How to - Viennese Waltz
HOW TO DO A VIENNESE WALTZ
A Viennese Waltz does not really bear any relation to what we know as the waltz, for a start it is twice as fast! If a normal waltz can be counted “1,2 and 3” at 90bpm, this one is 1,2,3,4,5,6 at 180bpm and involves constant movement. There are not many steps, as such, but what there is as a style all of its own! To watch a large number of couples circling the floor and dancing in this style is truly breathtaking.
This is a rotary dance where you are constantly turning clock/anti-clockwise (natural and reverse turns) and if you are not turning in this manner you are doing change steps or spinning on the spot – doing your fleckle! (this is quite hard, so don’t expect to learn it quickly). American VW has things such as open hold, pivots, underarm turns etc, - but I don’t think they are allowed in a British comp. so I wont go into that here!
Firstly, you need a good close hold. With all this spinning, you need to ensure you as a couple have a good centre of gravity – you do not want to fall over! Because you are moving so fast, you need to give your trust to the lead, and let him steer you. This is best achieved again if he is holding you correctly.
The Viennese Waltz does not have rise and fall, apart from anything else it is too fast to incorporate it, and it could leave your audience feeling sea-sick! NOTE: the VW you may see on DWTS bears little resemblance to that danced in Vienna!
The best way to begin to learn this dance is actually on your own, in a largeish room with nothing for you to trip over or bang into. You may well get dizzy and nauseous, this dance also requires a good level of physical fitness. I suggest you do a little each day to build your stamina. Some people suggest you start off in flat shoes, so you don’t “go over” on your heels.
Man/Woman steps are the same –they just “mirror” each other. Like I said, a rotation is 1,2,3,4,5,6 – so when one is doing 1,2,3 –the other is doing 4,5,6 and vice versa. Note 4,5,6 should be smaller steps, so that 1,2,3 can get around you! If you rotate to the right, this is a natural turn. I try to think of my watch. It is “natural” for the hands to turn “right”. A reverse turn therefore is when you are rotating to the left. Change steps is how you switch direction in your turns when carrying on moving. To spin in one spot is to “fleckle”, this is handy if you fancy showing off a bit, or are stuck – perhaps another couple is in your way?
OK – here’s how to do it!
Natural Turn
Step 1 Listen to the beat. The emphasis will be on the first and fourth beats, and the turns will be on the quick beats. It goes: ONE, 2,3 FOUR, 5,6 ONE, 2,3 FOUR 5,6
Step 2 Have both feet facing 60deg to the left of the line of dance. Step forward with your right foot so you turn to face the line of dance. Continue rotating on the toe of your right foot, you should turn 90 deg.
Step 3 Move left foot in direction of line of dance, stay on the toe of your left foot. Move your right foot so it is next to the left foot. Have your back facing 60 deg towards the left of the direction you are dancing.
Step 4 Rotate your body as you step backward on your left. You should be facing the line of dance.
Step 5 Put right foot down line of dance, facing 60 deg, to the left of the line of dance. Slide your left foot over so its next to the right foot.
Step 6 Repeat
Reverse Turn
Step 1 Do the same as above, but move with your left foot first instead of your right.
Step 2 Move your left foot over your right foot on the third step
Step 3 Place it between your partners feet
Step 4 Continue the turn
CHANGE STEPS
Step 1 Use change steps to make the transition from natural to reverse turns
Step 2 Take 2 steps down the line of dance
Step 3 Move the moving food next to the standing foot on the third step
THE FLECKLE
Step 1 Turn in a circle with your partner. You will step with your left foot in front of the right foot as you turn, then step with your left foot behind the right foot. Then step with your left foot before your right foot. Your partner will do the same.
Step 2 Reverse direction by checking your movement, rock forward on to the left foot, back on the right, step on the left, then begin rotating in the other direction.
