Princess Waltz Dance Steps
The Princess Waltz is a very enjoyable dance which is done mainly in “double hold” and consists mainly of crossover movements that some describe as “the vine”. The key to “getting” the dance is to remember the correct angles and timing of the moves. Each move of the first part of the dance begins with a ‘slow’ (2 beats) followed by a quicker 1-2-3-4-lift crossover movement. In fact, this rhythm continues all the way till almost the end. If you can remember the angles and direction of each phase then you’ve “got it made”!
The Princess Waltz is designed to be done to a 3/4 time with a tempo at 48-52 beats per minute and has a 32 bar sequence. The bars are indicated by paragraph numbers while the timing is indicated by numbers in brackets. It commences in “double hold” with the man facing and the lady backing diagonal-to-wall, down line of dance. Only the man’s steps are described here. The lady dances normal counterpart unless otherwise stated.
If You Prefer to Just Watch the Princess Waltz, Scroll to the Video at the Bottom
Princess Waltz Steps
In the first movement of the Princess Waltz, both partners will be moving in a diagonal-to-wall direction along line of dance. Starting with the man’s left, they will step then “vine for four” followed by a “lift”.
1-2. The man moves his left foot forward diagonal-to-wall, outside his partner who is on his right side (1-2-3). He then moves his right food forward, diagonal-to-wall, outside his partner still on his right side and commences turning to the right (4-5). He then brings his left foot to the side across line of dance (6).
3-4. The man now brings his right foot back, diagonal-to-centre with his partner on his right side while commencing turning to the left (1-2). Now he brings his left foot forward outside his partner, pointing diagonal-to-wall while still turning to the left (3). The man now brings his right foot forward and across outside his partner who is on his right side, down line-of-dance into a ‘check’ position. It requires a strong left shoulder lead at this point (4-5). He then closes his left foot to his right foot without transferring his weight (6).
5-6. He then brings his left foot back, partner still on the outside to his right and commences turning to the left (1-2-3). Now his right foot goes back, backing to the wall, partner still on his right side and still turning to the left (4-5). Then his left foot comes to the side, pointing diagonal to centre against line of dance (6).
7-8. The man now brings his right foot forward, diagonal-to-centre against line of dance, outside his partner who is still on his right side and commences to turn to the right (1-2). Then his left foot comes to the side, backing diagonal-to-wall against line of dance (3). Now his right foot comes back, facing diagonal-to-centre (4). The move ends with both partners swinging their feet to a medium aerial position – the man with his left and the lady with her right (5-6).
Princess Waltz – 2nd Movement
In the next phase of the Princess Waltz, we are going to effectively reverse what we have just done, while at the same time, the partners cross over, so that the lady is now on the man’s left instead of his right and both partners are moving in a diagonal-to-centre direction, against line of dance. The man is moving backwards and the lady forwards.
9-10. The man moves his left foot forward, diagonal-to-centre and commences turn to the left (1-2-3). Now his right foot comes across to the side while still turning to the left (4-5). He then closes his left foot to his right (6).
11-12. The man now brings his right foot forward, his partner outside on his right side, moving against line of dance (1-2-3). Next, his left foot comes forward against line of dance while moving into line with the lady (4-5). His right foot closes to his left foot as the lady comes in line with him (6).
13-14. The man’s left foot comes back, as he is backing line of dance, and he commences to turn to the left (1-2-3). He then brings his right foot back, now facing the wall and still turning to the left (4-5). His left foot comes to the side, pointing diagonal-to-wall (6).
15-16. The man’s right foot moves forward, outside his partner, in a diagonal-to-wall direction, as he commences to turn to the right (1-2). Now his left foot comes to the side (3). Next, his right foot comes back in a diagonal-to-centre direction with his partner on his left side (4). The move ends with both partners swinging their feet to a medium aerial position – the man with his left and the lady with her right (5-6).
Princess Waltz – 3rd Movement
At this point, the man will now step forward and turn to face diagonal-to-centre against line of dance, the lady will cross to his other side and then they will then do another “vine for four”, this time with the man going backwards in a diagonal-to-wall direction along line of dance, commencing with his left.
17-18.The man brings his left foot forward in a diagonal-to-wall direction against line of dance while commencing to turn to the left (1-2-3). Next, he brings his right foot to the side, still turning to the left (4-5). Then he closes his left foot to his right foot (6).
19-20. The man brings his right foot forward down the line of dance, still turning to the left (1-2-3). Now his left foot comes forward towards diagonal-to-centre, his partner on his outside while still turning to the left (4-5). Next, he brings his right foot to the side along the line of dance (6).
21-22. Now the man brings his left foot back to the wall with his partner on his outside and commences to turn to the right (1-2). Then his right foot comes forward, pointing along line of dance as he is still turning to the right (3). Then his left foot moves forward down the line of dance, outside his partner who is on his side (Lady’s right foot goes back) (4) The move ends with both partners swinging their feet to a medium aerial position – the man with his right foot and the lady with her left (5-6).
Princess Waltz – 4th Movement (optional extra)
The next part of the Princess Waltz is similar to what has gone before, only this time both partners are moving against line of dance in what is called a “sleazy vine”.
First, the man, who is now facing diagonal-to-centre against line of dance, brings his left foot forward while commencing to turn to the left (1). Next, he brings his right foot to the side, still turning to the left (2). Then he closes his left foot to his right foot (3). He is now facing diagonal to wall against line-of-dance.
The man commences forward with his right (1-2-3), after which both partners “vine for four” against the line of dance. At the fifth step after the ‘vine’, both partners lift their feet to a medium aerial position – the man with his right foot and the lady with her left .
Princess Waltz – 5th Movement
In this part of the Princess Waltz, the man and lady will break apart, so both partners’ steps are described.
23-24. The man now brings his right foot back against the line of dance, releasing Double Hold and taking up Shadow Hold for lady’s turn under man’s raised right arm(Lady left foot forward against line of dance and commencing to turn to the left) (1-2). The man now moves his left foot back, preparing to take up Open Hold (Lady moves her right foot to side while still turning to the left) (3) Now the man’s right foot comes back (and the Lady’s left foot comes back against line of dance) (4-5) The man places his left foot to the side without changing his weight, his toe pointing diagonal-to-centre (and the Lady places her right foot to side without changing her weight, her toe pointing diagonal-to-wall). Both partners take up Open Extended Hold and both now facing down the line of dance (6).
25-26. The man brings his left foot forward down the line of dance (1-2-3) then his right foot forward, moving towards partner while swivelling to the right to face diagonal-to-wall against line of dance (4-5). He brushes his left foot to his right foot without changing his weight while moving into a counter promenade position (6).
27-28. The move ends with the man bringing his left foot forward in a diagonal-to-wall direction against line of dance, while commencing to turn to the left (1-2-3). Then his right foot comes to the side against line of dance (4-5) and his left foot closes to his right foot without changing his weight. Partners are now in Closed Hold with the man facing, and the lady backing, to the wall, as they commence to turn to the right (6).
Princess Waltz – Final Movement – A Natural Waltz
29-32. Both partners will now complete the dance with a Natural Waltz (not a Rotary Chasse Waltz) to a final 1-2-3-4-5-6, 1-2-3-4-5-6 timing. The Natural Waltz commences with the man brining his left foot backwards down the line of dance as the lady’s right foot moves forward down line of dance. They rotate to the right (clockwise).
