Dance the Waltz (International Version)
The Waltz is a smooth progressive dance characterized by long, flowing movements, continuous turns, and rise
Steps
- Find a song that is a slow 3/4 song because anything faster would be a different type of waltz, with a different set of guidelines. Though you can keep the basic waltz steps and apply it across different genres.
- Learn the basic handhold ("frame"). The right hand of the man will be on the woman's shoulder blade, rarely the waist or under her armpit. The lady's left hand is on the partner's shoulder or upper arm.
- Master the box step. Guys, take your left foot and move it forward. Then take your right foot and place it so your foot is parallel to your left one and so the width is a little wider than your shoulders. Bring your feet together. Step back with your right, then place your left foot parallel and a little wider than your shoulders. Bring your feet together and voila! You've completed the box step.
- Girls, mirror what your partner does. But that's only for the beginning. If you are trying to learn it and become a competitive dancer, you need a real coach.
- After the dance, if both partners are comfortable with it, give each other a hug. After all, it is a close position dance. Nothing better to finish it off with a close embrace. The traditional ending, especially for someone you are not close with, would be a simple "thank you for the dance."
Tips
- Your movements should be fluid, so you might try pretending you are floating on a cloud.
- Take advantage of all mediums to learn the waltz. Video is a great way to visually learn and commit them to memory.
- Dance with all levels of dancers!
- Watch 'Dancing With The Stars' and 'So You Think You Can Dance'. Waltz is one of the most classical ballroom dances you can learn and the most common dance to be competed upon.
- Before you even dance, do what a musical conductor does: Trace a triangle anti-clockwise with your right hand going across in the first beat. That way, you can get the feel for what a 3/4 beat is like, and hopefully you can stay in time.
- Don't be afraid to tell your dance partner what level you dance at, if you are a beginner or have been dancing for years. This helps your partner figure out what sort of steps they should be leading, or what sort of steps the should expect to follow.
- Talking is optional. at the start. Sure, it is hard to focus and learn a new dance, but you have to stay relaxed and make sure you keep your partner engaged. After you get better, it would be good to talk to your partner and hold a normal conversation. Slow dances like the waltz does allow for that. Besides, it can be a very intimate dance. If you can't talk, then don't force it. After all, your eye contact can say so much - although competitively trained ballroom dancers will often avoid eye contact to maintain the correct "looking left" frame. But after you get better, do everything to have a conversation.
Warnings
- For beginners, no matter how many times you trip on your partner's toes, never look down at your feet. Though the partner would figure that you are an amateur. Then after you get better, glide on the floor. Recent comment from the judges of 'So You Think You Can Dance' said that waltz (when the comment was made, the dancers were doing Viennese Waltz) should be floating, gliding and very flowing and effortless.
- There are many types of waltz, from the strictly closed position international waltz to the faster, more open (where you and your partner won't be eye to eye all the time) Viennese Waltz (that's your 3/8 and 6/8 songs like 'That's Amour' by Dean Martin). Though the basic techniques are the same, the degree of freedom for open spins and twirls and the speed of music vary. But no matter what, waltz is supposed to be an 'effortless' dance. Though the man has to be very much in control of what he does and be a good leader.
Things You'll Need
- Willing partner that doesn't mind dancing in close proximity, preferably one with similar height and body size.
- A song in 3/4 time (or 3/8 or 6/8 for other types of waltz).
