The Dorothea Waltz is a modern sequence dance. The dance script was composed by W. Barrett of Sydney in 1933. 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 48-52 beats per minute. We commence the dance in Closed Extended Hold with the man facing and the lady backing the line of dance. Both the man’s and lady’s steps are described here.
Technique Tips: 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 falling back onto his heel. Whenever the man or lady bring their feet together in a continuing movement, they should rise up onto their toes.
If You Prefer to Just Watch a Video Demonstration of the Dorothea Waltz, Please Scroll Down
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Bar |
Foot Work |
Timing | |
Dorothea Waltz – 1st Movement |
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| 1 | The man moves his left foot forward down the line of dance and outside his partner, with the Lady being on his right side (the Lady brings her right foot back with her partner on the outside, drawing with her toe and onto her heel) | H | 1 2 3 |
| 2 | Now the man moves his right foot forward, still outside his partner, the lady being on his right side (and the Lady brings her left foot back with her partner on her outside, a toe-heel-toe technique) | HT | 4 5 |
| Now the man closes his left foot to his right foot without changing his weight, while turning right to face the wall and his partner (the Lady closes her right foot to her left foot without changing her weight, while turning to the right to face the centre and her partner) | T | 6 | |
| 3 | Then the man moves his left foot to the side and down the line of dance, while facing the wall and his partner and commences turning to the right (and the Lady moves her right foot to the side and down the line of dance, while facing the centre and her partner and commences turning to the right, TH = a toe-heel technique) | TH | 1 2 3 |
| 4 | The man continues turning to the right until he is backing the line of dance, then brings his right foot back down the line of dance with his partner on the outside, the lady being on his left side (the Lady continues turning to the right until she is facing the line of dance, then moves her left foot forward and down the line of dance, she being on the man’s left side) | TH | 4 5 |
| Now the man lifts his left foot and sends it forward into either a low or medium Aerial Lift, with his toe pointing to the floor and himself facing against the line of dance, with the lady on his left side (the Lady lifts her right foot and sends it forward into either a low or medium Aerial Lift, with her toe pointing to the floor, and herself facing the line of dance, with the man being on her left side) | – | 6 | |
Dorothea Waltz – 2nd Movement |
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| 5 | The man moves his left foot forward and against the line of dance and outside his partner with the lady on his left side – and commences turning to the left until he is facing the wall and his partner (and the Lady brings her right foot back and against the line of dance with her partner on her outside, the man being on her left side, and commences turning to the left until she is facing the centre and her partner, THT) | HT | 1 2 |
| Then he closes his right foot to his left foot without changing his weight. He should now be facing the wall and his partner and taking up Closed Ballroom Hold (the Lady closes her left foot to her right foot without changing her weight and should now be facing the centre and her partner) | T | 3 | |
| 6 | The man moves his right foot to the side and against the line of dance, while facing the wall and his partner, then commences turning to the left (the Lady moves her left foot to the side and against the line of dance, while facing the centre and her partner, then commences turning to the left) | TH | 4 5 6 |
| 7 | Next, the man brings his left foot back and against the line of dance with his partner on his outside, the lady being on his right side, and commences turning to the right until he is facing the wall and his partner. They take up Closed Extended Hold (the Lady moves her right foot forward and against the line of dance and outside her partner, the man being on her right side, and commences turning to the right until she is facing the centre and her partner) | TH | 1 2 3 |
| 8 | Then the man brings his right foot to the side and against the line of dance, still facing the wall and his partner (the Lady brings her left foot to the side and against the line of dance, still facing the centre and her partner) | TH | 4 5 |
| The man then closes his left foot to his right foot without changing his weight, still facing the wall and his partner (the Lady closes her right foot to her left foot without changing her weight, still facing the centre and her partner) | T | 6 | |
Dorothea Waltz – 3rd Movement |
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| 9 | The man then brings his left foot to the side and along the line of dance, still facing the wall and his partner (the Lady brings her right foot to the side and along the line of dance, still facing the centre and her partner) | T | 1 2 |
| Now the man closes his right foot to his left foot and commences turning to the left and towards facing diagonal to wall (the Lady closes her left foot to her right foot and commences turning to the right and towards facing diagonal to centre) | T | 3 | |
| 10 | The man then brings his left foot to the side and along the line of dance and continues turning to the left until he is facing diagonal to wall but now in Promenade Position (the Lady brings her right foot to the side and along the line of dance and continues turning to the right until she is facing diagonal to centre but now in Promenade Position) | T | 4 |
| The man then lifts his right foot into and Aerial Lift, with his toe pointing to the floor (and the Lady lifts her right foot into an Aerial Lift, with her toe pointing to the floor) | – | 5 6 | |
| 11 | Now the man brings his right foot to the side and against the line of dance, while turning to the right to face the wall and his partner (while the Lady brings her left foot to the side and against the line of dance, while turning to the left to face the centre and her partner) | T | 1 2 |
