PATTERNS AND ROUTINES FOR INTERNATIONAL WALTZ -copyright Jonathan Tyrone Rowell, 2003 Bronze Syllabus 1. Closed Changes - the basic glue steps, fwd/back, side close 2. Natural Turn - aka Right Turn, 3/4 turn to right over two measures 3. Reverse Turn - aka Left Turn, 3/4 turn to left over two measures. You cannot dance international waltz without these first three figures (unlike in American style Waltz). 4. Natural Spin Turn - why they include this as pre-bronze, I'll never know. For those familiar with American Foxtrot, this is basically stringing a Quarter Turn to the Right (overturned) together with a turning Right Rock Step - minus the initial LF slow and the terminal side-together QQ. For most bronze dancers, keep this for the corners and underturned on the side. If you can hit a full amount of turn, you're probably ready for Silver. 5. Whisk - this serves the same role as the Twinkle does in American style. At Bronze, you're pretty much limited to following with the Chasse from PP 6. Chasse from Promenade Position - this is the first syncopated figure that you should be introduced to (1 2&3). square up (approximately) after the first step and at then end, the leader should be able to step outside of his partner. 7. Closed Impetus - This is possibly the most difficult bronze figure to do properly. Socially, its relatively fudgeable, but really developing the heel turn and step back will require a lot of practice. Once you reach Silver, and meet the Open Impetus, you will never ever do this move again. 8. Hesitation Change - another heel turn figure, but it feels more natural. The big danger is a tendancy for your partner to close her feet, rather than gather without weight. This figure is much more useful in Quickstep than in Waltz, because Waltz has the Natural Turn and Change Step. Hesitation just shaves offs one measure of music. 9. Outside Change - When you have to haul it down the line of dance, the Outside Change is the weapon of choice. You alternate this move with a slightly underturned 1-3 Natural Turn. LF back, RF back LF side, prepping to step out side partner. It can also be shaped into a Promenade Figure, in which case you will have to dance the Chasse afterwards. 10. Reverse Corte - the hidden jewel of Bronze Waltz. Few people do this figure, but it isn't overly difficult to perform. The Reverse Corte belongs (in my opinion) to the family of Wing, Closed Wing and Cross Hesitation. Despite the fact that the Reverse Corte moves back down the LOD in CP rather then fwd in PP, the pose/ hesitation without weight of the guy strikes me the same as the other moves. Note that woman does not really "corte" like in American or International Tango. 11. Back Whisk - normal whisk action, but first step is back for the guy and fwd for the girl. Typically the ending for a progressive chasse to R or Back Lock 12. Basic Weave - in Waltz, the Basic weave is a back check/rock step (RF) ended side step, followed by Outside Change. There are enough figures in the Bronze Syllabus that the Basic Weave in Waltz comes across as kinda ho-hum, but it is useful if you need to delay in the same basic spot due to traffic. 13. Double Reverse Spin - second of the three terribles. Despite the name, you actually only do one complete turn to the left (each half-turn step is a separate spin). This move can be inserted anywhere where the left foot (guy) is free, any alignment, because your left with LF free and the same alignment. It inserts a little extra pizzazz to your basic routine without actually altering the pattern structure that you developed. 14. Reverse Pivot - the most difficult manuever for Bronze, not so much for the technical issues (see Closed Impetus) but because of the fast spin over a half-beat of music. Once you get it thought, its useful for quickly getting back into reverse figures. 15. Back Lock - Identical to the quickstep figure, with chasse timing. 