Is "Up" higher than "continue to rise" ?

I was never sure whether up was lower as a result of the legs being apart lowering the centre of gravity, or higher owing the greater stability in an open position making it possible to rise further without loosing balance.

"Anonymous. So the question seems to be on a Whisk is the full rise made on step two with no further rise on step three."

There's no room to dispute the fact that the official rise and fall does not have a continuation of the rise during step three. You had simply posted the rise and fall for a different figure instead of the whisk. You can of course suggest your own way of doing it, but that's your answer and shouldn't be mistaken with anything found in a technique book.

"For those interested it might be worth looking at the Whisk in Learn the Dances on this site."

I don't see any rise on three there. Remember than in the whisk step three begins when the feet pass to end step two.

Much of the continuation of rise on step three in other figures is due to the definition of when step two ends - in closing figures, the second half of the closing action is part of step 3, so the rise that occurs during the second half of the closing is rise continuing during step three. Not so the whisk.

Hi to All,
The Whisk is a figure first danced by the late Alex Moore. He originally danced it at a corner as an alternative figure to the Change of Direction in the Slow Foxtrot.

When it was introduced into the Waltz, step 3 was only 2 or 3 inches from the heel of the supporting foot when in the crossed behind position. He insisted that the step should be classed as a closing step with it still being under the hips and no noticeable body movement backwards when the weight is transferred. (Those of us who are lucky to have an early edition of his book 'Ballroom Dancing' will find a photo of Alex and his partner, Pat Kilpatrick, demonstrating step 3 of the Whisk.)

When the Imperial Society revised the book it was the late Bill Irvine who argued that step 3 was now danced as a more open step so the rise should be Up on 3 and not continue to rise on 3.

Not quite true--- Carl Bryant developed the whisk-- there is a story told, that during a demonstration of a closed change, he stumbled slightly to the side and in so doing placed his left behind to prevent him from falling .

Being " fond " of whiskey ( a little too much at the time )-- the immediate suggestion was to adapt the name as we now know it .

Hi Terence,
Nice story. My message came from Alex Moore. I will search for this when not too busy.

I have the book, 'Modern Ballroom Dancing' by Carl Bryant. Reading part of his description of the Whisk, quote:

The Whisk is one of the most popular movements introduced into Ballroom Dancing for many years. Although not a difficult figure to execute, it is danced badly more frequently than any other movement...

Maybe he was referring to your story.

He ( among others )very often get credit, by just " being there " .

He ( Carl ) actually developed it , apparently during the course of a lesson at Alex,s studio

Isn't that strange. It would seem that a normal Whisk isn't in favour. In demonstrations there are Back Whisks, Marcus in his Basic Waltz does two but there are no Whisks going forward.

You will find it more in use in the lower level competitive ranks-- Pro,s have more options to access prom.

I'll add my bit to the Alex Moore story and that picture. Being that his expertise as a competitor was in another direction and not Ballroom Dancing . He never won a Ballroom Competition ever. He was a Blues Dancer which went out of favour because the music was slow and the balance difficult. I was always under the impression that that photo was from the Blues.

Hi Serendipidy,
The photo of Alex and Pat is a frontispiece in all the early editions of his book, 'Ballroom Dancing'. The caption reads:

/*Famous teachers and demonstrators of ballroom dancing show the position of the feet and body in the Whisk variation.*/

Philip J. S. Richardson wrote of Alex:

/* I have known him for a number of years and one of my first recollections of him is his success, with his sister, in the big 'Blues' competition at Princes Galleries in 1923, and when for three years the World's Championships were held in London. I seem to remember he was 'close up' in the professional section. */