| Then the man closes his left foot to his right foot, still facing the wall and his partner and commences turning to the right and towards facing diagonal to wall against the line of dance (the Lady closes her right foot to his left foot, still facing the centre and her partner, and commences turning to the left and towards facing diagonal to centre against the line of dance) | T | 3 | |
| 12 | Now the man’s right foot goes to the side and against the line of dance as he continues turning to the right, to face diagonal to wall against the line of dance and in Counter Promenade Position and takes up Double Hold (the Lady’s left foot goes to the side and against the line of dance and she continues turning to the left, to face diagonal to centre against the line of dance and in Counter Promenade Position and takes up Double Hold with the man) | TH | 4 |
| The man lifts his left foot into Aerial Lift, with this toe pointing to the floor and commences turning to the left, to face the wall at the end of beat 3 (the Lady lifts her right foot into an Aerial Lift, with her toe pointing to the floor and commences turning to the right, to face the centre at end of beat 3) | – | 5 6 | |
Dorothea Waltz – 4th Movement |
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| 13 | The man moves his left foot forward towards the wall (the Lady’s right foot comes back towards the wall) | HTH | 1 2 |
| The man’s right foot closes to his left foot without changing his weight (the Lady’s left foot closes to her right foot without changing her weight) | T | 3 | |
| 14 | The man’s right foot comes back toward the centre (the Lady’s left foot goes forward as she faces the centre) | TH | 4 5 |
| The man’s left foot closes to his right foot without changing his weight and he takes up Closed Ballroom Hold with the Lady (the Lady’s right foot closes to her left foot without chaning her weight) | T | 6 | |
| 15 | Now the man moves his left foot forward towards the wall and commences turning to the left – a Viennese Waltz Reverse Turn (the Lady brings her right foot back towards the wall and commences turing to the left} | HT | 1 |
| RF to side and slightly back, cont turning to L to backing against LOD (Lady LF to side and slightly fwd, cont turning to L to facing against LOD, T) | T | 2 | |
| The man’s left foot crosses in front of his right foot as he continues turning to the left to face the centre (the Lady’s right foot closes to her left foot and she continues turning to the left to face the wall and her partner) | TH | 3 | |
| 16 | Now the man’s right foot comes back toward the wall and he should now be facing toward the centre (the Lady moves her left foot forward towards the wall and she should now be backing to the centre) | TH | 4 5 |
| The man’s left foot closes to his right foot without changing his weight, now facing to the centre (the Lady closes her right foot to her left foot without changing her weight and should now be backing to the centre) | T | 6 | |
Dorothea Waltz – 5th Movement |
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| 17 | The man moves his left foot forward toward the centre (and the Lady brings her right foot back toward the centre) | HTH | 1 2 |
| Then the man’s right foot closes to his left foot without changing his weight (and the Lady closes her left foot to her right foot without changing her weight) | T | 3 | |
| 18 | Now the man brings his right foot back towards the wall (and the Lady moves her left foot forward toward the centre) | TH | 4 5 |
| The man’s left foot closes to his right foot without changing his weight (and the Lady’s right foot closes to her left foot without changing her weight) | T | 6 | |
| 19 | The man then moves his left foot forward toward the centre and commences turning to the left – another Viennese Waltz Reverse Turn (and the Lady brings her right foot back toward the centre and commences turning to the left) | HT | 1 |
| The man moves his right foot to the side and slightly back, while he continues turning to the left so that he is backing the line of dance (and the Lady brings her left foot to the side and slightly forward while she continues turning to the left, to be facing the line of dance) | T | 2 | |
| The man’s left foot crosses in front of his right foot and continues turning to the left, to be facing the wall (and the Lady’s right foot closes to her left foot and she continues turning to the left, to face the centre and her partner) | TH | 3 | |
| 20 | The man brings his right foot back toward the centre, a long step, facing toward the wall, and commences turning to the left and into Promenade Position, where he loosens his hold on the Lady (the Lady moves her left foot forward and toward the centre, while she is backing to the wall, and commences turning to the right and into Promenade Position) | TH | 4 5 |
| Then the man’s left foot closes to his right foot without changing his weight and in Promenade Position, preparing to move down the line of dance (the Lady’s right foot closes to her left foot without changing her weight, also preparing to move down the line of dance) | T | 6 | |
Dorothea Waltz – 6th Movement |
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| 21 | The man moves his left foot forward and down the line of dance while in Promenade Position, himself facing diagonal to wall (the Lady moves her right foot forward and down the line of dance while in Promenade Position, herself facing diagonal to centre) | H | 1 2 3 |
| 22 | Then the man moves his right foot forward and down the line of dance while still in Promenade Position and Contra Body Movement Position (CBMP) and facing diagonal to wall (the Lady moves her left foot forward and down the line of dance while still in Promenade Position and CBMP and facing diagonal to centre) | H | 4 5 6 |
| 23 | Here, the man holds his right foot position and slightly flexes his right knee while commencing to move his left foot out and forward into a smooth Ronde (the Lady holds her left foot position and slightly flexes her left knee while commencing to move her right foot out and forward into a smooth Ronde, [her left foot should be Flat]) | RF Flat | 1 |
