If you're moving in a straight line while practicing the Viennese Waltz on your own then you're practicing it incorrectly. When practicing alone, it is as important to work the shoulders as it is to repeat the steps.

The turn of the follow's head should have no effect whatsoever on the lead's balance. If it does then the follow is not maintaining her own balance.

The turn of the head serves more than artistic purposes, however. Doing so properly helps the follow maintain the proper speed of movement in a figure and avoid "rushing" the lead.

I don't believe that anyone in this thread has asserted that practicing alone is the same as practicing with a partner. If the lone dancer does not do his or her best to replicate the moves as they would be performed with a partner then that dancer is not just wasting time but probably developing bad habits as well. No one should try to practice a figure alone unless it has been practiced with a partner (not an instructor!) first.

I'm sorry if it seems that you're being beaten up for what is simply a poor choice of words. It appears that "execution" may have served better.

As far as your ID is concerned, I will address you as "phil.samways" in the future to avoid confusion. No disrespect was intended.

jj

Hi jj
I wasn't upset about the 'phil samways' thing. it's just that i came into this thread reading the latest post, and it started..."phil. there is a danger dancing solo...." and i thought, that's what i was saying. So it confused me a bit. it was the other Phil. PhilS is what they use here at work (instead of PhilB, who is a colleague).
I'm used to people diagreeing with me. but originally i was responding to the post about getting the balance dancing alone as solving the balance problem. I don't think it will. Dheun made an excellent post which sums up my thoughts on the issue. Then of course there was the pressure on the inside/outside of the sole issue (how did that get in here?) but luckily, that discussion petered out.

Hi phil.samways

/* Then of course there was the pressure on the inside/outside of the sole issue (how did that get in here?)*/

Need you ask?

For some reason, I got postes as Phil. I was responding to phil.samways response.

It was not my intent to indicate that dancing along cures all ills. I don't spend an inordinate amount of time doing so. Mostly, I use it to isolate something that is difficult or confusing, where I can get my head around the proper movements.

I do have a perfect example of a pair that needs to be temporarily split up. They are beginners, and they are learning the beginning foxtrot 6 count basic. The gentleman is having a great deal of difficulty with the concept of stepping straight forward (there's that unfortunate circomstance of having someone right in front of him). It's likely that he could benefit greatly from a few times up and down the floor doing the basic without a partner, so he could get the feel for "his part". Then put him back with his partner and see if it helped.

Jofjonsboro. What is this turning the head in the V Waltz. Why don't you leave the head to the left and let it come around with the body. Anybody who wishes to argue about this I would suggest you go to Richard Gleave Dance Vision 4 or any other tape demonstrating the V Waltz, either a Natural or Reverse Turns. You will see the head stays still. This also applies to the lady.

"Jofjonsboro. What is this turning the head in the V Waltz."

The turning of the head was a reply to phil samwise comment on the fallaway reverse, not to his comment on viennese waltz.