How to Waltz

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Introduction

• The waltz is one of the most elegant and versatile partner dances in the world. You'll see fancy waltzes performed by competitive ballroom dancers. You'll see schmaltzy waltzes performed by fathers and daughters at weddings everywhere, and you'll see romantic, casual waltzes performed in country-western bars. Dress a waltz up, or dress it down. At it's heart, the waltz is just a simple step performed to a beat in 3/4 time. So, what are you waiting for? Isn't it time you learned to waltz?

Ballroom Basics

• Before you worry about what your feet are doing, you've got to get a grasp of the basics. You can't do a partner dance without knowing how to hold and interact with your partner. The following reviews the traditional waltz hold and the etiquette of leading and following on the dance floor.

How to Hold Your Partner

• The waltz is danced in what is called a "closed position." It's the most common hold in ballroom dance and is quite easy to do. The "leading partner" is traditionally a man. The "following partner" is traditionally a woman, but no one's going to be traumatized if you shake up that formula. There does, however, have to be one leader and one follower.

Directions for the Leading Partner

1. Face your partner. You should be standing approximately six inches away from each other.
2. Maintain good posture with your head up and shoulders relaxed.
3. Place your right hand slightly below your partner's left shoulder blade.
4. Your right arm should remain firm—lifted at a 90 degree angle from your body.
5. Take your partner's right hand in your left hand. Your hands should be raised to the eye level of the shorter partner.

Directions for the Following Partner

1. Face your partner. You should be standing approximately six inches away from each other.
2. Maintain good posture with your head up and shoulders relaxed.
3. After your partner has placed his or her right hand on your back, rest your left arm on your partner's right arm.
4. Your left hand should gently grasp your partner's shoulder. Fingers on the outside. Thumb on the inside.
5. Rest your right hand in your partner's left hand, between your partner's thumb and forefinger. Your hands should be raised to the eye level of the shorter partner.

Rules for Both Partners

1. Keep some resistance in your arms. If they're floppy, it's much harder to turn and lead or follow your partner.
2. Never look at your feet. This is a surefire way to step on somebody else's. Ideally, you shouldn't be standing toe-to-toe. You should be standing so that your bodies are offset with your right foot aimed between your partner's feet.

How to Lead

• The man, or the person assuming the man's role, traditionally leads his partner around the dance floor. This means that he determines the direction the couple dances in, whether they stay in one place or move around the floor and which steps they do. The following tips will help you take a strong lead:

1. Maintain good posture.
2. Move as a unit with your partner.
3. Use your right hand (the one cupped under your partner's left shoulder blade) to guide your partner.
   • Pushing with the heel of your right hand will guide your partner to the left.
   • Scooping and lightly pulling the fingers of the right hand will guide your partner to the right.
   • A gentle pull will move your partner towards you.
   • A gentle push will move your partner backwards.
4. Start with simple steps. Don't push your partner to do moves he or she may not know or be comfortable doing.

How to Follow

• Following is just as difficult as leading, particularly if you're dancing with a poor lead. If you're following, you must pay close attention to your partner's body. Your partner's chest and shoulders will usually lead the movement. You should maintain enough resistance in your upper body to be led, but not so much that you're leading. It's a tricky balance, but one that can be learned by dancing with partners of varying abilities. Here are some additional tips on how to follow your partner's lead:

1. Don't lead. Even if your partner isn't a particularly good lead, pay attention to his or her body rather than pulling him or her around the floor.
2. Support your own weight. You're following, but you're not a rag doll. Just because you're following doesn't mean that you're completely passive. Dance on your own two feet.
3. Try to anticipate your partner's lead.
4. Communicate with your partner. If he or she is trying to execute steps you don't know, let your partner know that you only know the basics. A good lead can and will adapt to whatever his or her partner is comfortable doing.

Waltz Music

• A waltz is danced to waltz music, which is distinct because it is in 3/4 time—meaning that there are three beats per measure. When you count the beat to waltz music, you'll be counting, "1-2-3 and 1-2-3 and 1-2-3." Your movements will correspond with this beat. You'll hear waltzes in both classical and folk music. Listen to some of the most popular waltzes below to get a sense of the rhythm:

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The Basic Waltz Step

• The waltz's most basic step is a box step. It forms the foundation of the dance. You can refine it, elaborate on it and dress it up, but you'll always come back to it. Once you've mastered the box step, you can pass at anything from a fancy dress ball to a folk dancing mixer.

Directions for the Leading Partner

• It's easiest to learn the step without a partner—doing it in place. Once you're confident with the step, do it standing across from your partner. Get the pattern down together, then try moving with the hold.

1. Start with your feet together.
2. On the first count, move your left foot forward.
3. On the second count, move your right foot about shoulder-width to the right of your left foot.
4. On the third count, move your left foot next to your right foot. You've completed one half of your box.
5. On the first count of the second measure, move your right foot back.
6. On the second count of the second measure, move your left foot about shoulder-width to the left of your right foot.
7. On the third count of the second measure, move your right foot next to your left foot. You've completed the second half of your box.
8. Repeat.

Directions for the Following Partner

• It's easiest to learn the step without a partner—doing it in place. Once you're confident with the step, do it standing across from your partner. Get the pattern down together, then try moving with the hold.

