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American Waltz
- Author:
- Dave Watson
- Date Published:
- May 3, 2005
The Waltz is characterized by rotation, ‘Rise & Fall’, and movement around the floor. The music is in ¾ time (meaning: three beats per measure). We count it “1, 2, 3”. Frequently, we might also count the measures as well as the beats. We do this by replacing the first beat with the number of the measure. For example: “1, 2, 3 – 2, 2, 3 – 3, 2, 3 – etc.”. Another common form of counting the Waltz is to count two measures at a time, extending the count, therefore, to SIX. For example: “1, 2, 3 – 4, 5, 6”. We will use this method of counting for the first few basic patterns in this class.
COUNT:
Box Step (Closed Reverse Turn):
Man will step forward with his left HEEL / then side with his right toe /
Then he will close his left foot to his right
Lady will dance back with her right foot / then side with her left toe /
Then close her right foot to her left 1, 2, 3
Man now dances the “Lady’s” part: back right / side left / close right to left
Lady now dances the “Man’s” part: Forward left (HEEL) / side right / close 4, 5, 6
Although one first learns this pattern with no turn at all, it can be turned up to 3/8 of a turn to the left (on each measure – ¾ turn over all six steps). However, in this class, we will only turn this pattern ¼ turn on each measure.
When dancing the second step of each measure – the “side” step – dancers should “Swing” their legs either forward or backward (depending on their previous forward or back walk). This will generate a much easier turn, and a more elegant flow to your Waltz.
Natural Underarm Turn:
Couple dances the first three steps of a Closed Reverse Turn (Box Step) as
described above 1, 2, 3
Man raises his left arm and releases his right hand hold as he steps back on
the count of 4. Man continues to dance the second half of his
Box Step with NO TURN
Lady dances forward for three steps curving approx. 1/2 turn to right
(Left / Right / Left) passing under Man’s raised left arm 4, 5, 6
Man now dances the first half of a new Box Step turning ¼ turn to left to
meet the Lady
Lady dances Forward right, side left, and closes left to right – turning ¼
Turn to right to meet Man -- Couple regains normal Closed Hold 1, 2, 3
Couple now finishes by dancing the second half of the Box Step as described
Above 4, 5, 6
Balance Steps:
The Balance Steps can be danced either Forward or Backward. (They can also be danced side to side, but we will not be examining those in this class.) When the Man is dancing a Forward Balance Step, the Lady is dancing a Backward Balance step, and Vice-Versa.
Forward Balance Step:
Dancer steps forward onto the Heel (then Flat) of his left foot. He/She slowly
closes the right foot to the left WITHOUT WEIGHT (hold the 2, 3 counts) 1, 2, 3
Backward Balance Steps:
Dancer steps back with the right foot, then slowly closes left foot to right
WITHOUT WEIGHT (Hold the counts of 2, 3) 1, 2, 3
Since there is no second (or third) step(s), it means that there is no “Swing” on this pattern. This means that there is no real reason for a ‘Foot Rise’. There will, however be a normal ‘Body’ and ‘Leg’ rise. (Some dancers prefer to dance the Balance steps with a foot rise. This is not necessarily incorrect; however, it must be manufactured artificially as it is not resultant from “Swing”.) We will dance the feet flat in this class.
Progressive Basic Steps (Closed Changes or ‘Link’ Steps):
Progressive Basic Steps can be danced either forward or backward. When Man is dancing a forward progressive Basic Step (Closed Change), the Lady will be dancing a Backward Progressive Basic Step, and Vice-Versa.
The Progressive Basic will travel Forward or Backward for two measures without turn. However, it is important to note, that individual measures of the Progressive Basic – taken by themselves – can be used to ‘Link’ between Reverse and Natural Turning movements.
Forward Progressive Basic:
Dancer steps forward on the Heel of his/her left foot, then side right, then
Closes left foot to right – NO TURN! However, Normal Swing and
Footwork will be used 1, 2, 3
Dancer steps forward with his right heel, then side left, then close right to left
NO TURN! However, as with the previous measure, dancers will utilize
Normal Swing and Rise & Fall 4, 5, 6
Backward Progressive Basic:
Dancer steps back with his/her right foot, then side left, then close right to left
NO TURN! However, normal Swing and Footwork 1, 2, 3
Dancer now steps back left, side right, close left to right
Again, NO TURN!, but normal footwork and Swing 4, 5, 6
When dancing only one measure of Progressive Basic as described above, it is called a CLOSED CHANGE, and is used as a “link” between Reverse (Left-turning) and Natural (right-turning) movements. Similarly, the second measure of the Progressive Basic as described above would be used as a “link” between Natural and Reverse turning movements. This will become clear as we explore the next movement.
