RFO edge 2 beat long with a rise on the skating foot after 1 beat
   6. RFI Progressive (1 beat)
   7. RFO edge (1 beat)
   8. RFI Progressive (2 beats)
9. Left Forward Inside Swing Roll (LFI-SR) (4betas)
10. Right Forward Inside Swing Roll (RFI-SR) (4 beats)
11.12.13 Left Forward Progressive (4 beats total in a 1-1-2 count) and continuing on the same lobe or circle but almost flat not curved
14.15.16. RFI-XB, LFO-XB (cross optional), RFI-XB
Cross Step Behind
As I learnt all these 2 years ago, I don't remember the exact instructions, but I remember the cross behind steps were scary... What I remember are mostly tips:
- First try by the boards
- Try off ice without and with boots plus by a mirror
- Have your weight over your skating hip until you are ready to put the new foot down
- An Exercise: Don't lift you free foot back and high so the calf comes parallel to the ice, this will make you lean forward and loose your balance. Instead, think more like lifting the free knee up and sneaking the free foot around the calf, then slide the foot down flexed (so push the heel down while lifting the toes) so the blade is parallel with the ice and you don't catch the toe pick. Lifting the foot up not back will not mess up your posture and balance. The actual step seams to be somehow between the don't and do... But trying to do the exercise will get you there...

On the judges form it shows that they look for: Accuracy, Placement, Skating Skills, Style, Unison (if partnered). In my understanding it means that you have to know the steps, and where they go on the pattern, have some edges, some extension and posture, and some unison. The judges also look for timing and the character of the dance (for the blues that is a lazy, good mood feeling).

And here is my Rhythm Blues test after learning from a friend for few months, taking a 2 months, once a week 35 min long ice dance group class and just 3 lessons with my dance coach.

I didn't spend as much time on this dance as on the other two at this level. It felt easier... first the tempo is slower, then there were not as many outside edge to an outside edge transitions between the lobes and looking back, that was the thing that was giving me a lot of trouble.