Could anyone suggest any ideas as to why the drag hesitation (as standardised) DOESN'T have basic waltz rise and fall ?

According to both Howard and Moore, there is rise (at the end of step 2) and fall (end of step 3). I'm not sure what you mean by "basic" rise and fall, though.

What confused me about this figure when I first learned it is the fact that the footwork for the first step (LF) is HT but there is no rise. Howard specifically indicates that the dancer should remain "down" on step 1.

I suppose that foot rise on the first step could possibly fool the lady into thinking that the man is leading a Reverse Turn or even a Double Reverse Spin.



jj

I would say that it is down to the twofold character of the "drag" and the "hesitation". There are only two weight changes over three beats, and when I lead the figure, I make a RF movement very similar to that of a heel pull (ie inside edge of foot), and bring the body weight over the flat foot as I drag in the LF, only rising at the end of 2 ready to lead (usually) a back lock.

If I rose at the e/o 1, as in a normal reverse turn, I dan't think that my partner could discern the lead correctly, and the drag & hesitate movement would falter.