The Anniversary Waltz is a sequence dance by an unknown composer. The original manuscript was written using “Old Time” terminology. It is a 32 bar dance (see paragraph numbers) in the usual 3/4 waltz time and should be danced to a 1-2-3 rhythm to music at a tempo of 48/54 bars per minute.
We commence the dance in open extended hold with both man and lady facing the line of dance. Only the man’s steps are described here, with the Lady dancing as a counterpart, unless otherwise stated – in which case, the lady’s steps are in italics.
** If You Prefer to Just Watch a Video of the Anniversary Waltz, Scroll to the Bottom **
Technique Tip:-
The man lowers (bends his legs) slightly and uses “heel leads” to step forward; backward steps are drawn with his toe (again, lowering himself) and whenever he brings his feet together both man and lady should rise up onto their toes then lower to change weight.
Anniversary Waltz Dance Steps
|
||
Notes from the original manuscript. | ||
In bars 7 to 8, following the progressive Half Natural Turn, the spins of left foot and right foot to face the wall. This makes 1 and 1/2 turns over the two bars, and is very effective. In bars 17 to 20, the Waltz Square is danced as follows – side left foot, close right foot to left foot, back left foot brushing right foot to left food, side right foot, close left foot to right foot, forward right foot brushing left foot to right foot. On the last point in bar 24, the man turns to face the wall, lady facing centre. Over bars 25 to 28, the pas Glissades and pas glisses are the danced to the left down line of dance, and right against line of dance. |
||
Bar |
Timing | |
Anniversary Waltz – 1st Movement – Solo Outward Turn – Walks, Forward and Point, Back and Point, Forward and Point, Back and Point – Solo Outward Turn to Shadow Hold Facing the Wall |
||
1 | Partners release their open extended hold and the man moves his left food forward down the line of dance while commencing a solo turn outward to the left. The lady does the same, only with her right foot forward and turning to the right. | 1 |
The man brings his right foot to the side along the line of dance while continuing his solo turn to the left until he is facing the wall. The lady continues her solo turn until she is facing the man. | 2 | |
The man continues his solo turn by bringing his left foot to the side along the line of dance, until he is facing diagonal to wall. (The Lady continuing her turn until facing diagonal to centre) | 3 | |
2 | Now the man moves his right foot diagonally forward down the line of dance | 4 |
The man’s left foot moves forward down the line of dance | 5 | |
The man’s right foot moves forward down the line of dance, a small step, with a slight turn to the left until he is facing down the line of dance | 6 | |
3 | Retaking Open Extended Hold, (the man’s right hand takes the lady’s left hand), the man moves his left foot forward down the line of dance, while pointing his right foot back in a diagonal-to-wall direction against the line of dance. | 1 2 3 |
4 | The man now replaces his weight back to his right foot, while pointing his left foot forward and down the line of dance. | 4 5 6 |
5 | (Repeat bars 3 and 4) The man’s left foot moves forward down the line of dance, while pointing his right food back in a diagonal-to-wall direction against the line of dance. | 1 2 3 |
6 | The man now replaces his weight back to his right foot, while pointing his left foot forward and down the line of dance. | 4 5 6 |
7 | Now the man moves his left foot forward down the line of dance and commences a solo outward turn to the left (the Lady moves her right foot forward down the line of dance and commences a solo outward turn to the right) | 1 |
Then the man brings his right foot to the side and along the line of dance while he continues turning to the left, to where he is now facing the wall (the Lady brings her left foot to the side along the line of dance while she continues turning to the right, to where she is now facing the centre) | 2 | |
Now the man brings his left foot to the side and along the line of dance, as he continues turning to the left, to where he his now facing diagonal to wall (the Lady brings her right foot to the side and along the line of dance, as she continues turning to the right, to where she is now facing diagonal to centre) | 3 | |
8 | The man brings his right foot diagonally forward and down the line of dance, to commence a slight turn to the right (the Lady brings her left foot diagonally forward and down the line of dance and continues a strong turn to the right, to where she is now backing the centre and her partner) | 4 |
