Slow Waltz

The music has 3 beats to the bar and about 30 bars per minute. Count 1, 2, 3 (SSS) to a bar for most step groups or figures. Occasionally this is 1, 2 and 3 (SQQS) or 1 and 2, 3 (QQSS).

The couple should remain in close hold throughout. Most steps are inline, with some outside partner (usually to the right) or in promenade position.

In general the first step (beat 1 of each bar) is forwards on the heel first or backwards on the toe first. The supporting knee is bent slightly to take the step before straightening to push off. The other steps are on the balls of the feet. This rise is subtle not extreme and should come naturally from the need to turn the steps.

Basics (Closed Changes)

This is straight line waltzing. Dance one step to each beat of the bar. Firstly the man steps forwards or backwards on the left or right foot (the lady doing the opposite). Secondly the man steps to the side on the other (right or left) foot (the lady using the opposite foot). Thirdly the man closes the first foot to the second (as does the lady). For the next bar the man must begin with the other foot. So the 4 options are:

		Left Forwards (FP)						Right Backwards (FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		LF		RS		LC		RB		LS		RC
Lady		RB		LS		RC		LF		RS		LC

		Left Backwards (FP)						Right Forwards (FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		LB		RS		LC		RF		LS		RC
Lady		RF		LS		RC		LB		RS		LC

To dance just basic steps with no turn, the man should face along the line of dance and the woman should back it. He dances just forwards basics while she dances just backwards basics. Note that it will still be necessary to turn a little at the corners of the room. To dance on the spot, the man should alternate forwards and backwards basics. For example, left forwards then right backwards.

A variation on the basic figure replaces the side step with another forwards or backwards step. This is the change step used in the Viennese Waltz. The close step may also be replaced by another forwards or backwards step. This open change is the waltz equivalent of progressive walks.

Natural and Reverse Turns

The couple should aim to make 3 rotation on each bar of these turns. The first half of each turn may begin outside partner rather than inline. The first half of each turn may be followed by different second halves (eg spin or hesitation). The full reverse turn is often followed by a whisk.

		Natural Turn Forwards (FP)						Natural Turn Backwards (FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		RFX+1		LFSB+2		RC		LBX+1		RBSF+2		LC
Lady		LBX+1		RBSF+2		LC		RFX+1		LFSB+2		RC

		Reverse Turn Forwards (FP)						Reverse Turn Backwards (FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		LFX-1		RFSB-2		LC		RBX-1		LBSF-2		RC
Lady		RBX-1		LBSF-2		RC		LFX-1		RFSB-2		LC

To dance just simple turns and basic steps, the man should begin facing diag to wall. After the forwards half of the natural turn he will be backing LOD. After the backwards half he will be facing diag to centre. Then he should use the right forwards basic to change feet without changing direction. After the forwards half of the reverse turn he will be backing LOD again. After the backwards half he will be facing diag to wall. Then he should use the left forwards basic to change feet once more. This 6 bar sequence can be repeated along the wall of the room. At the corners, use just the 2 bars of the natural turn because the old diag to centre will be the new diag to wall. So the 6 bar sequence can start again.

Whisks

In the Waltz, the whisk always begins with the man's left foot. He normally steps forwards, but a whisk beginning with a backwards step is called a back whisk. The next step is to the side on the right foot (left for the lady). Finally the first foot is tucked behind the second to leave the couple in promenade position. The man leads the woman to promenade position by releasing pressure of his right fingers on her back and moving his left arm forwards. The whisk normally follows a full reverse turn and can be followed by a chassé, wing or weave.

		Forward Whisk (FP to PP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		LF		RS		LkB
Lady		RB		LSB+1		RkB+1
		Back Whisk (FP to PP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		LB		RS		LkB
Lady		RF		LSB+1		RkB+1

Chassés and Locks

The chassé begins in promenade position and may end in closed or open (promenade) position. The couple dance 1, 2 and 3 for forwards side close side (although the side steps are diagonally forwards). The open chassé is rare and usually followed by a second closed chassé. The man leads the chassé with the heel of his right hand. On the final chassé he directs the woman to close hold with pressure through the fingers of his right hand on her back. After closing the hold the man would normally step outside partner on the next figure, eg a natural turn.

