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Waltz Videos

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Videos of Waltz Classes and Dance Instruction:
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Videos of Waltz International Standard Ballroom Syllabus Figures:
BRONZE (International) : beginner |  back whisk |  backward lock |  basic weave |  chasse from pp |  closed changes |  closed impetus |  double reverse spin |  hesitation change |  Natural spin turn |  Natural (right) turn |  Outside change |  Progressive chasse to R |  Reverse corte |  Reverse pivot |  Reverse (left) turn |  whisk |  (sample) |  pictures

SILVER (International) : intermediate |  Closed telemark |  Cross hesitation |  Drag hesitation |  Forward lock |  Open impetus and wing |  Open telemark |  Outside spin |  Turning lock |  Weave from PP |  Wing |  pictures

GOLD (International) : advanced |  Closed wing |  Contra check |  Fallaway natural turn |  Fallaway reverse and slip pivot |  Fallaway whisk |  Hover corte |  Left whisk |  Running spin turn |  Turning lock to R |  pictures

Videos of Waltz American Standard Ballroom Syllabus Figures:
BRONZE (American) : beginner |  Forward Change Steps |  Left Box Turn |  Right Box Turn |  Simple Twinkle |  Hesitations |  Hesitation Combinations |  Promenade Turn |  Twinkle and Walk Around |  Left Turn Cross |  pictures

SILVER (American) : intermediate |  Progressive Basic |  Open Left Box Turn |  Advanced Twinkle |  Progressive Twinkle |  Left Side Rock and Spin |  Open Right Turn |  Twinkle and Twist |  Twinkle and Fallaway |  Twinkle and Pivots |  Fallaway and Rock |  pictures

Pictures of Waltz Dancers:
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Waltz Music   ( 84-90 BPM )

Turn on your computer speakers and you can practice dancing to the following songs !!

#BPMIntroWaltz: Pop Songs      |  Country Songs |  Videos |  Main Menu
1.109Queen of My Heart by Westlife
2.109When I Need You by Celine Dion
3.99Mary Jane by Alanis Morrisette
4.110Les Bicyclettes de Belsize by Engelbert Humperdinck
5.110The French Waltz by Jane Olivor
6.101My Cup Runneth Over by Ed Ames
7.132Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens
8.106Fear Not This Night by Jenn Sakura
9.108What The World Needs Now Is Love by Jackie DeShannon
10.99Sam by Olivia Newton-John
11.115Flower that Shattered the Stone by John Denver
12.117Winter Waltz by Kitaro
13.110Island of Dreams by X-Perience
14.125French Waltz by Anne Murray
15.99Open Arms by Journey
16.94A River for Him by Linda Ronstadt
17.139My Favorite Things by Andy Williams
18.104I'll Put You Together Again by Hot Chocolate
19.92See the Day by Girls Aloud
20.97You Make the Moonlight by 4 Runner
21.92Ekrah by Shalsheles
22.I Still Believe by Hayden Panettiere
23.Can I Have This Dance by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens
24.120Un Munde Raro by Pedro Fernandez
25.Für Elise by Beethoven - Orchestral
26.91I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You by Kelly Clarkson
#BPMIntroWaltz: Country Songs      |  Pop Songs |  Videos |  Main Menu
1.123Strawberry Wine by Deana Carter
2.10324When I Said I Do by Clint Black & Lisa Hartman Black
3.137In Between Dances by Nadine Somers
4.116Till You Love Me by Reba Mcentire
5.109Same Old Star by McBride and the Ride
6.99This Woman Needs by SheDaisy
7.112Cowboy Bill by Garth Brooks
8.104Famous Last Words of a Fool by George Strait
9.106God Will by Patty Loveless
10.117Dreaming My Dreams With You by Collin Raye
11.117What If I Say Goodbye by Vince Gill
12.115Dream On Texas Ladies by John Michael Montgomery
13.100Do You Know Where Your Man Is by Pam Tillis
14.108You Don't Even Know Who I Am by Patty Loveless
15.120Whenever Forever Comes by Dolly Parton & Collin Raye
16.Sandy's Song by Dolly Parton
17.From Here to the Moon by Dolly Parton
#BPMIntroWaltz: Oldies Songs      |  Pop Songs |  Country Songs |  Main Menu
1.Let Me Call You Sweetheart by Patti Page
Viennese Waltz Music (162-168 BPM)
Suggest a song for Waltz!

