Bluebird Waltz Dance Steps
The Bluebird Waltz dance script was composed by Michael Davis in 1982. It is a 16 bar dance (see paragraph numbers) in the usual 3/4 waltz time and should be danced with the usual 1-2-3, 1-2-3 rhythm to music at a tempo of 30 beats per minute. We commence the dance in normal ballroom hold with the man facing and the lady backing diagonal to wall down line of dance. We describe only the man’s steps here on the assumption that the lady will follow as a counterpart, unless otherwise stated.
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.
Bluebird Waltz – 1st Movement – Whisk – Wing – Left Side Check – Back Walk – Hover on Right Side
1. The man moves his left foot forward facing diagonal to wall down line of dance, making a slight turn to the left (1). Next, his right foot goes diagonally forward, his right shoulder leading and turning the lady to Promenade Position (2) and crosses his left foot in behind his right foot for a Whisk (3)
2. Now the man moves his right foot forward and across in a Contra Body Movement Position (CBMP) and Promenade Position, leading the lady to curve anti-clockwise towards his left side (1). He closes his left foot towards his right foot without changing his weight, still leading the lady towards his left side (2) then closes his left foot to his right foot without changing his weight with the lady now on his left side (3).
3. The man’s left foot moves forward in a diagonal to centre direction down line of dance in another CBMP on the left side of the lady, into a Check position (1). Then he brings his right foot back in a diagonal to wall direction against line of dance in another CBMP, a small step, turning left with the lady on his left side (2) and his left foot to the side against line of dance, his toe pointing diagonal to centre against the line of dance (3).
4. The man’s right foot goes forward in a diagonal to centre direction against line of dance in another CBMP on the right side of the lady (1). His left foot then moves diagonally forward, moving diagonal to centre against the line of dance (2) and he replaces his weight back on to his right foot (3). The last two steps are a known as a ‘Hover’.
Bluebird Waltz – 2nd Movement – Back Lock – Open Impetus Turn – Hover
5. The man’s left foot now comes back in a diagonal to wall direction down the line of dance in another CBMP, with the lady on his right side (1) followed by his right foot coming back in the same diagonal to wall direction down the line of dance (2). He crosses his left foot in front of his right foot in a ‘Lock’ step (&) and then brings his right foot back, still diagonal to wall down the line of dance, slightly rightwards (3).
6. The man’s left foot moves back, diagonal to wall direction, down the line of dance in another CBMP, turning to the right with the lady on his right side (1). He closes his right foot to his left foot and does a Heel Turn, turning the lady to the right and into Promenade Position (2) then moves his left foot diagonally forward in Promenade Position, his left shoulder leading, moving diagonal to centre down the line of dance in Promenade Position (3).
7. Then the man’s right foot moves forward in a diagonal to centre direction down the line of dance in another CBMP and in Promenade Position, as he prepares to turn the lady to the left (1); his left foot comes diagonally forward, the lady square to him (1) and he replaces his weight back on to his right foot (3). The last two steps are a Hover.
8. The man’s left foot comes back in a diagonal to wall direction against the line of dance in another CBMP, the lady on his right side (1); he closes his right foot to his left without changing his weight (Lady closes with weight) (2) This position is held for the third beat (Lady does a slight turn to the right) (3)
Bluebird Waltz – 3rd Movement – Same Foot Lunge – Hairpin Run – Hesitation Change
9. The man moves his right foot to the side diagonal to wall against line of dance, flexing his right knee (The Lady moves her right foot back) (1). He then replaces his weight on to his left foot to the side while making a slight turn to the left to face diagonal to centre down the line of dance (The Lady moves her left foot forward while turning the left) (2) then closes his right foot to his left foot without changing his weight (The Lady closes with weight, to back diagonal to centre down line of dance) (3).
10. We now begin the hairpin run. The man moves forward with his right foot in a diagonal to centre direction down the line of dance with a CBMP, curving to the right with the lady on his right side (1) then his left foot comes forward as he continues curving to the right (2) followed by his right foot forward in a CBMP (&) then his left foot forward so that he is now facing diagonal to wall down line of dance (3). Notice – the (2) of the 1-2-3 involves two quicker steps:- 2-AND…
11. We come to the hesitation change. The man moves his right foot forward in a diagonal to wall direction down the line of dance in a CBMP with his partner still on his right side, turning to the right (1) then his left foot goes to the side while still turning the right (2) and he closes his right foot to his left as he now backs down line of dance (3).
12. The man now moves his left foot back down line of dance while continuing to turn right (1) then his right foot to the side along line of dance, a small step, Heel Pull (2) He closes his left foot to his right without changing his weight in a “Brush” as he now faces diagonal to centre down line of dance (3)
Bluebird Waltz – Final Movement – 1 2 3 of Reverse Turn – Reverse Corte – Check – Spin and Side Close
13. The man moves his left foot forward in a diagonal to centre direction down the line of dance and turning to the left (1) then brings his right foot to the side, still turning left (2) and closes his left foot to his right foot and ends with his back down the line of dance (3).
14. Now his right foot comes back down the line of dance, as he continues turning left (1). He closes his left foot to his right without changing his weight, still turning left (The Lady brings her right foot to the side) (2). For the third 1-2-3 beat the position is held (while the Lady closes her left foot to her right foot). The man’s back is now diagonal to centre against the line of dance (3).
15. The man brings his left foot back in a diagonal to centre direction against the line of dance in a CBMP, with the lady on his right side (1) then his right foot moves forward in another CBMP, on the right side of the lady, while turning right (2) and his left foot comes back down the line of dance in another CBMP now turning strongly to the right on the ball (i.e. almost the toe) of his left foot in a Pivot Action. The man faces down the line of dance at the end of step (3).
16. The man moves his right foot forward down the line of dance, still turning right (1) then his left foot to the side. He his now facing diagonal to wall down the line of dance (2). He closes his right foot to his left, now facing diagonal to wall down the line of dance – back in the commencing position (3).
Then ready to begin again . . . . .
Enjoy This Video of The Bluebird Waltz