16. Progressive Chasse to Right - use as an alternative to the Reverse Turn, curving a chasse from DC to backing DW. You are normally limited to following with a Back Lock, Closed Impetus or Back Whisk, but if you really curve the chasse, you can follow with an Outside Change. Bronze Mastery of Syllabus Routine (31m) Long: Reverse Turn, LF Change, Natural Turn, RF Change, Double Reverse Spin, 1-3 Reverse Turn to Basic Weave, Natural Spin Turn (3/4R) Short: Reverse Corte, Back Whisk, Progressive Chasse, 1-3 Natural Turn, Outside Change to PP, Progressive Chasse, Natural Turn Long: Natural Hesitation, 1-3 Reverse Turn, Reverse Pivot, Progressive Chasse R (3/8L), Back Lock, Closed Impetus Short: 4-6 Reverse Turn, Whisk, Progressive Chasse, 1-3 Natural Turn, Outside Change, Natural Turn 1. (6m) Natural Turn*, RF Change*, Reverse Turn*, LF Change* 2. (7m) Natural Turn / Right Closed Change / Reverse Turn / Whisk / Chasse from PP 3. (5m) Whisk*, Chasse from PP*, Natural Spin Turn*, 4-6 Reverse Turn 4. (6m) Whisk / Chasse from PP / Hesitation Change / Reverse Turn 5. (12m) Whisk, Chasse from PP, 1-3 Natural Turn (1/4R), Outside Change*, 1-3 Natural Turn (1/4R), Outside Change to PP*, Chasse from PP, Natural Turn, RF Change, Reverse Turn 6. (6m) Hesitation Change, Progressive Chasse to the Right*, Back Lock*, Back Whisk (with turn, at corner)*, Chasse from PP 7. (8m) 1-3 Rev T, Basic Weave, Nat Spin (under), 4-6 Rev T, Progressive Chasse R, Back Whisk 8. (10m) 1-3 Reverse Turn, Reverse Corte*, 4-6 Natural Turn (Lady OP), RF Change, 1-3 Reverse Turn, Basic Weave*, Natural Turn, RF Change 9. (5m) Natural Spin Turn / Reverse Corte / Back Whisk / Chasse from PP 10. (9m) 1-3 Natural Turn, Closed Impetus*, 4-6 Reverse Turn, LF Change, Hesitation Change*, Reverse Turn, LF Change 11. (9m) Natural Spin Turn, 4-6 Reverse Turn, LF Change, Natural Spin Turn, Reverse Corte, Back Lock, Closed Impetus 12. (16m) Reverse Turn, Double Reverse Spin, Whisk, Chasse from PP, 1-3 Natural Turn, Outside Change, Natural Spin Turn, 4-6 Reverse Turn, LF Change, Hesitation Change, Progressive Chasse to Right, Back Lock, Whisk 13. (14m) Natural Turn, RF Change (to LOD), Double Reverse Spin*, 1-3 Reverse Turn to Basic Weave, Natural Turn, RF Change, 1-3 Reverse Turn, Reverse Pivot*, 1-3 Reverse Turn to Basic Weave 14. (11m) Natural Turn, RF Change, Progressive Chasse to Right, Closed Impetus, Reverse Corte (1/2), Back Lock, Closed Impetus, Reverse Pivot, Reverse Turn, LF Change 15. (13m) Natural Turn, RF Change, Progressive Chasse to R, Closed Impetus, Reverse Corte, Back Lock, Closed Impetus, 4-6 Reverse Turn, Whisk, Chasse from PP, Natural Spin Turn 16. (3m) Natural Spin Turn checked / Reverse Pivot / Double Reverse Spin 17. (8m) Nat Spin T (underturned), 4-6 Rev T, Double Reverse Spin, Rev T, Whisk, Chasse 18. (7m) Natural Spin Turn / 4-6 Reverse Turn / Double Reverse Spin x2 / Whisk at corner (man turns 1/4) / Chasse from PP 19. (6m) Natural Spin Turn / 4-6 Reverse Turn / Double Reverse Spin / Progressive Chasse to R turned / Outside Change 20. (10m) at corner, 1-3 Natural Turn, Closed Impetus, Basic Weave, Natural Turn, 1-3 Natural Turn, Outside Change, 1-3 Natural Turn, Back Whisk 21. (7m) Natural Spin Turn, Pivot, Double Reverse Spin, 1-3 Reverse Turn, Reverse Pivot, Double Reverse Spin, Progressive Chasse to R, Closed Impetus 22. (4m) Overturned Chasse to Right, Outside Change, Natural Hesitation Silver/Licentiate 1. Weave from Promenade Position - as the name implies, this is the (Basic) Weave started from PP. The first step is through the partnership. closed position obtained by start of step 4. 2. Closed Telemark - Telemarks can be thought of as fast Reverse Turns, you cover all 3/4L rotation in a single measure, 3/8 each on the first two steps. Go straight into a natural figure (no need for a change step). 3. Open Telemark & Cross Hesitation - Listed together, these are actually two separate moves. The Open Telemark is the same as the closed Telemark except that you end it in Promenade Position (1/4 and 1/2L for guy, 3/8 and no turn for girl). This move can be followed by any Promenade figure. The cross hesitation will be familiar to American style dancers, and can be thought of as the second part of a bronze Twinkle where the guy just waits after stepping through with his RF. 4. Open Telemark & Wing - Open Telemark as above. The Wing is an advanced step up of the Cross Hesitation. Guy uses a little more rotation to the left, but otherwise his steps are the same. The follower, however, takes her three steps as thru-side-fwd, the last step LF fwd outside the guy on his left side. Typically follow with a reverse figure, the first step outside partner on her L side. 5. Open Impetus & Cross Hesitation - The Open Impetus is essentially a Silver Twinkle from 1-3 Natural Turn. LF goes back, execute a heel turn, then brush and out into PP. Particularly if you do American Smooth, you will never again do a Closed Impetus without good cause. (The "Open" here means ending in PP - same as the Telemark) 6. Open Impetus & Wing - both moves have been discussed. This is the amalgamation of them. 7. Outside Spin - The Reverse Pivot's evil, opposite direction cousin. The couple will perfrom a complete turn to the Right, each partner in different portions over the measure. 