Class 3 Overview — Waltz

Class 3 Overview — Waltz Goals Move Like a Champion: Just Say No (#31) New Figures: Box with Underarm Turn (Figure 1B); Simple Twinkle (Figure 5) Key Concepts and Terms o Sway o Lead o Rise and fall o Twinkle o Dance Positions: Closed, Promenade, Fallaway, Counter Promenade, Counter Fallaway, and Facing Position Technique o Frame and connection o Arm styling o Contra Body Movement Position (CBMP) o Transitioning between Closed and Promenade Positions Teaching Skill: Watch & Go method Homework o Leader’s lead for the Box with Underarm Turn o Follower’s sway for the Box with Underarm Turn o Leader’s dance positions for the Simple Twinkle o Follower’s rise and fall for the Simple Twinkle o Teach Like a Pro reading assignments (Class 3 & 4, presentation due in Class 5) Suggested Teaching Outline 1. Welcome 5 min 2. Homework Presentations 15 min 3. Teach Move Like a Champion Exercise 15 min 4. Introduce Sway Element 10 min 5. Introduce Rise and Fall Element 10 min 6. Review Left Turning Box and Right Turning Box (Figures 3A and 10 min 3B) 7. Introduce Dance Position Element 10 min 8. Introduce Lead Element 5 min 9. Teach Box with Underarm Turn (Figure 1B) 15 min 10. Frame and Connection Exercises 10 min 11. Teach Simple Twinkle (Figure 5) 20 min 12. Assign Homework and Close 5 min Remind Trainees Tell trainees that next class you will finish introducing the elements, finish teaching Waltz figures 1-7, and teach a routine with all the figures. 2017 Diane Jarmolow, BDTC All Rights Reserved 1 Class 3 Details – Waltz 1. Welcome 2. Homework Presentations 3. Teach Move Like a Champion Exercise Teach Exercise: Just Say No (#31) 4. Introduce Sway Element See Teaching the Sway Element. Define Sway: The inclination of the body away from the moving foot and, if there is turn, toward the inside of the turn. Sway is used in Waltz, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz to counter-balance the force of swing. Sway Adds Dimension: Sway adds gracefulness and beauty, as well as being a main characteristic of the Waltz. Demonstrate by first dancing the Box Step (Straight) using only the foot positions and footwork, then dance the figure a second time, adding sway. Teach Most Common Sway for Waltz o Straight, Left, Left o Straight, Right, Right Teach Sway for Box Step (Straight): If time allows, ask volunteers to lead the class in saying and demonstrating sway for the Box Step (Straight). Use for Review and Teaching: When reviewing and teaching today’s figures, lead the class in saying the sway on each step. 5. Introduce Rise and Fall Element See Teaching the Rise and Fall Element. Define Rise and Fall: The continuous elevation and lowering of the body through the feet, ankles, and legs, used to varying degrees in the all the Smooth dances except Tango. Rise and Fall Adds Dimension: Rise and fall adds further gracefulness and beauty and is another main characteristic of Waltz. Demonstrate by first dancing only the foot positions, footwork, and sway of the Box Step (Straight), then dance the figure again, adding rise and fall. Teach Most Common Rise and Fall for Bronze Waltz o Commence to rise at the end of 1, continue to rise on 2 and 3, lower at the end of 3 2017 Diane Jarmolow, BDTC All Rights Reserved 2 Class 3 Details – Waltz o Commence to rise at the end of 1 no foot rise, continue to rise on 2 and 3, lower at the end of 3 Teach Rise and Fall for Box Step (Straight): If time allows, ask volunteers to lead the class in saying and demonstrating rise and fall for the Box Step (Straight). Use for Review and Teaching: When reviewing and teaching today’s figures, lead the class in saying the sway on each step. 6. Review Left Turning Box and Right Turning Box (Figures 3A and 3B) 7. Introduce Dance Position Element See Resource Sheet: Teaching the Dance Position Element. o See Also: The dance position definitions and dance position photos in the DVIDA® American Style Smooth Bronze Manual. Define Dance Position: The physical orientation of the Leader and Follower in relationship to each other when dancing. o Follower’s Levels: When a definition mentions placing the arm(s) at waist, shoulder or eye level, this refers to the Follower’s waist, shoulder or eye level. o Leader’s Sides: However, in positions such as Left and Right Side Position, left and right are from the Leader’s perspective. Define Dance Positions Used Previously and Today: Tell the class that a thorough knowledge of the various dance positions greatly streamlines their learning and makes their dancing more precise. o Closed Position: The standard dance position in the Smooth dances (Tango uses Tango Closed Position). At the Bronze