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Choreographed Waltz syllabus progression
Posted by johnhpower
7/24/2008  3:54:00 PM
I am reviewing my ISTD syllabus figures. What I want to do is put together a progression that incorporates all the syllabus figures, with syllabus alignments, so that from time to time my partner and I (she is a former Fred Astaire instructor 18 years)can dance thru it just to reinforce our knowledge of the entire syllabus. I plan to do this with each dance but am starting with Waltz.

I do not want to reinvent the wheel. Does anyone have a progression?

We are dancing on a full sized floor.
Re: Choreographed Waltz syllabus progression
Posted by Waltz123
7/24/2008  4:58:00 PM
Hi John,

Long time no hear! Welcome back.

I'll be happy to give you a routine, but I'm not clear on a couple of things: (1) American or Int'l style, and (2) What level?

Regards,
Jonathan
Re: Choreographed Waltz syllabus progression
Posted by johnhpower
7/24/2008  5:11:00 PM
Thanks. I have had health problems for about 4 years with my feet but I am now coming around. I have been dancing but not really studying. Remember that video you did for me? Very helpful.

I am talking about the 30 figures in the The Ballroom Technique syllabus.
Re: Choreographed Waltz syllabus progression
Posted by Waltz123
7/29/2008  9:03:00 PM
Wow, this was harder than I'd imagined it to be. Trying to incorporate every single figure in the syllabus without missing one, without too much repetition, condensing it as much as possible so that it doesn't last 20 minutes, all the while keeping it smooth and flowing... what an exercise in patience. Anyway, here it is... the best I could do.

Quick disclaimer: I haven't tested this in a studio yet, so the proportions may not be precise. I'm pretty good at estimating, but you may need to modify it in places. Works great in my head, anyway.

LONG SIDE #1
Begin facing diag wall.

Natural Turn
RF Closed Change
Reverse Turn
Whisk
Chasse from PP
1-3 Natural Turn
Underturned Spin Turn & Reverse Pivot
End facing diag center of short side.

SHORT SIDE

Double Reverse Spin
1-3 Reverse Turn (end B.DW)
Basic Weave
1-3 Natural Turn
Closed Impetus
End backing diag center of long side.

=====================

LONG SIDE #2

Reverse Corte
Back Whisk
Chasse from PP
1-3 Natural Turn
Hesitation Change
Double Reverse Spin
Prog Chasse to R.
Back Lock
Closed Impetus from O.P.
4-6 Reverse Turn
End facing diag wall of short side.

SHORT SIDE

Whisk w/1/8 turn to L.
Weave from PP
1-3 Natural Turn
Open Impetus & Cross Hesitation
Outside Spin
End facing diag wall of long side.

=====================

LONG SIDE #3

1-3 Natural Turn
Spin Turn
Turning Lock (to Left)
1-3 Natural Turn
Outside Change
1-3 Natural Turn
Open Impetus & Wing
Open Telemark & Cross Hesitation
End backing diag center of short side.

SHORT SIDE

Outside Change to PP
Wing
Closed Telemark
1-3 Natural Turn (1/4 turn R)
Hesitation Change
End facing diag center of long side.

=====================

LONG SIDE #4

Fallaway Reverse & Slip Pivot
Double Reverse Spin
Prog Chasse to R.
Back Lock
Outside Spin
1-4 Turning Lock (to Left)
Left Whisk Variation ("on 1")
...with Contra Check ending
Chasse from PP
1-3 Natural Turn
Natural Spin Turn (3/4 turn R)
End backing LOD of short side.

SHORT SIDE

Turning Lock to Right
Chasse from PP toward DC
(becoming DW of long side)
1-3 Natural Turn
Hesitation Change
end facing DC of long side.

=====================

LONG SIDE #5

Prog Chasse to R
... w/ 3/8 L. to end backing LOD
Outside Change to PP
Left Whisk with Twist ending
(lady 4 runs), end backing DW
Open Impetus from O.P.
Chasse from PP (toward DC)
Closed Wing
1-3 Reverse Turn
Reverse Pivot
Contra Check
End in PP moving LOD of short side.

SHORT SIDE

Chasse from PP
1-3 Natural Turn
Natural Spin Turn
Hover Corte
Outside Change
End facing diag wall of long side.

=====================

You should end at the beginning of the next long side, ready to dance a Natural Turn, so the entire routine is repeatable. However, it's 75 measures, or about 2 min, 41 seconds at 28 measures per minute, so you probably won't actually want to repeat. Perhaps finish with 1-3 natural, then Spin Turn and roll your poor, exhausted partner out for a bow. Something like that.

The only figure I didn't quite manage to work in to this combination was the Open Telemark to Wing. Only the nitpickiest people should care... It's more of a combination than a basic element, and by the time you're done with this routine, you've danced plenty of Open Telemarks and Wings. They just don't happen to be in that exact order. But if you must have every figure in the book, you can always tack this one on the end -- perhaps joined to the last Natural by way of Hesitation Change, or by Spin Turn to Reverse Pivot. If you do this, you won't be able to repeat from the first Natural, but you could probably start from the first Reverse and come out with pretty much the same length of movement for the repeat of the first side.

Let me know how it works for you, and if you have any questions.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
www.ballroomdaners.com
Re: Choreographed Waltz syllabus progression
Posted by johnhpower
7/30/2008  3:27:00 PM
We will practice this and I will report back. For anyone reading this post, this type of progression for each dance could be a great way to periodically brush up on your syllabus knowledge and remind yourself that these are the building blocks upon which great IS routines rest.

In looking at this I am confused at step 2. The Nat Turn will put me backing LOD but the close changes, as I understand it from the syllabus, start with the man facing in a forward position.
Re: Choreographed Waltz syllabus progression
Posted by SocialDancer
7/30/2008  5:03:00 PM
First let me congratulate Jonathan for putting this routine together. It really is not easy to put all the syllabus figures into a routine that would seem to flow OK (I have not tried dancing it) without too many repeats of figures. Maybe some of the double reverse spins could be omitted but then maybe they need to be in there to show the different amounts of turn or timings.

As for your problem with the first natural turn John I think you have in mind just the first half of a natural turn leaving you backing the LOD. The full natural turn (6 steps) will turn 3/4 from DW, through backing LOD, to facing DC.
Re: Choreographed Waltz syllabus progression
Posted by johnhpower
7/30/2008  5:30:00 PM
Right you are. I have danced only the 1st half for so long I thought it was the whole thing. (I am usually dancing to a Hesitation or spin turn after the 1st half)
Re: Choreographed Waltz syllabus progression
Posted by Polished
8/15/2008  12:03:00 PM
Social Dancer. Anybody having trouble with the Double Reverse Turn. Don't turn too early. As the feet come together try to be facing against the LOD. and turn over the right foot. The LF is a passenger. This gives the lady time to dance her Double Reverse Spin correctly . There is NFR on one for the lady. Lower at the end of the Spin gracefully with control.
Re: Choreographed Waltz syllabus progression
Posted by jofjonesboro
8/15/2008  12:33:00 PM
If the man leads the lady into her heel turn correctly then there will be no problem with turning too soon in a DRS.

Also, the man has no choice but to spin on his right foot. If he didn't change weight at the end of step two then the lady could not complete her heel turn.



jj

Re: Choreographed Waltz syllabus progression
Posted by Polished
8/15/2008  1:04:00 PM
We now come to the part , is the lady still facing the same way as the LF meets the RF under the hip line. And you would be suprised how many men put weight onto their LF in the Toe Pivot. Have you noticed the timing being used also. 1 2 3 and. Waltz time of course. Fallaway Slip Pivot the same.

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