Waltzing Well

Waltzing Well: Technique      |  Music |  Patterns |  Videos |  Main Menu

A good waltz lead will learn to count the waltz as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 rather than 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3.  This will help the lead to keep track of his patterns as many patterns start on count 1 (when his left foot is free) and many patterns start on count 4 (when his right foot is free).  A good example of this is the progressive left waltz turns which start on count 1, and the progressive right waltz turns which start on count 4.

Good dancers will include the "rise and fall" of the waltz in every pattern throughout the entire dance.  (to count: 1 Low, 2 rise, 3 fall, 4 low, 5 rise, 6 fall).  The "rise and fall" during the waltz should be smooth like the rise and fall of a horse on a carousel.  We can make the waltz much more dramatic by taking much larger steps on counts 1 and 4 and making our other steps smaller.

Progressive waltz turns are a challenge for beginners because you must turn 360 degrees with your partner every six steps while traveling briskly down the dance floor.  The secret to making progressive waltz turns well is to dance straight through your partner and do not try to dance around your partner.  The look of the waltz turns can be dramatically improved if both partners add a "lock step" as follows.  On left waltz turns, the man will add a lock step on count 3 and the lady should lock on count 6.  To simplify this, add the lock step anytime you are traveling forward into a waltz turn.  Remember that you lock at opposite times from your partner.  When the man locks, the lady doesn't, when the lady locks, the man doesn't.  Neither partner should lock during right waltz turns.

The two styles of formal waltz are American and International.  In American-style waltz, dancers can include a multitude of patterns that allow space and separation between the dancers.  In international-style waltz, dance partners are required to maintain body contact throughout the dance.  Waltz dancers look especially attractive when the lean their upper body back and strengthen the dance frame between the lead and the follow.  This is especially crucial in international-style waltz to keep the frame strong between dancers who are so close together.

The speed of waltz can vary dramatically.  Slow Modern Waltz ranges from 85 to 110 bpm (beats per minute).  Medium speed waltzes range from 110 to 140 bpm.  Lastly, fast (Viennese) waltzes range from 140 to 180 bpm.  Many beginning dancers are afraid to try Viennese waltz because it seems too fast.  The secret to dancing Viennese Waltz well is taking very small quick steps on some patterns and using hold-tap footwork on other patterns. In hold-tap footwork, you will take a step and hold on 1, 2, 3 with all weight, and while you are holding use your other foot to do a tap with no weight on count 2 hold 3.

Good waltz dancers will travel gracefully and continuously around the room following the line-of-dance.  If another couple gets in their way, a good waltz couple will immediately and smoothly switch to patterns that stay in one place until traffic clears, whereupon they can resume traveling down the dance floor.

Lastly, waltz should be very smooth and the feet should hardly make a sound as they touch the floor.  To improve your style, rather than dancing "on the floor", think about literally trying to dance "above the floor" as you dance the waltz.