The man now brings his left foot to the side and along the line of dance, as he continues his slight turn to the right, to where he is now facing the wall (the Lady brings her right foot forward and down the line of dance, a small step, to where she is now backing to the centre and her partner) | 5 | |
The man closes his right foot to his left foot and both partners should now be facing the wall (the Lady closes her left foot to her right foot without changing her weight). The man and lady now take up Shadow Hold – the man stands behind the lady and the lady is slightly to the man’s right, the man’s left hand holds the Lady’s left hand but the man’s right hand should be on the lady’s waist. The Lady’s right arm should be extended to the side or if she chooses, her right hand holding her gown. | 6 | |
Anniversary Waltz – 2nd Movement – Chasse to the Left and Brush – Chasse to the Right and into Ballroom Hold – Natural Waltz Turn |
||
9 | Both man and lady, in shadow hold, now bring their left feet to the side along the line of dance | 1 2 |
They close their right foot to their left foot | 3 | |
10 | Again, still in shadow hold, their left feet go to the side and along the line of dance | 4 5 |
Again, they close their right foot to their left foot but without changing weight | 6 | |
11 | The man moves his right foot to the side and against the line of dance (the Lady does the same) | 1 2 |
The man closes his left foot to his right foot and releases shadow hold with his right hand and commences to turn the lady to her left under his raised left hand (the Lady closes her left foot to her right foot and commences turning to the left under the man’s raised hand) |
3 | |
12 | Now the man brings his right foot to the side against the line of dance (the Lady brings her right foot back against the line of dance, while she continues turning to the left, to where she is now facing her partner) | 4 5 |
The man closes his left foot to his right foot without changing his weight, does a slight turn to the right, to where he is now backing diagonal to centre, where they take up Normal Ballroom Hold (the Lady closes her left foot to her right foot) ready for a natural waltz |
6 | |
Anniversary Waltz – 3rd Movement – Four bars for a Natural Waltz Turn |
||
13 | The man’s left foot comes back down the line of dance (the Lady’s right foot moves forward down the line of dance) | 1 |
The man’s right foot goes to the side and down the line of dance (the Lady’s left foot goes to the side and down the line of dance) | 2 | |
The man’s left foot closes to his right foot so that he is now facing line of dance (the Lady’s right foot closes to her left foot so that she is now backing the line of dance) | 3 | |
14 | The man’s right foot moves forward down the line of dance (the Lady’s left foot moves back down the line of dance) | 4 |
The man’s left foot goes to the side and down the line of dance (the Lady’s right foot goes to the side and down the line of dance) | 5 | |
The man’s right foot closes to his left foot so that he now backing the line of dance (the Lady’s left foot closes to her right foot so taht she is now facing the line of dance) | 6 | |
15 | The man’s left foot comes back down the line of dance (the Lady’s right foot moves forward down the line of dance) | 1 |
The man’s right foot goes to the side and down the line of dance (the Lady’s left foot goes to the side and down the line of dance) | 2 | |
The man’s left foot closes to his right foot so that he is now facing line of dance (the Lady’s right foot closes to her left foot so that she is now backing the line of dance) | 3 | |
16 | The man’s right foot moves forward down the line of dance (the Lady’s left foot moves back down the line of dance) | 4 |
The man’s left foot goes to the side and in a diagonal to centre direction (the Lady’s right foot goes to the side and diagonal to centre) | 5 | |
The man’s right flood closes to his left foot so that he is now facing the line of dance (the Lady’s left foot closes to her right foot so that she is now backing the line of dance) | 6 | |
Anniversary Waltz – 4th Movement – Box Step – Cross, Swivel and Point – Swivel and Point – Cross, Swivel and Point – Swivel and Point |
||
17 | The man’s left foot moves forward down the line of dance | 1 2 |
The man brushes his right foot to his left foot without changing his weight | 3 | |
18 | Now the man’s right foot goes to the side towards the wall | 4 5 |
The man closes his left foot to his right foot | 6 | |
19 | The man’s right foot comes back against the line of dance | 1 2 |
The man brushes his left foot to his right foot without changing his weight | 3 | |
20 | The man’s left foot goes to the side toward the centre | 4 5 |
The man closes his right foot to his left foot | 6 | |
