Change step

Last updated

The closed change is a Pre-Bronze, or newcomer waltz figure, performed in closed position. [1] Changes may start of the right foot or left foot, moving forward or backward. This makes four different types of closed changes. Combining two changes results in a box step. In right changes the man starts from the right foot, while in left ones the man starts from the left foot.

Contents

The figures are called "changes" because they allow dancers to change from natural turn to reverse turn (i.e., left to right turn) and vice versa. For example, a basic practising variation in waltz goes as follows:

  1. Dance 1–6 steps of natural turn,
  2. then 1–3 steps of closed change from natural to reverse,
  3. then 1–6 steps of reverse turn,
  4. then 1–3 steps of closed change from reverse to natural,
  5. repeat until the music stops or partner drops.

Other change steps include the hesitation change and the outside change, described below.

Closed change from natural to reverse turn

The man steps forward on right foot while the lady steps backward on the opposing (i.e., left) foot. They will then step to the side (and possibly slightly forward, in relation to the man) on the other foot, and conclude the figure by closing the first foot beside the second. Each step takes up a full beat of the music.

A turn of up to 18 is optional. There will be slight contra body movement (CBM) on 1, and sway on 2,3.

Leader (man)
BeatFoot positionAlignmentAmount of turnFootwork
1Right foot forwardFacing diagonal center NoneHeel – toe
2Left foot side, slightly forwardFacing diagonal centerNoneToe
3Right foot closes to left footFacing diagonal centerNoneToe – heel
Follower (lady)
BeatFoot positionAlignmentAmount of turnFootwork
1Left foot backBacking diagonal center NoneToe – heel
2Right foot side, slightly backBacking diagonal centerNoneToe
3Left foot closes to right footBacking diagonal centerNoneToe – heel

Other closed changes

The closed change from reverse to natural turn is the mirror image of the move just described. Backward changes start with the leader stepping back and the follower stepping forward.

Hesitation change

The hesitation change is a Bronze syllabus figure. The first 3 steps are identical to the natural turn. The last 3 steps comprise the "hesitation". The leader's heel pull allows time to change directions or pause for floor craft. [2]

Leader (man)
BeatFoot positionAlignmentAmount of turnFootwork
1Right foot forwardFacing diagonal wall Start to turn rightHeel – toe
2Left foot to sideBacking diagonal center14 between 1 and 2Toe
3Right foot closes to left footBacking line of dance 18 between 2 and 3Toe – heel
1Left foot backBacking line of danceStart to turn rightHeel
2Right foot to side small step (heel pull)Facing diagonal center 38 between 4 and 5Inside edge of foot, whole foot
3Left foot closes to right foot without weightFacing diagonal centerInside edge of toe (left foot)

Outside change

The outside change is a Bronze syllabus figure. It has regular waltz rise and fall over the three beat phrase. [2]

Leader (man)
BeatFoot positionAlignmentAmount of turnFootwork
1Left foot backBacking diagonal center Toe – heel
2Right foot backBacking diagonal centerStarts to turn leftToe
3Left foot to side and slightly forwardPointing diagonal wall 14 between 2 and 3, body turns lessToe – heel
1Right foot forward in contra body movement position, outside partner position Facing diagonal wallHeel
Follower (lady)
BeatFoot positionAlignmentAmount of turnFootwork
1Right foot forwardFacing diagonal center Heel – toe
2Left foot forwardFacing diagonal centerStarts to turn leftToe
3Right foot to side and slightly backBacking diagonal wall 14 between 2 and 3, body turns lessToe – heel
1Left foot back in contra body movement position Backing diagonal wallToe

Related Research Articles

Viennese waltz genre of ballroom dance

Viennese waltz is a genre of ballroom dance. At least four different meanings are recognized. In the historically first sense, the name may refer to several versions of the waltz, including the earliest waltzes done in ballroom dancing, danced to the music of Viennese waltz.