8. Turning Lock - This is like a Back Lock, but the rhythm is 1&2 3. Because you start with RF, it is still LF cross in front of RF on the syncopation. A 1/4L turn is achieved on step 3. last step is to side prepping to go outside. This figure can also be ended in PP. 9. Drag Hesitation* - This figure has been relegated to the acceptable variations lists, but used to be a full member of the silver syllabus. Think of it as a one measure Reverse hesitation, started LOD and ended backing DW with LF free Routines Master of Silver Syllabus Routine Natural Hesitation, Closed Telemark, 1-3 Natural Turn, Open Impetus and Wing, Open Telemark and Wing, Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation, Outside Spin, Natural Turn, Natural Turn, RF Change to LOD, Drag Hesitation, Open Impetus and Cross Hesitation, Back Whisk, Weave from PP, Natural Spin Turn, Turning Lock, Natural Turn 1. (10m) 1-3 Natural Turn, Outside Change to PP, Weave from PP*, 1-3 Natural Turn, Open Impetus* and Wing*, Reverse Turn, LF Change 2. (10m) 1-3 Natural Turn, Open Impetus and Cross Hesitation*, 4-6 Natural Spin Turn, 4-6 Reverse Turn, LF Change, Natural Turn, RF Change, Closed Telemark* 3. (11m) Open Telemark* and Cross Hesitation, Back Whisk, Weave from PP, 1-3 Natural Turn, Open Impetus, Chasse from PP, Natural Turn, RF Change 4. (11m) Open Telemark and Wing, Reverse Turn, LF Change, Natural Spin Turn, Turning Lock*, Natural Turn, RF Change 5. (13m) Closed Telemark, Natural Turn, RF Change, Reverse Turn, Whisk, Cross Hesitation, Outside Spin*, Turning Lock, Natural Turn, RF Change 6. (7m) Whisk, Weave from PP ended PP*, Wing, Progressive Chasse to R, Closed Impetus, 4-6 Reverse Turn 7. (13m) Open Telemark, Weave from PP, Open Impetus, Chasse from PP, 1-3 Natural Turn, Outside Change, Hesitation Change, Closed Telemark, Natural Turn, RF Change 8. (6m) 1-3 Reverse Turn, Reverse Corte, Outside Spin, Natural Turn, RF Change 9. (13m) 1-3 Reverse Turn, Reverse Pivot, Double Reverse Spin, LF Change, Natural Turn, RF Change, Closed Telemark, Natural Turn, RF Change, Reverse Turn, Drag Hesitation* 10. (9m) Natural Spin Turn full / Turning Lock / Hesitation Change / Double Reverse Spin x2 / Progressive Chasse to R overturned / Outside Change 11. (7m) 1-3 Natural Turn / Open Impetus / Wing / Progressive Chasse to R / Outside Change ending in PP / Cross Hesitation / Outside Spin (full) 12. (4m) Natural Spin Turn / Turning Lock / 1-3 Natural Turn 13. (5m) 1-3 Natural Turn / Open Impetus / Weave from PP ended PP / Chasse from PP 14. (8m) Progressive Chasse R, Outside Spin, 1-3 Natural Turn, Closed Impetus, Turning Lock to PP, Wing, Drag Hesitation, 3/4 Outside Spin 15. (10m) Open Telemark, Chasse from PP, Natural Hesitation, Progressive Chasse to R, Back Lock, Open Impetus, Wing, Double Reverse Spin, Closed Telemark Gold/Fellow 1. Left Whisk - as the name implies, this is a Whisk taken to the Man's left. It is a very easy move for dancers to pick up socially. Normally, it is a follow to any move that opens into PP, but it can also be done from figures backing LOD with RF free. The traditional end is a syncopated chasse by the woman which untwists the guy. An acceptable variant is a Whisk on the 1st beat after a Natural Spin Turn and Turning Lock and leads into the Contra Check. 2. Contra Check - this is the big pose line that the competitors do in front of the judges or favorites in the crowd. I've usually seen this move drawn out over more than one measure of music, typically with extra lowering at the knees, but the "book" form is a quick LF check, body to the left (DW) knee flexed, transfer and rise, then off to PP down LOD. 3. Closed Wing - the most "advanced" of what I like to call the Twinkle family's international cousins, this one actually is initiated from Closed Position not PP (Hence the name). Except for the lady step LF back on 1 and not using any turn, this move is essentially the Wing of the Silver Syllabus. 