| The man continues his Ronde movement with his left foot. His left foot should now be in front of his right foot without changing his weight and pointing down the line of dance at the end of beat 3 (the Lady continues her Ronde movement with her right foot. Her right foot should be in front of her left foot and pointing down the line of dance at end of beat 3) | T | 2 3 | |
| 24 | The man holds his right foot position and slightly flexes his right knee, while commencing to move his left foot out and back into a smooth Ronde (the Lady holds her left foot position and slightly flexes her left knee, while commencing to move her right foot out and back into a smooth Ronde) | RF Flat | 4 |
| The man continues his Ronde movement with his left foot. His left foot should now be behind his right foot without changing his weight and pointing diagonal to centre against the line of dance, then closing it to his right foot without changing his weight at the end of beat 3 (the Lady continues her Ronde movement with her right foot. Her right foot should now be behind her left foot and pointing diagonal to wall against the line of dance, then closing it to her left foot without changing her weight at the end of beat 3) | T | 5 6 | |
Dorothea Waltz – 7th Movement |
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| 25 | The man moves his left foot down the line of dance and in Promenade Position (the Lady moves her right foot forward and down the line of dance) | HT | 1 2 |
| Then he moves his right foot forward and down the line of dance while still in Promenade Position and a Contra Body Movement Position (the Lady moves her left foot forward and down the line of dance while in Promenade Position and Contra Body Movement Position) | TH | 3 | |
| 26 | Next, the man moves his left foot forward and down the line of dance while still in Promenade Position (the Lady moves her right foot forward and down the line of dance while still in Promenade Position) | HTH | 4 |
| The man’s right foot swings forward into medium aerial lift (the Lady’s left foot swings forward into medium aerial lift) | – | 5 6 | |
| 27 | Now the man brings his right foot back against the line of dance while assisting the lady’s turn with pressure in his right arm (the Lady turns sharply to the left on her right foot to face against the line of dance, starting with moving her left foot forward against the line of dance) | TH | 1 2 |
| The man releases his hold on the Lady and takes his left hand to the lady’s right hand. He brings his left foot back and against the line of dance and raises the joined hands for the lady’s underarm turn (the Lady continues turning left to face the wall, her right foot goes to the side against the line of dance, allowing her left foot to cross loosely in front of her right foot – a Spiral Turn) | TH | 3 | |
| 28 | Then the man brings his right foot back and against the line of dance while facing diagonal to wall and his partner (the Lady moves her left foot forward toward her partner, moving diagonal to centre against the line of dance and prepares to take up Ballroom Hold) | TH | 4 5 |
| The man’s left foot brushes to his right foot without changing his weight while he faces diagonal to wall and now in Ballroom Hold (the Lady’s right foot brushes to her left foot without changing her weight as she faces her partner, backing diagonal to wall and now in Ballroom Hold) | T | 6 | |
Dorothea Waltz – 8th Movement |
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| 29 | Turning to face the line of dance, the man moves his left foot forward down the line of dance (the Lady, turning to back the line of dance, brings her right foot back down the line of dance) | H | 1 |
| Now the man moves his right foot forward and down the line of dance (the Lady brings her left foot back and down the line of dance) | B | 2 | |
| Turning to the left on the ball of his right foot until he is backing diagonal to wall, the man allows his left foot to cross in front of his right foot and taking his weight (the Lady turns left on the ball of her left foot and heel of her right foot and drags her right foot into a loose close to her left foot. She should now be facing diagonal to wall) | BF | 3 | |
| 30 | Turning to back the line of dance, the man brings his right foot back down the line of dance (the Lady, turning to face the line of dance, moves her left foot forward and down the line of dance) | TH | 4 |
| Then the man brings his left foot back down the line of dance (while the Lady moves her right foot forward and down the line of dance) | TH | 5 | |
| Turning left on the ball of his left foot and the heel of his right foot, the man drags his right foot into a loose close to his left foot. He should now be facing diagonal to wall (the Lady, turning to the left on the ball of her right foot until she is backing diagonal to wall, allows her left foot to cross in front of her right foot and taking her weight) | IEF WF |
6 | |
| 31 | Turning to face the line of dance, the man moves his left foot forward and down the line of dance (the Lady, turning until she is backing the line of dance, brings her right foot back down the line of dance) | H | 1 |
| Then the man moves his right foot forward and down the line of dance (while the Lady brings her left foot back down the line of dance) | B | 2 | |
| Turning to the left on the ball of her right foot until he is backing diagonal to wall, the man allows his left foot to cross in front of his right foot and taking his weight (the Lady, turning left on the ball of her left foot and heel of her right foot, drags her right foot into a loose close to her left foot. She should now be facing diagonal to wall) | BF | 3 | |
| 32 | Turning to back the line of dance, the man brings his right foot back down the line of dance while turning to face diagonal to wall (and the Lady, turning to face the line of dance, moves her left foot forward and down the line of dance while turning to face diagonal to centre) | TH | 4 |
| The man brings his left foot to the side (and the Lady brings her right foot to the side) | 5 | ||
| The man closes his right foot to his left foot (and the Lady closes her left foot to her right foot) | 6 | ||
Enjoy This Video of the Dorothea Waltz
Please note:- This video only presents the dance in “social dancing” style so if you’re a competitive dancer, or dance teacher, please make allowances for that.
