Viennese Waltz Basic Steps | Dance Routine and Figures 

This chasse change steps are from new WDSF syllabus or? Interesting but does not look like something with practical use...

Yes, Chasse Change is from WDSF syllabus.

Vicki, I’m really glad you enjoyed this video!

Here is description waht we dance 09:29 Hope it helps: A) Do 3 Natural Turns (Man starts with Right Foot: fwd, back, forward; Lady starts with Left Foot: back, forward, back) B) Then dance Change Step Backwards (Man starts with Left Foot; Lady starts forward with Right Foot). C) Continue with 3 Reverse Turns (Man starts with Right Foot: back, forward, back; Lady starts with Left Foot: fwd, back, fwd). D) Then dance Change Step forward (Man starts with Left Foot; Lady Starts with Right Foot)

Wish you to learn and enjoy your dancing!

Yes, foot tracking is in slightly curved trajectory.

So even when i step sideways i need to slightly curve the step since im turning?

@@Lia-ze4dq in backward part (back, side close) curve is more, in forward part less obvious. In dance technique terms it’s called: inside of turn (when you go back) and outside of turn (when you move forward).

@@EgilsSmagris ah ok thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuu very much

We dance Viennese Waltz figures: Natural Turn, Change Step, Reverse Turn, Change Step.

Jo Hu, thanks for your question. Forward Change Step is similar to Close Change in Slow Waltz. Differences are: smaller size of steps, second step is diagonally forward.

Thank you Egils for your answer. You are VERY good teacher. I have another question. You mention slow waltz? Is there a difference between slow waltz or fast waltz? Do you use different routines for slow waltz or fast waltz, does the music affect the style of dance? I also look at your passion4dancing videos, and I see some American social dance instead of international. What is the difference and which style (American or International) is good to dance at a wedding?

Thanks for interesting questions. Slow Waltz has different figures and also different style. Musically difference is tempo of music: in Slow Waltz one bar lasts approximately 2 seconds, but in Viennese Waltz about 1 second. About American style, main difference is that there are figures and routines with open hold, but in international style we have closed hold and body contact all the time. For wedding dance I would suggest to use also open hold routines.

Wish you to enjoy dancing closer 😉👍

Haha! Not going to lie, it is very convenient to have that space when the partner does have bad breath 😂 It’s actually a safety issue as well, it’s far safer to be looking away so you don’t run into other couples. Viennese Waltz is notorious for moving very fast and being a bit dangerous if you don’t have good awareness and excellent floorcraft :) If you’re looking for an intimate dance, I highly recommend Sensual Bachata. (You could also try minimalist Blues, Kizomba, or Rumba.) Standard dance is designed to be very formal and presentational, so you likely won’t get very much intimacy with it. You can absolutely modify general dance positioning (for a wedding dance, dancing at home, etc) but Viennese in particular somewhat *requires* that stiff frame so you don’t fall over. The rotational forces get very strong 🙃

Viennese Waltz properly danced involves neither a stiff frame nor strong rotational forces. You move forward, not around, and there is not much force in the arms at all, barely enough to maintain a good connection and feel each other. I don’t perceive ballroom dancing as very formal either, no more than any other dance that you do as a couple, following some consistent principles. Regarding intimacy I feel that Viennese Waltz has in fact quite a lot of it. Ballroom dancing generally requires that you feel every subtle movement of each other and communicate through them all the time.

Dear Hamish M thanks for your suggestion. I did each figure with count and foot positions. What exactly would be next information needed? Footwork, rise and lowering or maybe directions?