21 | The man crosses his left foot in front of his right foot while turning to the left on the ball of his left foot, to be facing diagonal to centre (the Lady crosses her right foot behind her left foot) | 1 |
The man points his right foot diagonally forward, diagonal to wall, while preparing to step outside his partner who is on his right side (the Lady points her left foot) | 2 3 | |
22 | The man’s right foot goes forward, diagonal to centre, outside his partner on his right side, while turning on the ball of his right foot to be facing diagonal to wall (the Lady brings her left foot back) | 4 |
The man points his left foot diagonally forward, in a diagonal to centre direction, while turning to face diagonal to wall | 5 6 | |
23 | The man crosses his left foot in front of his right foot, while turning to the left on the ball of his left foot, to be facing diagonal to centre (the Lady crosses her right foot behind her left foot) | 1 |
The man points his right foot diagonally forward in a diagonal to wall direction, while preparing to step outside his partner who is on his right side | 2 3 | |
24 | The man moves his right foot forward in a diagonal to centre direction, outside his partner who is on his right side, while turning on the ball of his right foot to be facing diagonal to wall | 4 |
The man points his left foot diagonally forward in a diagonal to centre direction, while turning to face diagonal to wall | 5 6 | |
Anniversary Waltz – 5th Movement – Chasse to Centre – Chasse to Wall, Turning to the Right to End Backing Diagonal To Centre |
||
25 | The man’s left foot goes to the side towards the centre | 1 2 |
The man closes his right foot to his left foot | 3 | |
26 | The man’s left foot continues to the side towards the centre | 4 5 |
And the man closes his right foot to his left foot, without changing his weight, to complete the Chasse | 6 | |
27 | Now the man moves his right foot to the side towards the wall, while commencing to turn to the right, to be facing the wall (the Lady should be backing the wall) | 1 2 |
The man closes his left foot to his right foot | 3 | |
28 | The man’s right foot goes to the side against the line of dance, as he continues a slight turn to the right, to be backing diagonal to centre | 4 5 |
The man closes his left foot to his right foot without changing his weight, as he continues a slight turn to the right (the Lady closes her left foot to her right foot without changing her weight) | 6 | |
Anniversary Waltz – Final Movement – NATURAL WALTZ ENDING (Rotate smoothly to R) |
||
29 | The man’s left foot comes back down the line of dance (the Lady’s right foot moves forward down the line of dance) | 1 |
The man’s right foot goes to the side and down the line of dance (the Lady’s left foot goes to the side and down the line of dance) | 2 | |
The man’s left foot closes to his right foot so that he is now facing line of dance (the Lady’s right foot closes to her left foot so that she is now backing the line of dance) | 3 | |
30 | The man’s right foot moves forward down the line of dance (the Lady’s left foot moves back down the line of dance) | 4 |
The man’s left foot goes to the side and down the line of dance (the Lady’s right foot goes to the side and down the line of dance) | 5 | |
The man’s right foot closes to his left foot so that he now backing the line of dance (the Lady’s left foot closes to her right foot so taht she is now facing the line of dance) | 6 | |
31 | The man’s left foot comes back down the line of dance (the Lady’s right foot moves forward down the line of dance) | 1 |
The man’s right foot goes to the side and down the line of dance (the Lady’s left foot goes to the side and down the line of dance) | 2 | |
The man’s left foot closes to his right foot so that he is now facing line of dance (the Lady’s right foot closes to her left foot so that she is now backing the line of dance) | 3 | |
32 | The man’s right foot moves forward down the line of dance, while breaking ballroom hold to face down the line of dance (the Lady’s left foot comes back down the line of dance, also breaking Ballroom Hold to face the line of dance) | 4 |
The man’s left foot moves forward in a diagonal to centre direction while moving into Open Extended Hold (the Lady’s right foot moves diagonal to wall while turning to the right and moving into Open Extended Hold) | 5 | |
The man’s right foot closes to his left foot so that he is now facing the line of dance (the Lady’s left foot closes to her right foot without changing her weight, so that she is now also facing the line of dance) while taking up Open Extended Hold, ready to begin again. | 6 |
Enjoy This Video Demonstration of the Anniversary Waltz