Jonathan. In the Waltz variation. Is that a Standing Spin to the right after the Left Whisk on bar Eight. Or does it carry another name in American Smooth.

The new Waltz Variation has standing spin as you said.

Before that, it also has a pivot spin.

A no-name move but all the individual steps are in the book somewhere. A part here and a part there. That's creativity!

I would call this move a natural twist turn ending for the man and a syncopated runaround for the lady. Jonathan talked about this move in the runaround discussion earlier saying it was close to and sometimes referred to as standing spin.
If the preceding move were a spin instead of the left whisk, you could call the two bar figure- spin & twist 123 1&23

I particularly like how he gets out of the position with the back hover telemark that keep turning right into PP before restoring the direction of travel LOD. That's unruffled, composed and relaxed don't you think?

I've also heard this move called- a syncopated unwind from the left whisk.

Since there's already a thread for this, perhaps someone can clarify something for a bronze student. In bronze waltz, we continue our leg rise as our feet come together on three. Yet it appears in many of this variations steps, the rise is complete on 2, as they lower onto the passing foot on three.

Am I correctly observing that our rise and fall will change as we move into silver?

You might be opening up a can of worms here, as there's some dispute between competitive dancers and "book" dancers over this topic.

When I took my exams, I had to learn to lower far later than how I had been taught by all of my competitive coaches. Three separate examiners advised me that I should not begin my lowering until the body has completely reached the foot. However, I would never dance it that way in reality. Competitive dancers essentially relax the knee and ankle of the arriving leg, such that the lowering is complete once the body has reached the foot.

Also, you should realize that rise & fall appears different on passing steps than it does on closing actions. As your legs part, your body naturally lowers as a result, even if your legs remain equally straight (or bent) all the while. So whether you describe the lowering as beginning as the legs begin to part, or once the weight begins to transfer to the new foot, depends entirely on whether you factor the natural lowering into the equation.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
www.ballroomdancers.com

Thank you,

I think I see what you are saying. For example, the first twinkle in your variation. You land "three" on your toe with leg extended. By the book, you should maintain this height until you weight is completely over this foot. Practically speaking, you begin to compress as soon as your toe has landed, reaching the lowered position by the time your weight is fully transferred over this foot. (I know, I know, this is what you just said )

It seems to me the "competitive" version would seem to make smoother, better looking transitions. Also, easier and more natural to execute.

ericlund. Waltz bronze or any other grade. Commence to rise at the end of step 1. Continue to rise on 2 and 3. Lower at the end of 3.
Foxtrot . Rise at the end of 1 . Up on 2 and 3. Lower at the end of 3.
You should have reached your maximum height on step 2.
In the Waltz to get your maximim height on step 2 is a fault. The one who is doing it correctly will be still rising while you have stopped. They will appear to be dancing much slower and to be getting much more out of the movement.
Having said all of that it must be mentioned that the person going backwards, in this case the lady, there is no foot rise on step 1. Foot rise on 1 will make the lady too high on step 2.
The man on that same step 1 will have foot rise because they have the greater distance to travell and are on the outside of the turn. Most of this is common sense. Give it some thought.
Jonathan said Opening a can of worms. You can say that again.

Jonathan
How about four step moves like chasses,
Do you continue to rise through the third step and lower as the end of four?
And, would a move like a turning lock be the same as a chasse?

As a general rule -- though there are many exceptions -- syncopated Waltz figures use a gradual rise to the second-to-last step, then lower on the "end of the" last step (however you prefer to interpret that last directive, book or competitive style).

So on a 12&3 chasse, you would begin the rise on the end of 1, continue rising on 2, and continue rising more on 3. The book will say up on 4, then lower on the end of 4. The idea is to rise less *per step* than you would if you were completing a 3-step cycle, so step 2 will feel lower on a 3-step pattern than it will on a 4- or 5-step pattern.

Regards,
Jonathan

Thanks all for your responses. Serendipity, your answer sounds pretty much exactly as I've heard it. Uncannily so. You guys must have a union. The reason I asked is the Variation video seems to deviate a bit, but Jonathan covered that.