There was a thread which was saying that technique should not be taught to a beginner who has just come through the door. It might drive them away. So what do we proceed to do. The hardest group of all to do is a Change Step Natural Turn Change Step Reverse Turn. Start again. Isn't that what is usually taught in the beginners class. Some studios that have a sensible person in charge teach the Quickstep first and dont touch the Waltz for a couple of weeks. Even then it is not neccasary to teach the Reverse or the Natural. Twelve steps can be taught. To start. Face diag to wall after the sixth step be backing diag to centre. After the twelveth step be ready to start again. This can be called Quarter Turns which is very simular to the Quickstep they have already learnt even though it is a Waltz.
A few years ago it was tried here at a competition. The best dancers in the State were only allowed to do the Basic Waltz, not even a Whisk. It wasn't a great success, Especially as it took three complete sets of basics to get to the bottom of side one. It was only ever tried once.
Does anybody believe the Basic Waltz is easy, because it isn' t.

Hi Redriding
you've made some sensible comments. I was lucky enough to be taught quickstep first when i was a beginner, and i remember a lot of the class having terrible trouble with the basic waltz sequence.
You're right about basic waltz being far from easy - if you want to dance it well. I notice most competitors do a natural turn at the start and then they rarely seem to do a figure which requires feet to be closed a la natural or reverse turn
we always warm up with basic waltz concentrating on controlled gathering on 3, and perfect (if only!!) balance.
Good exercise - up and down the hall successive change steps (forward up the hall, backward down the hall) focussing on important points (a la sinkinson - must be my french day!)

I do Int. Waltz and find it difficult too. The American Smooth waltz really moves, the Int. Waltz just pokes along.

The routine that I am going to do in competition covers every bronze syllabus figure and maybe 1 or 2 silver figures. How does one get this dance to move and flow more and feel bigger? Now it feels choppy and small even with whisks and chasse's. Bringing the feet together after many figures makes the dance feel small--especially compared Foxtrot. What figures can you use or eliminate to make this dance flow or move more?