Honeysuckle Waltz Sequence Dance

Honeysuckle Waltz Dance Steps

The Honeysuckle Waltz is a modern sequence dance. The dance script was composed by Graham and Avril Watkins in 1985. It is a 16 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 31 beats per minute. We commence the dance in normal ballroom hold with the man facing and the lady backing diagonal-to-centre. 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.

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. If you find yourself confused with all the technical terms, you can skip to a video presentation of the dance below.

If You Prefer to Just Watch the Honeysuckle Waltz, Scroll to the Video at the Bottom

Honeysuckle Waltz – 1st Movement – Reverse Turn -> Whisk -> Wing

1.   Man facing diagonal to centre:- To commence the reverse turn, the man moves his left food forward in a diagonal-to-centre direction and commences turning to the left (1) His right foot then goes to the side while still turning to the left (2) and his left foot closes to his right foot as he is now backing the line of dance (3)

2.  The man’s right foot comes back down the line of dance while still turning to the left (1). His left foot then goes to the side, pointing diagonal-to-wall (2) and his right foot closes to his left foot so that he is now facing diagonal-to-wall, down the line of dance (3).

3.  Now for the whisk. The man’s left foot moves forward in a diagonal-to-wall direction, against the line of dance (1) followed by his right foot in the same direction, his right shoulder leading (2). Now his left foot crosses behind his right foot as he opens his partner out into promenade position (3).

4.  Next, the wing. The man brings his right foot forward and across in a Contra Body Movement Position (CBMP) and in Promenade Position (the Lady’s left foot also moves forward in a CBMP and in Promenade Position) (1)  The man’s left foot closes towards his right foot (while the Lady moves her right foot forward, preparing to step outside her partner on her left side) (2). The man’s left foot closes to his right foot without changing his weight so that he is now facing diagonal-to-centre. (the Lady’s left foot moves forward in a CBMP on the left side) (3)

Honeysuckle Waltz – 2nd Movement – 2 to 5 Weave -> Chasse From Promenade Position -> Open Impetus Turn

5.  The man now moves his left foot forward in another CBMP outside his partner, while turning to the left (1) then his right foot goes to the side and slightly back, as he is now backing diagonal-to-wall (2). Then his left foot comes back in another CBMP with his partner on the outside and he is still turning to the left (3)

6.  Now the man’s right foot comes back and he is now backing diagonal-to-centre (1). His left foot goes to the side, pointing diagonal-to-wall (2)  and his right foot closes to his left foot so that he is now facing diagonal-to-wall (&) then his left foot goes to the side and slightly forward (3)

7.  The man’s right foot moves forward in another CBMP outside his partner and he commences turning to the right (1) then his left foot goes to the side as he continues turning to the right (2) and his right foot closes to his left foot so that he is now backing the line of dance (3).

8.  Now the man’s left foot comes back down the line of dance, again turning to the right (the Lady’s right foot moves forward and she is also turning to the right) (1) and his right foot closes to his left foot as he does a Heel Turn in preparation for the next move. (the Lady’s left foot goes to the side) (2) then his left foot moves out diagonally forward, his left shoulder leading in Promenade Position as he prepares to move along the line of dance (the Lady’s right foot goes to the side having brushed it to her left foot) (3).

Honeysuckle Waltz – 3rd Movement – Back Hover -> Swivel -> Chasse from Promenade Position

9.  Back Hover:- The man moves his right foot forward and across in a CBMP and in Promenade Position (1) then his left foot goes to the side and slightly forward, facing diagonal-to-wall (while the Lady turns to the left) (2) and he transfers his weight to his right foot; he is now backing diagonal-to-centre against the line of dance (3)

10.  The man’s left foot comes back in another CBMP with his partner on the outside (1). His right foot then goes to the side against the line of dance (while the Lady turns to the right) (2) and his left foot goes to the side in Promenande Position along the line of dance (3).

11.  The Swivel:- Next, the man moves his right foot forward and across in another CBMP while still in Promenade Position (1). His left foot closes to his right foot and he swivels to face his partner (2). While still holding the postition, he swivels back to face diagonal-to-wall (the Lady now facing diagonal-to-centre) (&) then he moves his left foot to the side, in Promenade Position, in preparation for the next steps (3).

12.  Chasse From Promenade:- The man’s right foot now moves forward and across in another CBMP and in Promenade Position (1). His left foot goes to the side and slightly forward (2) and his right foot closes to his left foot (&) then his left foot continues to the side and slightly forward (the Lady does a 1/4 turn on this bar) (3).

Honeysuckle Waltz – 4th Movement – Open Impetus Turn – Chasse from Promenade Position – Chair – Slip Pivot

13.  Open Impetus Turn:- The man’s right foot moves forward in another CBMP outside his partner while he commences turning to the right (1). His left foot goes to the side, still turning (2) and his right foot closes to his left foot so that he is now backing the line of dance (3).

14.  The man’s left foot then comes back down the line of dance as he commences turning to the right again (the Lady’s right foot goes forward and she is also turning to the right) (1). His right foot closes to his left foot and he does a Heel Turn (the Lady’s left foot goes to the side) (2) then his left foot moves diagonally forward, his left shoulder leading the lady along the line of dance in Promenade Position (the Lady’s right foot goes to the side in Promenade Position, having brushed it to her left foot) (3).

15.  Chasse from Promenade Position:- The man’s right foot moves forward and across in a CBMP and in Promenade Position (1), his left foot goes to the side and slightly forward, still in Promenade Position (2); his right foot closes to his left foot (&) and his left foot continues to the side and slightly forward in Promenade Position (3).

16.  The man’s right foot continues forward and across in another CBMP while still in Promenade Position. They stop with a Chair (1). Completing the Honeysuckle Waltz with a Slip Pivot:- The man brings his left foot back in a CBMP and commences to turn to the left (the Lady is square to him) (2) then his right foot comes back so that he is facing diagonal-to-centre and back in the dance commencing position (3).

Ready to begin again . . . . .

Enjoy This Video Presentation of the Honeysuckle Waltz