Closed Natural Turn (Right Box Turn):
Partners dance three steps of a Progressive Basic as described above (Man
Beginning forward left / Lady back right) 1, 2, 3
Man now dances Forward right / side left / close right to left (Turn ¼ to right)
Lady dances back left / side right / close left to right (Turn ¼ to right) 2, 2, 3
Man now dances back left / side right / close left to right (Turn ¼ to right)
Lady dances forward right (Heel) / side left / close right to left (Turn ¼ to right) 3, 2, 3
Couple now repeats the second and third measures so that they have completed
one full turn overall 4, 2, 3 – 5, 2, 3
To finish, couple dances the last three steps (second half) of the Forward
Progressive Basic step as described above (Man dancing
Forward right – Lady back left) 6, 2, 3
Notice that the Closed Natural Turn is the same as a Closed Reverse Turn except that it turns the other way. ALSO NOTE: we enter and exit the Natural turning movement with ‘Link’ steps. These are simply individual measures of Progressive Basic Movements called Closed Changes.
Continuity Twinkle (Hover Telemark to Promenade):
(Begin with Man facing Diagonal to Wall – [DW])
Man dances forward left, then side and slightly forward right – beginning to
Turn his body toward Lady to indicate upcoming Promenade Position (PP),
Then he steps side and slightly forward in PP
Lady dances back right / diagonally back left turning to PP, and side and slightly
forward in PP 1, 2, 3
Couple has danced from Closed Position to (PP), and is now heading down the Line Of Dance (LOD) in PP.
Open Natural (Open Right Turn): (Begin in PP heading down the LOD)
Man dances Forward right in PP beginning to turn to his right to cross the
Lady’s line. He then steps side left crossing the Lady’s line, then
Back right preparing to dance the Lady Outside Partner to his right
Lady dances three steps forward – left / right / left – ends preparing to step
Outside Partner along the Man’s right side 1, 2, 3
Couple has now danced down the LOD changing from PP to Preparing to move Outside Partner. At this point, Man is backing down the LOD.
Open Impetus Turn: (Begin after an Open Natural Turn as described above)
Man dances back right, beginning to turn to his right, and leading the Lady to
Step forward Outside Partner to his right
Lady steps forward right (HEEL) Outside Partner along the Man’s right side 1
Continuing to turn to his right, Man now closes his right foot to his left
(Heel Turn) leading Lady to Continue her forward movement around
him. He will begin to lead the Lady to PP at the completion of this count
Lady dances forward left, brushes her right foot to her left (no weight), and
Begins to turn to PP 2
Both partners now exit to PP 3
Couple began with the Man Backing down the LOD (BLOD). They finish the movement heading toward Diagonal to Center (DC) in PP, although less turn can, and frequently will, be made.
Continuity Ending (Feather Finish): (Begin in PP heading DC)
Both partners dance forward in PP – Man right / Lady left 1
Continuing along his line, Man dances side left allowing Lady to close her body
Lady turns ¼ turn to her left to close to the man as she dances side right 2
Man now dances forward outside partner along the Lady’s right side
Lady swivels her right foot 1/8 turn to allow her to dance back left with a right
Shoulder lead 3
NOTE: although the Lady is dancing side on her second step (right foot), her NEXT movement will be back. This means that she must lower the heel of her right foot as she takes the third step EVEN THOUGH SHE MAINTAINS HER RISE.
Chasse’ Underarm: (Begin after completing the Open Natural as described above)
Man steps back with his left foot beginning to turn to his right, and leading
Lady to step forward Outside Partner along his right side. He will
Also lift his left arm and release his right hand hold to lead Lady to
Begin turning under his arm to the right
Lady steps forward right (Heel) Outside Partner along the Man’s right side,
And begins to turn to her right under the Man’s raised left arm 1
Man continues to turn to his right for a total of approx. 3/8 turn total, and
dances a chasse’ (side / together / side – right / left / right). He Leads
Lady to continue turning to her right under his raised left arm
Lady continues through her underarm turn turning approximately ½ turn on
each change of weight. This will result in approx. 1 ½ turns to the
right overall 2 & 3
At this point, Lady has passed by the man, and is in Open Facing Position. However, partners are slightly ‘skewed’ so that their next movement will be the Mna dancing Forward Outside Partner along the Lady’s LEFT side to regain normal dance position. This movement is usually a Continuity Twinkle (as described above but with the first step being taken Outside Partner on the left side instead of in-line).
