Waltz is probably my favorite ballroom dance. It has been around for hundreds of years and waltz music is played in almost all ballroom dance functions. I love the music!

        We first learned Waltz from Wayne Abbey and have continued our lessons with Natalie Segal (intermediate), Virginia Coker (advanced), Josh Jones (private) and Jared Pruitt (silver).

        Waltz involves a wide open arm posture and careful head positioning, posture matters. The movement is pulsing on one and two and then a slower reaching upward movement on the three that finally settles downward. It took me a good bit of time to realize this. On the three, the leg and foot is moved to the final position first and then the body is stretched to this position slowly. This has to be practiced to make your Waltz feel and look good.

        As with all dances, both partners should feel the music and gracefully move with the rhythm of the sound. It's easy to forget as you race around the dance floor that there is a definite foot placement in the Waltz.

       Forward half of the Waltz basic box: the first forward left movement with the left leg is heel toe, the second movement with the right leg placed forward slightly to the right is toe only and in the third movement the left leg closes to the right toe heel.

       Backward half of the Waltz basic box: the first backward movement is with the right leg and is toe heel, the second movement with the left leg placed backward slightly to the left is toe only and in the third movement the right leg closes to the left toe heel.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The leg that begins a movement forward or back is always positioned on toe before the next movement begins. This is important, especially with Viennese, because it can sometimes be difficult to remember which foot to use next. Waltz alternates foot movements and it is important not to repeat the use of the same foot twice in a row.

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