Waltz Dance Facts

Waltz: Dance Facts      |  Music |  Patterns |  Videos |  Main Menu
Waltz Music The music for waltz uses the 3/4 time signature with three beats per measure and an accent on count 1.
Waltz History Since the waltz first originated in Vienna, Austria in ≈1800 it has remained popular for 200 years and is still popular today. The word "Waltz" comes from the old German world "waltzen" which means to roll, turn, or glide. In the early 1800's, the waltz caused a scandal (and was called an immoral dance) because of its romantic elements and close positions. Also, in the early 1800's, the man's outstretched hand was on top of the lady's outstretched hand in a protective position as it was considered much too intimate to hold the outstretched hands palm-to-palm. Even the fact that dancers stood very closely together in a face-to-face position was considered scandalous by the churches of the early 1800's. One commentator, in describing the dance could not even say the waltz was danced face-to-face and described that the waltz as being danced "the opposite of back to back".
Waltz Rhythm 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (all steps are quick's)
Mans steps with left foot on count 1.
Mans steps with right foot on count 4.
Waltz Technique Waltz looks especially pretty if you take a larger step on count 1 and on count 4. When you can do the steps correctly and with good balance, then start taking larger steps throughout the waltz.
Waltz Style "Dance Above the Floor." The waltz is a smooth dance. Graceful, fluid movement. Legs, feet, and body should move smoothly throughout the dance. You should glide smoothly across the floor. You should move across the floor with ease. Don't push downward into the floor (notice the differences from the Latin dancer that places each foot carefully on clay floors). The waltz is traditionally danced in big ballroom floors (with sure footing) in Europe.
Progressive Dance The waltz can be done in one location, or it can progress around the room along the line of dance. In traditional ballroom dancing and in country dancing, the waltz is almost always a progressive dance. As you are moving around the room, if someone gets in your way, then you should switch to your stationary patterns until traffic clears and you can again start traveling. (Note: Other progressive dances include the foxtrot, country two-step, and polka). If the dance floor is too crowded to progress down the floor, then use stationary waltz dance patterns and treat the waltz as a spot dance.
Forms of the Waltz The two primary forms of waltz are the "Modern Waltz" which is slow, and the "Viennese Waltz" which is fast. The Viennese Waltz is twice as fast as the Modern Waltz.

In America, the Country Waltz is an important dance. The Country waltz include a basic that progresses forward on every step, whereas the ballroom progressive forward waltz includes a side step.

American Style Waltz is similar to the International Style except that it has both open and closed positions. This provides the American Style dancer with more opportunities for variety and self-expression.

International Style Waltz is danced in close position. International Style dancers are required to maintain contact at the mid-section of the body with no "gapping".

Waltz Technique Dance Position: Although close dance position is technically correct for traditional ballroom dance, most people use a closed position for the waltz.

Use standard ballroom hold. Keep your shoulders level. Ladies left elbow is outside of and on top of the man's right elbow.

Use Close Position for Progressive Waltz Turns in the Line of Dance: The guy will need to pull the lady into close position when doing progressive turns in the line of dance. Whenever you are making sharp turns with a high degree of rotation with your partner, you must be close together or you will not be able to complete the turn successfully.

Guys, since there are several patterns that start on count 1 and there are several patterns that start on count 4, you should count the waltz as "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6". The guy will step with his left foot on count 1 and with his right foot on count 4. Remember that most patterns start on count 1. However right turns and 6-count walk-arounds start on count 4.

Foot placement: Keep the weight forward on your feet and when do come down on your heels, do so softly. Heel-ball-toe going forward and Toe-ball-heel going backwards.

Rise and fall (on the ball of your feet on counts 2 and 5). Rise and fall should be smooth like a horse on a carousel. Both the man and the woman should use rise and fall throughout the entire dance in all of the patterns.

