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How to Waltz - Basic Pattern

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Terry Dean: Hi! I am Terry Dean from Terry Deans Dance Studio. Now, what we are going to teach you, is the ballroom dance box step.

The box step is the basic step for the waltz. When we think in terms of the box step, we are going to think of the top of the box and the bottom of the box. The man will be doing the top of the box, while the lady does bottom of the box and vice versa. So, what we are going to do is start first of all with the top of the box, where it's going to be made of the walking steps and side steps. The man will step forward with his left foot forward then do side and then close on together then back, side, together is the bottom of the box. The top of the box forward, side, close, bottom of the box back, side, close, forward, side, close, back, side, close.

Now, I am going to do this with Cindy and you will notice that when I do the top of the box, she will do the bottom one, two, three, then she will come forward, one, two, three, box, side, step, walk, side, close that is the box step.

Now when doing the box step, the box step is going rotate. It's going to rotate to the left on each half of the box, we are going to rotate one quarter of a turn. So, if you are facing one wall, you will turn a quarter turn to another wall, which will be to left. So, I am going to start this with Cindy and we are going to turn a quarter of it turn to the left on each half of the box step. The first one goes one, two, three, I was a quarter of a turn one, two, three, another quarter, one, two, three, another quarter one, two, three, another quarter, and we are right back where we started.

So, every time you do a half of the box, you turn to the quarter turn left and you will get a wonderful rotation and it will make your waltz look beautiful.

Next thing what we are going to do is we are going to talk about the posture and the shaping of the waltz.

Expert: Terry Dean

Ballroom Dancing Expert

www.terrydeansdancestudio.com

Terry is the owner and principal male dance instructor of Terry Dean’s Dance Studio, in Charlottesville, Virginia. He has been teaching ballroom dancing for 30 years and opened his own successful studio following a 19 year career with Arthur Murray Dance Studios. Terry has received accolades for his choreography and has been honored as Virginia State’s Top Studio and Top Teacher twice. He and his staff teach More »