Foxtrot Dance

The foxtrot is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. It is danced to big band music. The dance is similar in its look to waltz, although the rhythm is in a 4
4
time signature instead of 3
4
. Developed in the 1910s, the foxtrot reached its height of popularity in the 1930s and remains practiced today.

This is a list of dance terms that are not names of dances or types of dances. See List of dances and List of dance style categories for those.

Direction of movement

In ballroom dancing, directions of progressive movement, in particular, directions of steps, can be indicated either in relation to the room or in relation to the body position. Directions of turns, although there are only two of them, may also be indicated in several ways.

Quickstep

The quickstep is a light-hearted dance of the standard ballroom dances. The movement of the dance is fast and powerfully flowing and sprinkled with syncopations. The upbeat melodies that quickstep is danced to make it suitable for both formal and informal events. Quickstep was developed in the 1920s in New York City and was first danced by Caribbean and African dancers. Its origins are in combination of slow foxtrot combined with the Charleston, a dance which was one of the precursors to what today is called swing dancing.

Box step

Box step is a basic dance step named after the pattern it creates on the floor, which is that of a square or box. It is used in a number of American Style ballroom dances: rumba, waltz, bronze-level foxtrot. While it can be performed individually, it is usually done with a partner. This is the most common dance step in the waltz. In international standard dance competition, there is a similar step called closed change.

Walking Boston

The Walking Boston, sometimes designated the One Step Waltz, is a very simple dance in which many graceful figures may be introduced. It is done to the same music as the Hesitation Waltz and Dream Waltz.

Samba de Gafieira is a partner dance to various Brazilian samba musical rhythms. Unlike street and club forms of Brazilian samba, it evolved as a ballroom dance.

The feather or feather step is a dance figure in the International Style foxtrot. Depending on a syllabus, it consists of three or four steps, with the third step done outside the lady with a slight turn in the body position to the right.

International standard waltz

Waltz is one of the five dances in the Standard category of the International Style ballroom dances. It was previously referred to as slow waltz or English waltz.

V6 is a silver level dance pattern of the quickstep International Standard Ballroom dance syllabus. The couple moves diagonally to the center (DC) and then diagonally to the wall (DW), thus sweeping a V-shape on the floor.

Contra body movement

Contra body movement is used in ballroom dances, such as waltz, foxtrot, tango, and quickstep. It comprises turning the body against the movement of the legs: either moving forward with the right foot and the left hip and shoulder, or vice versa.

The whisk is a ballroom dance step used in the waltz and American style Viennese waltz. It is one of several ways to get into promenade position and is used to turn dancers around corners or change their direction on the dance floor. It can be performed after a reverse turn.

A natural turn is a dance step in which the partners turn around each other clockwise. Its near-mirror counterpart is the reverse turn, which is turning to the counter-clockwise.

The impetus is a ballroom dance step used in the waltz, foxtrot or quickstep. The open impetus is one of several ways to get into promenade position and is used to turn dancers around corners or change their direction on the dance floor. It is often performed after a natural turn.

The Telemark is a ballroom dance step; in waltz competition, it is in the Silver syllabus. Telemarks are reverse turns where the follower does a heel turn as the leader travels around her. There are similar Telemarks in foxtrot and quickstep.

A wing is a ballroom dance move, in the silver syllabus of competition waltz. It is a transitional movement that repositions the follower to the leader's left side. Thus, while many dance moves can precede a wing, only a reverse movement can follow a wing, such as a reverse turn, double reverse spin, Telemark, fallaway reverse, or drag hesitation.

There are several types of lock step in waltz dancing, including International Standard waltz. A "lock step" is when the moving foot approaches to the standing foot and crosses in front of or behind it, creating a "check" position.

The chassé is a waltz ballroom dance figure. Like chassés in other dances, it involves a triple-step where one foot "chases" the other in a "step-together-step" pattern. It is derived from a ballet step.

References

  1. The Ballroom Technique; Moore, Alex (2006). Published by ISTD ASIN: B000PH46KI.
  2. 1 2 BallroomDancers.com