Waltz Patterns

Waltz: Patterns      |  Music |  Technique |  Facts |  Videos |  Main Menu
Left Box
  • Box straight
  • Box turning left (go straight forward and then turn your shoulders) (go straight back and then turn your shoulders) Gentlemen, pull your left shoulder back throughout the box turning left. Turn 90º at each corner. On each corner of a turning box, the person going forward takes big steps and the person going backward takes little steps. "Men swing through, lady swing through…"
Right Box
  • 2-way turns: left turns → ½ basic → right turns → ½ basic → twinkle → repeat. (Note: You must do a ½ box before doing a right turn. The left turn starts on count 1, and the right turn starts on count 4)
Waltz Turns Line of Dance
  • men swing thru, lady swing thru (chassé turns).
  • Try to stay on a straight line as you do waltz turns line-of-dance. The lead should travel straight through the lady (like walking through a door) on counts 1, 2, 3, and the lady should travel straight through the man on counts 4, 5 6.
  • Guys, remember that you will need to be close to your partner when doing a sharp turn with your partner in closed position. Guys, remember to pull her into "close" position.
  • Waltz turns line-of-dance must turn 180º on the first 3 counts, or you will have to turn even more than halfway on the next 3 counts.
  • Person going forward takes big steps.
  • Person going backward takes little steps.
Progressive Basic
  • walk, stop, push-to-the-side, walk, stop, push-to-the-side
Feather Step (bridge ending)
  • For slower waltz music, use the feather step to improve flow.  Instead of bringing the feet together on count six, the lead travels forward on count 6 with the lady to his front right and with both partners keeping their left should forward.
Open Left Box
  • Similar to the left box except done in outside partner position ending in a bridge.
  • Turning left: ForwardL1 SideR2 BackL3 BackR4 SideL5 ForwardR6
5th Position Breaks
  • Side-to-side waltz:
    Side breaks in closed position: Step to the side on count 1, then rock replace on counts 2 and 3.
Twinkle
  • closed twinkle: forward side together, cross through, side together. Turn your hips a little in the direction of the promenade. (also called the "waltz promenade")
  • continuity twinkle (turn shoulders right on count 2) The man turns the lady by turning his body. 1, 2, travel, cross, side, together.
  • promenade with ladies underarm turn: ½ basic → right-turn to face wall → ladies underarm turn (lady does forward, back, forward, cross, side, together)
  • back twinkle: ½ basic → 1 measured right turn → backup turning → cross, side, together.
Progressive Twinkle or Triple Twinkle
  • Triple twinkle → catch waist on count 4 → promenade 6 counts → resume triple twinkle.
  • Zig Zag Twinkle: The lady does the same footwork as the triple twinkle. The man travels forward and then backward.
  • triple twinkle: continuity twinkle → 1, 2, go-forward → 2, 2, go-forward → 3, 2, go-forward → cross, side, together.
  • in open position (rather than holding catching her shoulder, just catch her hand.) (can promenade during this move also)
  • Handshake Twinkle
  • Wrap-around Twinkle
  • Arm-checks Twinkle
6-Count Under Arm Turn or Slow Under Arm Turn
  • ladies 6-count walk around (start after ½ basic) This pattern looks good if the lady makes a wide circle.
  • ladies 6-count walk around with simultaneous gentlemen's turn (the man should turn-left-in-place on the last 3 counts).
Hesitations or Balance Steps
  • forward balance (second foot is always heel to endstep) Optional: You can push up on your toe to achieve rise and fall. (Lift up on lady's shoulder to keep her from travelling.)
  • forward balance → back a ¼ turn
  • forward balance → back a ½ turn (On this step, the guy should only turn when going backwards)
  • side balance
  • side balance with lady pivot turn
  • forward balance → open balance → back balance
  • lady's inside / outside turn: men forward, right balance → right side balance → sailor shuffle → right side balance. Women back, turn 2,3 → side balance 4,5,6 → pivot turn → side balance.
Promenade Hesitations
  • Zig Zag hesitations
  • the stroll – end with a closed twinkle.
  • promenade → crossovers → spot turn → interlocking arms → basic waltz
Serpentine
  • Right outside partner then left outside partner.
  • Waltz in promenade position. Outside forward 1, inside rock forward 2, rock back 3, inside back 4, outside rock back 5, rock forward 6.
  • Nightclub 2-Step Patterns to Waltz Time:
    • Left turns
    • Left turns with underarm turn
    • Right turns
    • Right turns with underarm turn
  • You can transition from the box to the forward and back breaks as follows: Do a ½ box, then the guy will step to the right on the next slow, then start the forward and back breaks.
  • To go back into the box, use a (right side) side break (or a right-side parallel break) to the man's right side. A side break is the same as a back break except that you are in closed position.
  • To go back into the forward and back breaks: After lady has done a spot turn to the man's left (This can be after either an underarm turn or a turn-around.)
  • To transition from the box to forward crossovers: After a ½ box, the man steps directly to his right on the next slow.
  • To transition from forward and back breaks to forward crossovers: After a full basic, the guy should pull away from the lady on the last slow and lead her into forward crossovers.