4. Turning Lock to Right - The turning Lock of Silver syllabus turned to Left, the gold version here goes right 3/8 into PP. The syncopation is the same as the silver figure (1&2 3) 5. Fallaway Reverse & Slip Pivot - There are really two parts here. The Fallaway Reverse could just as easily been called "I'm turning a normal whisk DC ended with a pivot." That isn't actually right, but it captures the image created. For the guy (facing DC) this is actually what happens for the first three steps. The tricky part is that he first turns 1/4L on the LF and then executes a small 1/8L or 1/4L pivot with RF back. The lady gets three steps mostly back, then a 5/8 pivot on RF, followed by LF fwd and another 1/8L or 1/4 pivot. Getting the sequence down into timing is where the real mastery lies for this figure. What's worse, there are two different rhythms (123& and 12&3). The some of the turns and pivots are actually taking place or quarter and 3/4 beats (depending on the larger rhythm). Socially, this is actually very fudgeable (see above description). 6. Hover Corte - another big pose line for the Waltz, it also can be done with an extra measure ("book" approved). This one is initiated with RF back down LOD, turning 3/8L. You'll want to take the first step of the next figure LF back DC a LOD (so Outside Change, Back Whisk or Outside Spin) 7. Fallaway Whisk* - this figure has been relegated to the acceptable variations bin. This figure is identical to the Back Whisk - except for all the technical bits. That's why its not part of the main syllabus any more. Man is Toe-Heel on all three steps, rise is accomplished on the end of 1. There are some minor turn differences as well. Unless you are actually striving for mastery of the entire syllabus, this one can be left untouched without any effective loss to your Waltz. Routines Master of Gold Syllabus Routine Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot, Contra Check, Left Whisk and untwist, Fallaway Whisk, Chasse from PP, Closed Wing, Back Whisk, Chasse from PP, Natural Turn Natural Turn, RF Change, 1-3 Reverse Turn, Hover Corte, Outside Spin (underturned to back LOD), Turning Lock R, Cross Hesitation 1. (13m) Whisk, Left Whisk and untwist*, Back Whisk, Chasse from PP, Hesitation Change, Reverse Turn, Contra Check*, Wing, Reverse Turn 2. (10m) Whisk, Chasse from PP (to C/DC), Closed Wing*, Reverse Turn, Natural Spin Turn (Overturned), Turning Lock to Right*, Cross Hesitation, Back Whisk 3. (9m) Wing, Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot*, Whisk, Chasse from PP, Natural Spin Turn (Overturned), Hover Corte*, Outside Change 4. (7m) 1-3 Natural Turn, Fallaway Whisk*, Left Whisk and untwist, Closed Impetus, Hover Corte, Outside Change 5. (11m) Reverse Turn, Drag Hesitation, Open Impetus, Left Whisk and untwist, Back Whisk, Weave from PP, Closed Wing, 6. (6m) Natural Spin Turn, 1-4 Turning Lock to Left Whisk on 1st beat to Contra Check, Chasse from PP 7. (6m) Natural Spin Turn overturned / Turning Lock to R x2 (1st overturned) / Chasse from PP / Closed Wing 8. (4m) Left Whisk with Natural Twist Turn ending / Back Whisk / Chasse from PP 9. (7m) Left Whisk (2 bars) / Runaround ending (3 bars) / Back Whisk / Chasse 10. (5m) Natural Spin Turn checked / Reverse Pivot / Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot / Double Reverse Spin 11. (5m) Progressive Chasse to R / Outside Change / Hesitation Change / Contra Check 12. (5m) Natural Spin Turn overturned / Turning Lock to R / Weave from PP 13. (8m) 1-3 Natural Turn / Open Impetus / Weave from PP ended PP / Hover Corte (6 count) / Outside Spin / 1-3 Natural Turn -end copyright --------------------------------------------- Waltz : OverSway ================ 1 R foot to E, wR 2 L foot to E, wL 3 wL, bend L knee. R leg lock knee and straight out. Only R toes contact ground. Turn foot in (Big Toe contact ground) Upper body lead to W (Right Leg) Shoulder turned left (left shoulder back, right shoulder forward) Turn face to look at girl's face. girl's 3 Mirror Guys feet. Girl will lean back. (Guy does not lean forward nor backwards) Girl face left Also can be done in 2 bars 123 456 counts. Waltz : Recover to Promenade Position ===================================== 1 Transfer wL to wR by straightening Left knee and bending right knee and close L foot to R foot. 2 Rise onto both toes, wR Guy face S. Girl face N. 3 Step L foot forward and left side. SouthEast. wL Promenade Position To dance to SE Waltz : Curved Feather ====================== 1 Heel Step. Right foot step to left, SouthEastEast. 2 Toe Step. Left foot step forward, South 3 Toe Step. Outside partner. Right foot step forward. SouthWest. Weight right and flat foot.