Frequently, this pattern will be slightly under-turned to take it around a corner. In this instance, Man will end his chasse’ facing DW of the new LOD for his Twinkle.
Another nice finish to this movement is to continue into a Develope’. This is what we will do in class.
Develope’:
The develope’ is a lovely movement, and quite common even in Social dance situations. Usually, only the Lady would dance the Develope’. We will study the most popular variation of this movement which begins after having danced through to the end of the Chasse’ Underarm as described above. Couple will take a two-hand hold to begin the develope’.
Lowering strongly, Man dances a Balance Step Forward as described above
EXCEPT he will be taking his forward left step Outside Partner along
the Lady’s Left side, and he will maintain his two-hand hold. As with
the true Balance Step, Man will only change weight on ‘1’, and he will
hold the ‘2, 3’. However, he will have symptomatic leg and body rise to
match the Lady’s action
Lady lowers strongly through her left leg as she prepares to dance her right foot
Back. She then cycles her left foot to slightly behind the right, and
develope’s her left foot forward. Left leg will commence cycling back
down as the right leg compresses slightly to begin the exit walk 1, 2, 3
As Lady finishes her Develope’, she will touch her left toe to the floor as she commences her forward exiting walk. HOWEVER, the left foot will IMMEDIATELY switch to a proper HEEL LEAD as she walks forward into her next pattern.
There are a great many figures that will follow the Develope’. We will continue with a Back Twinkle From Outside Partner On Left Side.
Back Twinkle From Outside Partner On Left Side: (Begin with a two-hand hold backing LOD or DC, having just completed a Develope’ as described above, with Lady prepared to move forward left Outside Partner)
Man steps back right leading Lady to step forward left Outside Partner along
his left side, and begins to turn to his left slightly
Lady walks forward left outside partner 1
Continuing to move through the line he has established, Man steps side left –
Toe turned out
Lady swings forward right, and then turns to her left approximately 1/2 2
Man dances Diagonally Back leading Lady to dance Diagonally forward
Lady dances diagonally forward preparing to dance forward
Outside Partner on the Man’s right side on the next change of weight 3
At this point, couple may dance into an Impetus Turn as described above, and regain normal hold, or they may elect to dance another Chasse’ Underarm as described above. The next pattern we examine here will be an Outside Swivel. This pattern could also be danced following a Back Twinkle, but it is not advisable.
Outside Swivel, Lilt Pivot, 4 – 6 of Reverse Turn: (Begin after dancing an Open Natural as described above)
Man steps back left (down the LOD), leading Lady to step forward right Outside
Partner along his right side – Man then turns his body strongly to his right
leading Lady to swivel on her right foot
Lady walks forward right Outside Partner along his right side, and the swivel
strongly (approximately ½ turn to the right) on her right foot 1
When dancing the Swivel, it is important that the Lady get completely ON the right foot before swiveling. Man must also be aware of this so that he doesn’t attempt to turn the Lady too early.
At this point couple is in PP facing Against LOD (ALOD).
NOTE: Since there was no rise on the first walk and swivel action, both partners will dance into their second step with another HEEL LEAD.
Man now dances a walk forward on his right foot, rises, and leads Lady to close
to him
Lady walks forward left, rises, and closes to Man – having turned approximately
½ turn to the right 2
Man now dances a TINY step forward left and lowers – preparing to dance backward
On his next movement
Lady dances back right and lowers to move strongly forward in line with Man on
Her next movement 3
The counts of ‘2, 3’ above comprise the Lilt Pivot. This is an interesting movement that can be quite useful to the dancer that masters it.
Great care should be taken by the Lady to ensure that her upper body weight does not come across the Man’s center when completing the Lilt Pivot.
Finish with 4 – 6 of the Open Reverse Turn as described above 4, 5, 6
Combination #1:
Open Reverse Turn > Continutiy Twinkle > Open Natural > Open Impetus > Feather Finish
Combination #2:
Continuity Twinkle > Open Natural > Chasse’ Underarm (underturned to go around corner) > Continuity Twinkle to new LOD > Open Natural > Open Impetus > Feather Finish
Combination #3:
Continuity Twinkle > Open Natural > Chasse’ Underarm > Develope’ > Back Twinkle From Outside Partner On Left Side > Chasse’ Underarm (under-turned to go around corner) > Continuity Twinkle to head down new LOD, etc.
Combination #4:
Open Reverse Turn > Continuity Twinkle > Open Natural > Outside Swivel And Lilt Pivot > 4 – 6 of Reverse Turn