Waist-hold Patterns in Waltz:
  • International Rumba
  • Parallel breaks
  • Waltz turns line-of-dance

Latin Patterns to Waltz Time:
  • Open side breaks
  • Forward crossovers
  • Lady's spot turn
  • Arch turn with joined hands
  • back breaks with side-by-side charge
  • international rumba to waltz time
  • Waltz turn-around pattern (Similar to Rumba turn-around pattern)
  • Continuity (running steps)

parallel breaks
  • Teach entering parallel breaks:
  • from waltz box
  • From International rumba
  • (Outside partner position)
  • parallel breaks (after right side parallel break go forward into the waltz box)

Spot turn patterns:
  • Figure-8 underarm turns (in figure-8: guy with body turned to the right, step forward then back.)
  • arch turns (underarm turns)
  • double arch turns (on both sides): The lady can put her free hand on her waist.
  • Outside hand turns
  • Arch turns with joined hands: Both man and lady do an outside turn simultaneously with outside hands held throughout the turn.
  • Double-arch turns with joined hands
  • add forward and back underarm turn

open break patterns:
  • You can transition into an open break any time that the lady is stepping back with her right foot; the guy can then step back with his left foot to make the open break.

peek-a-boo patterns (from open break):
  • (start with an open break lead)
  • peek-a-boo high hand
  • peek-a-boo straight arm
  • peek-a-boo cuddle: two hand peek-a-boo into cuddle → promenade in cuddle → unwrap to 2-hand open position.
  • peek-a-boo sweetheart (from shake-hands position)
  • peek-a-boo skater
  • yo-yo (tuck-turn and re-wrap):
    two-hand peek-a-boo into cuddle position → tuck turn out → rewrap to cuddle (Ladies, always re-wrap with the wrapping hand on-top)
  • sweetheart yo-yo

Shadow patterns and fake steps (from open break):
  • (Shadow patterns are same foot patterns.)
  • sweetheart shadow: open break in handshake position → pull her into sweetheart while doing the fake → go side-to-side in double sweetheart shadow matching her footwork → fake back to the basic and switch the hands
  • cuddle shadow (or "cuddle guided turn")
  • skater shadow

Passing patterns (from open break):
  • passing hand change: switch to handshake position → open break → the man pulls her to his side while he passes behind her and goes to the opposite side (as the man passes her he lets his opposite hand slide down her opposite shoulder to switch the hands) → repeat the passing hand change 3 times
  • Don Sohn
  • Underarm pass
  • passing underarm turn
  • cross-hold two-hand passing turns
    • (From shake-hands position, start this pattern by first bringing one hand over her head, then ask for the other hand.)
    • with man doing forward crossovers
    • with man doing back breaks

Charge patterns(Can add rotation: forward turning left, backward turning left):
  • same foot
  • side-by-side charge
  • cuddle charge
  • sweetheart charge
  • open skater charge
  • closed skater charge
  • opposite foot
  • open promenade charge
  • closed promenade charge
    Each partner is at a 45º angle and partners are slightly apart. The man's right hand can hold the lady's side to keep her from turning.

Same-hand crossover (full moon):
  • Start with a cross-body lead and switch to same hands and roll into a forward crossover. The man hold the lady's right hand with his right hand throughout the remainder of this pattern. The man then turns 180º and leads the lady into a cross-body lead followed by a forward crossover. This pattern is repeated several times. During each crossbody lead, the lady raises her left hand in a large circular gentle arc that ends with her left hand on her right shoulder. During each forward crossover, the lady extends her left hand straight out to her left side. At the end of the pattern, the lady does an inside double-turn to the right followed immediately by the basic.

Curtsy and Bow (Starter Step)
  • Both partners start facing the same direction with the lady on the man's right. Both partners start on their left foot. The man does back balance4,5,6 bow1,2,3 forward balance4,5,6 with no weight on 2nd foot.  Lady turns 180° in 3 steps4,5,6, curtsy1,2,3, forward balance4,5,6.
  • Lady's curtsy: Lady steps behind with the left foot, then bends both knees with all of her weight on the back knee, and then straightens and closes toward the front foot. (She should bow her head slightly at an angle and her front foot should be pointed and should touch the floor with the toe. She should have her arms in front of her and can hold her dress in two points when she bends.)
  • Gentleman's bow: The gentlemen steps to the side with his left foot, then closes with his right foot to the instep of the left, and then bows (while looking at the lady) from his navel upward, and then straightens.



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