Howdy
I feel compelled to comment at this time about the 'cross draw dance', as practiced in Cowboy Action Shooting. The term 'dance' is only generic. There is no mention in any SASS rulebook of anything having to do with specifics of how to pull a pistol from a cross draw holster without breaking the 170 degree rule. Most specifically, there is no mention anywhere of footwork, or body postition, or any of the other topics that have been mentioned here.
The only specific reference to pulling or holstering a pistol from a crossdraw holster in the Shooter's Handbook, item 21 under Safety pracitices is:
21. Extreme care must be exercised when drawing a revolver from a cross-draw or shoulder
holster or returning the revolver to leather. The user must “twist” their body, if necessary, to
ensure the muzzle never breaks the 170-degree safety rule during the process. Failure to
ensure the muzzle is always down range is grounds for an immediate stage disqualification.
A second infraction during the same match is grounds for match disqualification. (Note: The
170-degree safety rule means the muzzle of the firearm must always be straight down range
+/- 85 degrees in any direction. If a competitor “comes close” to breaking the 180-degree
safety plane, the 170-degree safety rule has been violated, and the competitor is at fault.)
Notice it says: The user must “twist” their body, if necessary.
Nowhere is anything mentioned about footwork, or any other specifics of how to draw a pistol from a cross draw holster, other than possibly twisting the body, IF NECESSARY. If you can draw and holster from a cross draw with out breaking the 170 simply by twisting your body, or by how you postion yourself, you have met the letter of the definition. End of story.
Clubs that insist on seeing foot movement with a cross draw holster, and ROs that insist on it, are making up their own rules. While it is perfectly acceptable for a club to specify local rules, and they must be obeyed while shooting at that club, they are local rules, not official SASS rules. ROs who watch crossdraw shooters with an eagle eye, treating them as accidents waiting to happen, should go back and read the RO 1 manual, particularly the sections about not beeing a hard ass, and should watch all shooters with equal vigilance, not just cross draw shooters.
Cross draw shooters need to also be aware of their muzzle direction at the loading and unloading tables too, just like any other shooter, and must take care not to sweep anyone while at the loading and unloading tables.