		Open Chassé (PP to PP)								Closed Chassé (PP to ORP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (Q)		and (Q)		3 (S)		1 (S)		2 (Q)		and (Q)		3 (S)
Man		RxF		LdF		RC		LdF		RxF		LdF		RC		LdF
Lady		LxF		RdF		LC		RdF		LxF		RdF		LC-1		RdB-1

The same rhythm can be used in closed hold for forwards or backwards locks. This is usually outside partner on the right. The forwards lock could follow a turning lock. The backwards lock could follow a drag hesitation.

		Forwards Lock (ORP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (Q)		and (Q)		3 (S)
Man		RF		LF		RkB		LF
Lady		LB		RB		LkF		RB
		Backwards Lock (ORP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (Q)		and (Q)		3 (S)
Man		LB		RB		LkF		RB
Lady		RF		LF		RkB		LF

Natural Hesitation and Natural Spin Turn

The natural hesitation normally follows the first half of the natural turn in order to go directly into a reverse turn. The couple dance only 1, 2 - where they hesitate/brush for 3. They should aim to make 3 rotation over these steps. The lead to distinguish this from the rest of a natural turn is a flat side step and downwards pressure from the man's right hand.

The natural spin turn also follows the first half of the natural turn. The couple should aim to make 5 rotation along a side wall or 3 at a corner. While the man dances 1, 2, 3 the lady dances 1, 2 and 3. On the and beat, she brushes the right foot to the left before stepping sideways/forwards again. This is to get out of the way of the man's sideways/backwards step. The lead to distinguish this from the rest of a natural turn is a faster approach and closer hold. It can be followed by the second half of the reverse turn or the reverse corté.

		Natural Hesitation (FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		LBX+1		RS+2		LC br
Lady		RFX+1		LS+2		RC br

		Natural Spin Turn (FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		and		3 (S)
Man		LBX+2		RDFX+2				LDB+1
Lady		RFX+2		LDBX+2		RC br		RDF+1

NB there is also an outside spin which is a pivot turn to the right.

Drag Hesitation and Double Reverse Spin

The drag hesitation is a reverse turn where the man ends up dragging the lady to step outside. It can be followed by a backwards lock or impetus turn.

The double reverse spin is a sharp turn to the left. The man pivots on the right toe while the lady makes a heel turn and ends on a lock. The couple should aim to make 3/4 or a whole rotation. While the man dances 1, 2, 3 the lady dances 1, 2 and 3.

		Drag Hesitation (FP/OLP to ORP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		LFX-1		RSB-2		LC br
Lady		RBX-1		LSF-2		RC br

		Double Reverse Spin (FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (Q)		and (Q)		3 (S)
Man		LFX-1		RSB-3		LC-3 br		-1
Lady		RBX-1		LC-3		RSB-3		LkF-1

Wing, Cross Hesitation and Reverse Corté

The wing is a walk round for the lady to get back from promenade to outside position.

		Wing (PP to OLP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		RXF-1		LC br		wait
Lady		LFX-1		RXF-1		LFX-1

The cross hesitation is a left turn for the lady to get back from promenade to normal position.

		Cross Hesitation (PP to FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		RXF-1		LC br		wait
Lady		LFX-1		RFS-2		LC

The reverse corté is a sharp turn to the left. The couple should aim to make -3 rotation. It can follow the first half of the reverse turn or the natural spin turn (but make -2 rotation). The man only dances 1, 2 - where he brushes and hesitates while the lady dances 1, 2, 3. This is then conventionally followed by a left back basic (right forward basic for the lady). I think a back whisk could follow instead.

		Reverse Corté (FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		RBX-1		LC-2 br		wait
Lady		LFX-1		RSB-2		LC

Back Lock Finish

The back lock can follow the natural spin turn or other fast turns. The couple dance 1 and 2, 3. The last step can be a close ready for the man to step backwards into the second half of the reverse turn or the reverse corté. Or it can be a step to the side to end in promenade position. Or, in the turning lock, the couple turn 2 to the left ready for the man to step outside partner on the next figure.