1. Start with your feet together.
2. On the first count, move your right foot back.
3. On the second count, move your left foot about shoulder-width to the left of your right foot.
4. On the third count, move your right foot next to your left foot. You've completed one half of your box.
5. On the first count of the second measure, move your left foot forward.
6. On the second count of the second measure, move your right foot about shoulder-width to the right of your left foot.
7. On the third count of the second measure, move your left foot next to your right foot. You've completed the second half of your box.
8. Repeat.

The Basic Waltz Pattern with Terry Dean

Turning Your Box Step

• Now that you've got the box step down, you'll want to move it around the floor. Doing a box step in one place over and over again gets boring awfully quickly.

• Turning a box step simply requires that you pivot your body 45 degrees on the first step of every count of three. You and your partner will have made a quarter turn away from where you started with each count of three or half a box step. It will take you four counts of three to arrive back where you started.

Progressive Movement

• A progressive step simply allows you to travel forward or backward across the dance floor. The man repeats the first three steps of the box step, but instead of moving backwards on the second three, he simply moves forward. The woman does the first half of her box step, but the second half is done in the same direction as the first half—backwards.

Refining Your Box Step

• Now that you've got the box step down, you're ready to waltz. But, if you want to look like the competitors on Dancing with the Stars, you'll need to work on your technique. What separates ballroom dancers from casual, recreational dancers are things like the rise and fall of their steps and the carriage of their bodies. Ideally, you want to look like you're gliding across the floor with a pendulum-like swing to your body. Here's how to get that ballroom competitor look:

Rise and Fall

• If you watch elegant ballroom dancers gliding around the dance floor, you'll notice that they have an up-an-down, carousel-like appearance. This is because they are rising onto their toes on the second beat of every measure. It's the same box step, but with the following rise and fall pattern:

1. Down on the first count.
2. Up on the second count.
3. Up at the beginning of the third count when you bring your feet together. Then, slowly lower your heels.
4. Repeat.

Body Sway

• "Body Sway" or "Swing and Sway" is what gives a dancing couple that pendulum-like appearance. Instead of just dancing flat-footed and level, you swing and sway your upper body in the direction it's going in.

1. If you're moving forward or backward, you swing your body in the direction you're moving.
2. If you're moving left or right, your body sways in the direction it's going.
3. When you combine swinging and swaying with your box step, it looks like the body is rolling through the step.

Additional Waltz Steps

• The following waltz steps, hesitations and turns, will help you navigate the floor and add a little pizazz to your waltz routine.

Hesitations

• Hesitations are basically a way of waiting out a few beats before you resume dancing. You might need to do this if you're on a crowded dance floor, if you want to change directions or if you just need a break. It's simply a more elegant thing to do than just standing there.

1. Move one foot forward, back, to the right or to the left on the one.
2. Move your other foot next to the one that just moved. (This is called "closing.") Hold on the two and three.
3. Move in the opposite direction on the one.
4. Close the step. Hold on the two and the three.
5. Resume the box step or begin another hesitation.

Underarm Turns

• The basic underarm turn is an easy and elegant edition to your waltz. For the lead, the move is a piece of cake. He or she continues his box step. The woman or the person dancing the woman's part does all the work.

Directions for the Leading Partner

1. Execute the first half of a turning box step.
   • Left foot forward on the one.
   • Right foot to the side as you pivot your body 45 degrees.
   • Left foot comes together to close on the three.
2. Lift your left arm for your partner to pass under.
3. Continue the second half of your box step with NO rotation.
   • Right foot back on the one.
   • Left foot to the side on the two.
   • Right foot comes together to close on the three.
4. Execute the first half of a second turning box step.
5. Your partner rejoins for the second half of the second box step.

Directions for the Following Partner

1. Execute the first half of a turning box step.
   • Right foot back on the one.
   • Left foot to the side as you pivot with your partner 45 degrees.
   • Right foot comes together to close on the three.
2. Step forward on the left foot as though you were starting the second half of your box step.
3. Instead of continuing with the box step, you pass under your partner's arm for the 2 and 3 counts.
4. Walk around for an additional three counts.
5. Rejoin your partner for the second half of the second box step.

Underarm Turns with Terry Dean

Dance Floor Etiquette

• Whether you're at a formal ball or a veritable hoedown, some rules always apply.

1. Always rotate around the dance floor in a counter-clockwise direction.
2. If you're less advanced and move more slowly, stick to the outside of the dance floor. More advanced dancers move towards the center. Much like moving counter-clockwise, this prevents any major waltzing collisions from happening.
3. It's called social dance for a reason. Dance with people other than the person you came with.
4. Always dance with someone at your level, someone better than you and someone less experienced than you are. You'll learn something different from each experience.
5. Relax, listen to the music and have a good time.

Resources for How to Waltz

• Wikipedia: Waltz
• Dancing with the Stars: About the Dances: Waltz
• DanceTV.com: Ballroom Basics - Dance Tips - Waltz Tutorial
• eHow.com: How to Waltz
• wikiHow: How to Dance the Waltz (International Version)
• Library of Congress: The Waltz 1922 Instructional Manual

How to Waltz Videos

• VideoJug: International Waltz
• Expert Village: How to Dance the Waltz
• BallroomDancers.com: Slow Waltz
• MonkeySee: How to Waltz

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