Waltz Turn Technique

Lesson Plan
by
H. Leon Raper

DEFINITIONS
(Flashlight, FFF, Spotting, Pivot)

HELP

Cross

A foot position that places the free foot in front of, and over the weighted foot.

Hook

A foot position that places one foot behind the other in a way that requires the toe of the "hooking foot" (free foot) to come in past the heel and nestle near the outside arch of the weighted foot.

Flashlight

Protruding forward from your CPB.

FFF (Feet Follow Frame)

The frame leads and the feet follow.

Pivot

Turn Flashlight "½ turn" in the direction of the "Forward Foot" - Inner Thighs together in turns.

Spotting

The head stays facing one direction while the flashlight turns. When the head can no longer maintain its position, then it moves instantaneously in the direction of the turn coming around to the original spot, or to a new spot - depending on whether it is a full turn (360 degrees) or a pivot (½ turn - 180 degrees).

E X E R C I S E
(Rt Turn in B-LOD - Developing FFF - Stopping) - No Music

HELP

SETUP

M & W facing Back to LOD.
M & W start with Lt Foot.
M & W will do the same step pattern.
Single Tracking - on same line.

PATTERN (ABSOLUTE - Stopping)

"& a 4"

Step "straight back" with Lt Foot - 4th Foot Position (do not turn body or foot).

"&"

½ turn Rt with Flashlight - Spot.
Allow the Rt foot to follow into a Cross in front of the Lt foot.

"a"

Stop on "a" count without a weight change (in a "cross" with "inner thighs together").

"5"

Step "straight forward" with Rt Foot - 4th Foot Position (do not turn body or foot).

"&"

½ turn Rt with Flashlight - Spot.
Allow the Lt foot to follow into a Hook behind the Rt foot.

"a"

Stop on "a" count without a weight change (in a "cross" with "inner thighs together").

"6"

Step "straight back" with the Lt Foot - 4th Foot Position.

IMPORTANT POINTS

Single Tracking - on same line.
Press into turns.
Monitor full ½ turn with Flashlight (Spotting), CPB, Frame, Tracking
Count [&a4 &a5 &a6]

E X E R C I S E - Absolute Pattern
(Rt Turn in B-LOD - Without Stopping) - No Music

HELP

SETUP

M & W facing Back to LOD.
M & W start with Lt Foot.
M & W will do the same step pattern.
Single Tracking - on same line.

PATTERN (ABSOLUTE - Without Stopping)

"& a 1"

Step back Rt - 4th Foot Position

"& a 2"

Step back Lt - 4th Foot Position

"& a 3"

Step back Rt - 4th Foot Position

"& a 4"

Step back Lt - 4th Foot Position

"& a 5"

½ turn Rt - Spotting on "&" count.
Allow the Rt foot to follow into a Cross in front of the Lt foot.
Step Forward with Rt Foot - 4th Foot Position

"& a 6"

½ turn Rt - Spotting on "&" count.
Allow the Lt foot to follow into a Hook behind the Rt foot.
Step Back with the Lt Foot - 4th Foot Position.

IMPORTANT POINTS

Single Tracking - on same line.
Press into turns.
Full ½ turns with Flashlight - Spotting on "&" count.
Keep Inner Thighs together in turns.
Count [&a1 &a2 &a3] [&a4 &a5 &a6]

E X E R C I S E - Absolute Pattern
(Lt Turn in B-LOD - Without Stopping) - No Music

HELP

SETUP

M & W facing Back to LOD.
M & W start with Lt Foot.
M & W will do the same step pattern.
Single Tracking - on same line.

PATTERN (ABSOLUTE)

"& a 1"

Step back Rt - 4th Foot Position - Down.

"& a 2"

½ turn Lt - Up.
Allow the Lt foot to follow into a Cross in front of the Rt foot.
Step Forward with Lt Foot - 4th Foot Position

"& a 3"

½ turn Lt - Up.
Allow the Rt foot to follow into a Hook behind the Lt foot.
Step Back with the Rt Foot - 4th Foot Position.

"& a 4"

Step back Lt - 4th Foot Position - Down.

"& a 5"

½ turn Rt - Up.
Allow the Rt foot to follow into a Cross in front of the Lt foot.
Step Forward with Rt Foot - 4th Foot Position

"& a 6"

½ turn Rt - Up.
Allow the Lt foot to follow into a Hook behind the Rt foot.
Step Forward with the Lt Foot - 4th Foot Position.

IMPORTANT POINTS

Single Tracking - on same line.
Press into turns.
Full ½ turn with Flashlight - Spotting.
Keep Inner Thighs together during turns.
Count [&a1 &a2 &a3] [&a4 &a5 &a6]

E X E R C I S E
(Lt and/or Rt Turns) - Music

HELP

*** R E V I E W ***

HELP

Absolute Pattern: Danced alone.

Adjusted Pattern: Danced with a partner.

Cross: A foot position that places the free foot in front of, and over the weighted foot.

Hook: A foot position that places one foot behind the other in a way that requires the toe of the "hooking foot" (free foot) to come in past the heel and nestle near the outside arch of the weighted foot.

FFF: Feet Follow Frame - The frame leads and the feet follow.

Pivot: Turn Flashlight "½ turn" in the direction of the "Forward Foot" keeping Inner Thighs together in turns.

Spotting: The head stays facing one direction while the flashlight turns. When the head can no longer maintain its position, then it moves instantaneously in the direction of the turn coming around to the original spot, or to a new spot - depending on whether it is a full turn (360 degrees) or a pivot (½ turn - 180 degrees).

HELP