What is step description for a back twinkle- American bronze waltz? Is it also known as a triple twinkle?
Thanks

A Back Twinkle is the American Style Twinkle equivalent of a Back Whisk. Instead of man starting forward, he starts back with his LF, usually with lady outside partner on 1.

A Back Twinkle is not a Triple Twinkle... It's a component contained within. The pattern most frequently described as Triple Twinkle is a 4-measure combination as follows:

1. (Forward) Twinkle
2. Closed Ending from PP
OR Hover Corte from PP
3. Back Twinkle
4. Closed Ending from PP
OR Feather Ending from PP

Arthur Murrays used to have in their silver syllabus a pattern known as Triple Twinkle which was a Twinkle, Open Natural from PP, "Spin Twinkle" (aka Open Impetus) and Feather Finish. But they have since jumped on board with Fred Astaire and changed the name to Open Natural Turn.

Almost all versions of a Triple Twinkle are mis-named, because there's nothing about them that is done three times. They are 4 measures long, and contain two Twinkles. This may be the reason the chain schools have, for the most part, abandoned the terminology.

I've left the Triple Twinkle out of our syllabus because it's nothing more than a combination of other elements already present in the syllabus. The nice thing about he way we've constructed our syllabus, unlike most others, is that we've made it component-oriented, meaning the patterns are all simple components that can be arranged in various ways. This makes it both easier to learn AND more flexible, adding variety to the students' repertoire without adding patterns, and improving floorcraft.

The only way to "legally" dance a Back Twinkle in the Fred Astaire bronze syllabus is to do so as part of their choreographed routine, the Triple Twinkle. In the real world, however, there are many more ways to incorporate the Back Twinkle into your dancing, even in the Bronze syllabus. For example, in Bronze Waltz, a Back Twinkle can be taken after a Left Box Turn, a Progressive Chasse to R, 1-3 Left Box followed by a RF Hesitation (side & slightly back, L side leading to prepare OP position), or 1-3 Natural Turn (best at a corner). In Foxtrot, there are more options. You get the idea.

To sum it up, our Back Twinkle is just that and nothing more: A Back Twinkle. But that doesn't mean you can't dance a Triple Twinkle using our syllabus. We may not consider it a fundamental "figure", but it is certainly a legitimate amalgamation of figures.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson

Jonathan:

So a Back Twinkle or Back Whisk is?

Start Outside Partner, Man's back to line of dance.

First measure
1. LF back and turning to the Rt 1/4
2. RF Side (Moving down LOD)
3. LF BEHIND ending PP against LOD (this is the Whisky part)

Then second measure is?
4. RF Forward
5. LF Side
6. RF close end facing Center floor?

In the Whisk should the feet be in 5th or 4th position Count 3?

Not quite... Whisks cross behind on step 3, Twinkles don't.

A Whisk is by definition a pattern involving a crossing of one foot behind the other. When you cross your feet, it's a Whisk. When you don't, it's something else (eg a Twinkle).

So the Twinkle is, therefore, the non-crossed version of the Whisk. What do you do if you don't cross? There are two things you can do on step 3 of a Twinkle. For the most part, one is thought to be the Bronze version, and the other the Silver version. (There are certain exceptions depending on who you talk to, but this is a good rule of thumb).

In the Bronze version of the Twinkle, man and lady close their feet on step 3. Other than that, the other steps are basically identical to the Whisk, whether you're talking about a forward Twinkle, Back Twinkle, or Turning Back Twinkle (equivalent to a Fallaway Whisk).

The Silver version of a Twinkle is closer to a Hover Telemark to Promanade. Instead of crossing or closing, you brush the moving foot to or toward the standing foot, then step apart (eg side, side & slightly forward, diag forward, etc) in promenade. Some people refer to this as a Brush Twinkle. And once again, this can be done in similar context to the Bronze Twinkle or Whisk.

As for steps 4-6, the syllabus version is a Closed Ending in Bronze as you described, or a Feather Ending in Silver. Of course instead of the syllabus ending, you can take any figure you like after steps 1-3 that begins in promenade position with the inside foot free (eg Chasse from PP, Open Natural from PP, Pivots from PP, etc).

Your alignments are not quite on par with the standard syllabus version. As a rule, like the basic Whisk, the basic syllabus Twinkle begins and ends with man facing DW, taking no turn with the feet. The Back Twinkle begins with man either backing DC against LOD and taking no turn with the feet, or backing LOD and turning 1/8 to R. Like the Whisk, there's lots of flexibility in terms of alignments and overall amounts of turn, but these are the basic starting syllabus alignments.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
www.ballroomdancers.com

Let me see then if we are on the same page. Excluding my previous alignments and only discussing the the first measure 1 2 3, As described below is a Back Whisk? The Back being the stepping back on the LF count 1 (and I imagine you do turn to the RT). The Whisk the step behind on 3.

From Leads perspective:

1. Moving back and turning Rt on the LF (man's)
2. RF side
3. LF behind (whisk )
Is this (in the simplest of form) correct for the name Back Whisk?

I only find referrece to Back Whisk in International. It seems things that were once International are now coming into the American Syllubs.

Somehow I got this under a new thread which was not intended.

Thanks your for you time, Delighted

Pretty close. I might be more inclined to describe the man's second step as "diagonally back".

Not too many American syllabi have Whisks. I think the NDCA once had a basic Whisk & Chasse in their Silver American syllabus, and there might be the occasional Whisk variation in other Silver & Gold syllabi. But for the most part, the Whisk action is an International thing.

Of course, there's nothing to stop you from dancing a Whisk in American style, except perhaps (1) restrictions in closed syllabus events, and (2) the ability of your partner to follow. Whereas there are many examples of American steps you can't do in Int'l, there are no Int'l steps you can't do in American.

Regards,
Jonathan

Jonathan, Thank you for taking your time. All you said is understood. Delighted