level, torsos are a few inches apart, with the Leader’s right ribs in front of the Follower’s right ribs. The Progressive and box figures are danced entirely in Closed Position. o Promenade Position: Leader’s right side and the Follower’s left side are in contact (or almost in contact) and the opposite sides of their bodies are open in a V-shape, Leader looking left and Follower looking right. This position will be used in this class, in the Simple Twinkle. Fallaway Position: Leader and Follower both move backwards, on either foot, in Promenade Position. This position is used in the Balance Steps. Counter Promenade Position: The opposite of Promenade Position, Leader’s left side and Follower’s right side are in contact (or almost in contact), and the opposite sides of their bodies are open in a V-shape. Leader looks right and Follower looks left. Counter Promenade Position does not appear in this syllabus. 2017 Diane Jarmolow, BDTC All Rights Reserved 3 Class 3 Details – Waltz Counter Fallaway Position: Leader and Follower both move backwards, on either foot, in Counter Promenade Position. This position is used in the Balance Steps. o Non-Dance Positions: Often non-dance positions are listed in the dance position element of a figure’s chart. These usually indicate that dancers are either preparing for a new dance position or are transitioning between dance positions. Preparing for Closed Position: Point out to trainees that Preparing for Closed Position (which occurs on steps 15 and 18) is not a true dance position. On these steps, partners are moving from Counter Fallaway position toward Closed Position, but are not yet in any true dance position. Practice Dance Positions: Walk the class through the Box Step (Straight) and Balance Steps, saying and demonstrating the dance position of each step. 8. Introduce Lead Element See Teaching the Lead Element. Define Lead: How the Leader communicates to the Follower what should be danced. Good leading comes from the center of the Leader’s body, not muscular force in the arms, and must be initiated slightly before the Follower needs to take a step. Leads Used So Far: Most of the figures danced so far (the Box Step (Straight), Left Turning Box, Right Turning Box, Progressive, and Balance Steps) were led by movements of the Leader’s body. The Follower feels and responds to these leads when both partners maintain a stable frame. o Weight changes o CBM o Direction of movement o Timing of steps Challenge Exercise o Briefly review the Balance Steps: Forward, Back, Side to Side (Figure 4A) and the Balance and Box (Figure 4B). o Have trainees take partners, then have Leaders choose which balance figure to lead, without telling their partners o Count the class off and have them dance two measures. If they were not successful in leading and following the Leader’s chosen figure, correct their frames and have them try again. o Have them change roles and try again. If time allows, have them rotate partners and try again. 2017 Diane Jarmolow, BDTC All Rights Reserved 4 Class 3 Details – Waltz Raising and Releasing Arms: Tell the class that next they will learn how to use the arms to lead an underarm turn. 9. Teach Box with Underarm Turn (Figure 1B) I. Introduce Figure Demonstrate Figure Points About Figure o Characteristic of American Style: Underarm turns distinguish American style (Smooth) ballroom dances from the International style (Standard) ballroom dances. Underarm turns are fun and give dancers an opportunity to separate from their partners and style their free arms. o Good First Underarm Turn: This figure, which is the same as a Bronze Rumba figure called the Slow Underarm Turn, is usually students’ first underarm turn because it is slow and easy. o Feet Pass: This is one of only three figures in the Bronze Waltz syllabus in which the feet pass each other and end in an apart position, instead of closing, at the end of a measure (on step 6 of the Follower’s part only). Teach Figure: Wait until after introducing the Watch & Go method to have trainees dance with partners. o Dance Position Define and Demonstrate Facing Position: Leader and Follower face each other, standing as close to each other as in Closed Position, or slightly farther apart. The difference is that the Leader’s right hand is not on the Follower’s back. This position is used on step 4, when the Leader begins to lead the underarm turn by releasing the right hand from the Follower’s shoulder blade and raising the left hand. Walk through the figure using the dance position column. o Rise and Fall: Passing the feet changes Followers’ rise and fall on steps 5 and 6.

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