Notes from Josh Jones

          Although it appears so, Vienesse is not a turning dance. On the left turn, the man steps straight forward with the left foot and then again straight forward with the right before twisting his feet together. The dancers do not rise and fall in Viennese Waltz, it just appears that they do.

           The man is slightly offset to the left of the woman so he can see forward. The man must keep his head out of the woman's space and the woman must lean her head backward to her left. This helps create space. The person going backward pivots with small steps and points while the person going forward turns.

          Josh likes to swing his right arm forward when demonstrating technique to emphasize a pendulum movement of the body.

Notes from Jim Day's Lesson

          Your belly button turns a full 180 degrees on each turn. Knees should always be slightly bent and stay bent on all steps. You are much more stable in a bent position. Jim believes you should dance Vienesse Waltz with your feet flat since there is no time to go on toe, the dance is too fast.

          Dance with your shoulders leading. The person going forward is providing the thrust and the person going backward is pointing and getting out of the way. The man's left hand and woman's right hand must not go above the woman's eye level. Push your head back into your collar but do not hunch backwards.

          The person turning thrusts his or her pelvis upward. When in a shadow position doing a right turn, get a good grip on the woman's right pelvic crest. The person going backward pivots with small steps, points sideways and gets out of the way of the other turning partner. I have found that sweeping the shoulders and pointing has really helped.

Notes from Buddy Stotts

One leg provide the forward power thrust. The man and the woman should have a loose frame that allows movement.

Notes from Virginia 10/24/09

           I am over turning (turning too much). The first movement to the V cross is not a full turn but rather more a three eigths turn. I have to develop a better sense of where my body is and what it is doing.

Notes from Wayne Lesson 10/25/09

          Footwork is important. Linda was hitting my feet when she turned on the second half of the V cross turn. This occurred because I was not moving to the side and out of the way. It is important that I curve my right foot to the side and out of the way to allow her feet to move forward. On the forward movement, my right hip moves to the left along with my shoulders. The head and shoulders point to diagonal wall and the head flips forward at the V cross.

Notes from Virginia 10/31/09

          The hand connection position and resistance are important. You keep open space by lowering your connecting hand and not squeezing them together at shoulder height.

Notes from Josh Jones 11/2/09

On the backward half of the reverse turn, point your toe and keep it there. Close with the other foot. Once you place your toe, don't move it. Foward-Forward-Turn It's forward movements with a turn at the end. Keep your head in the right place to create space for the woman. You create the frame and the woman puts her body into your frame.You turn your hips on the Turn V Cross. The body's movement should create the V cross, not foot movement. Rest stably on the left foot when settling on the V Cross.

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