		Closed Back Lock (FP)
Beat		1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		RB		LkF		RB		LC
Lady		LF		RkB		LF		RCb
		Open Back Lock (FP to PP)
Beat		1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		RB		LkF		RB		LSF-1
Lady		LF		RkB		LF		RSF+1
		Turning Lock (FP to ORP)
Beat		1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		RB		LkF		RB		LSF-2
Lady		LF		RkB		LF		RSB-2

Weave

This is an outside left turn. It can be danced from outside or promenade position (eg after a whisk). It can also end in outside or promenade position. A whole turn is completed in the two halves. Note that the majority of the turn is made in the third beat of the bar. Therefore this is the step that must be large when going forwards and small when going backwards. The other steps are fairly small except for the lady leaving promenade position.

The first half of the weave could be followed by an impetus turn.

		Weave Forwards (ORP)						Weave Backwards (ORP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		RXF-1		LFX-1		RFSB-2		LXB-1		RBX-1		LBSF-2
Lady		LXB-1		RBX-1		LBSF-2		RXF-1		LFX-1		RFSB-2
		Weave Forwards (PP to ORP)						Weave Backwards (ORP to PP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		RXF-1		LFX-1		RFSB-2		LXB-1		RBX-1		LBSF-2
Lady		LXF-1		RFSB-3		LBSF-2		RXF-1		LFX-1		RdF

Outside Basics

These resemble Samba Bota Fogo steps. The side step is used to swivel round before replacing weight on the original foot. The couple can begin inline on either foot by omitting the first 1 rotation.

		Left Forwards Outside (OLP-FP)						Right Forwards Outside (ORP-FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		LF		RFS-1		LSF-1		RF		LFS+1		RSF+1
Lady		RB		LBS-1		RC-1		LB		RBS-1		LC+1

Outside Change

This is a badly named figure since no part of it is outside partner - it merely leaves the man ready to step outside on the right. It is used when a Natural Turn goes wrong (because the ballroom is too crowded). The man backs off so that he can try again. The whole thing most resembles a pair of quickstep basics minus the second chassé.

		Natural Turn Forwards (FP)							Back Away (FP-ORP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)			3 (S)		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		RFX+1		LSB+1			RC		LB		RBX-1		LSF-1
Lady		LBX+1		RSF+1			LC		RF		LFX-1		RSB-1

Heel Turns / Pulls

The basic heel turn (for the lady) may be danced instead of the first half of a normal turn if starting outside partner. When the lady has a heel turn the figure is called a telemark. Although some turn is accomplished on the ball of the foot stepping backwards, she rocks back onto her heels on closing and allows the man to turn her further. When the man has a heel turn the figure is called an impetus turn. He needs to control the turn and so dances a heel pull by not leaning backwards and by keeping the ball of the closing foot in contact with the floor.

A simple heel turn begins and ends in normal position but the final step may include some turn. This leaves the couple either in promenade position or ready to step outside. The natural telemark changes direction at the end with a brush from the lady so the man can step forwards. Otherwise the couple would be in counter-promenade position.

		Natural Heel Turn (FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		RDF+1		LFS+2		RB
Lady		LDB+1		RC+2		LF

		Natural Telemark (FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)		and
Man		RDF+1		LFS+2		RBS+2
Lady		LDB+1		RC+2		LFS+2		RC br

		Reverse Heel Turn (FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		LDF-1		RFS-2		LB
Lady		RDB-1		LC-2		RF
		Open Telemark (FP to PP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		LDF-1		RFS-2		LBSF-3
Lady		RDB-1		LC-2		RFS-1
		Closed Telemark (FP to ORP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		3 (S)
Man		LDF-1		RFS-2		LBSF-3
Lady		RDB-1		LC-2		RFSB-3

		(Natural) Impetus Turn (FP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		and		3 (S)
Man		LBX+1		RC+2				LFSB+2
Lady		RFX+1		LFSB+2		(RC br)		RBSF+2
		(Natural) Open Impetus Turn (FP to PP)
Beat		1 (S)		2 (S)		and		3 (S)
Man		LBX+1		RC+2				LF
Lady		RFX+1		LFSB+2		(RC br)		RBSF+2

© Susan Foord (sf@pedag.org) 2010-06-28
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