The Woodside Waltz dance script was composed by J. Fanning in 1964. 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 32 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. 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 Woodside Waltz, Scroll to the Video at the Bottom
Woodside Waltz Dance Steps
Woodside Waltz – 1st Movement – Closed Change – Natural Spin Turn – Turning Lock
1. The man moves forward with his left food facing diagonal to wall (1) then brings his right foot to the side and slightly forward (2) and closes his left foot to his right (3) to complete a “closed change” because the move is completed in line with the woman and without turning.
2. Now we begin to turn. The man moves his right foot forward and commences turning to the right (1). His left foot goes to the side, still turning to the right (2) and he closes his right foot to his left and ends the move backing line of dance (3).
3. Next, the man brings his left foot back, down the line of dance and does a pivot 1/2 turn to the right (1). His right foot moves forward in a contra body movement position as he continues to turn to the right, facing line of dance (2) his left foot to the side and slightly back, backing diagonal to centre (3).
4. Now for the lock step. The man’s right foot comes back, his right shoulder leading (1). He then crosses his left foot in front of his right foot (&) and bring his right foot back and slightly rightwards while turning to the left (2) then his left foot to the side and slightly forward, pointing diagonal to wall (3).
Woodside Waltz – 2nd Movement – Hesitation Change – Reverse Turn
5. The man moves his right foot forward in a CBMP outside his partner, diagonal to wall while turning to the right (1) then his left foot to the side, still turning to the right (2) and closes his right foot to his left so that he is now backing line of dance (3).
6. The man’s left foot goes back as he turns to the right (1) then his right foot to the side but only a small step, facing diagonal to centre (2) as he brushes his left foot to his right food without changing his weight in a Heel Pull (3).
7. Now the man moves his left foot forward, diagonal to centre while turning to the left (1) then brings his right foot to the side, still turning (2) and closes his left foot to his right and ends backing line of dance (3).
8. The man’s right foot comes back as he turns to the left (1) then his left foot to the side with his toe pointing diagonal to wall (2) and closes his right foot to his left, facing diagonal to wall (3).
Woodside Waltz – 3rd Movement – Whisk – Wing – Open Telemark – Hover
9. The man moves his left foot forward while turning to the left (1) then his right foot goes diagonally forward, his right shoulder leading (2) and crosses his left foot behind his right foot in Promenade Position, facing diagonal to centre (3).
10. Next, the man’s right foot goes forward and across in Promenade Position and in a Contra Body Movement Position, pointing diagonal to centre with his body facing line of dance (Lady’s left foot goes forward and across curving to the left around her partner, Heel Leads) (1) then the man commences to close his left foot to his right foot, his body turning to the left. Pressure should be on the toe of the right foot with the foot flat, and pressure on inside edge of toe of the left foot (Lady’s right foot goes forward as she continues curving to the left around her partner) (2) He closes his left foot to his right without changing his weight, his body turning to the left. Pressure should be on the toe of his right foot with his foot flat, and pressure on inside edge of the toe of his left foot (Lady’s left foot goes forward, as she continues curving to the left around her partner (3).
11. The man’s left foot goes forward in another CBMP outside his partner who is on his left side, in a diagonal to centre direction while turning to the left (1). Then he brings his right foot to the side, backing diagonal to wall and still turning. (The Lady does a Heel Turn) (2). The man’s left foot goes to the side and slightly forward in Promenade Position along line of dance, his toe pointing diagonal to wall and his body facing the wall (3).
12. The man’s right foot now moves forward and across in Promenade Position as he forms another Contra Body Movement Position along line of dance, while turning to the right (1). His left foot then goes to the side as he now faces the wall (2). He rises higher on his toes and transfers his weight on to his right foot, facing diagonal to wall against line of dance (The Lady makes no turn and finishes in line with her partner) (3).
Woodside Waltz – 4th Movement – Contra Check – Natural Turn to Fallaway Whisk – Closed Finish
13. First we have the contra-check. The man’s left foot moves forward in a Contra Body Movement Position, in a diagonal to wall direction against line of dance, his body turning to the left and his knees slightly flexed (1) then he transfers his weight back to his right foot, still turning to the left (2) and brings his left foot to the side, pointing diagonal to wall (3).
14. Now comes the Natural Turn. The man’s right foot goes forward in another CBMP outside his partner, in a diagonal to wall direction, while turning to the right (1). He brings his left foot to the side, still turning (2) and closes his right foot to his left so that he ends up backing line of dance (3).
15. This brings us to the fallaway whisk. The man’s left foot goes back as he turns to the right (1). Now his right foot moves to the side and slightly back as he turns his partner to the fallaway position (2). This brings him to the whisk, as he crosses his left foot loosely behind his right foot in fallaway, facing diagonal to centre (3).
16. The dance sequence ends with a closed finish. The man’s right foot moves forward and across in a CBMP and Promenade Position, as he turns to the right (1). He brings his left foot to the side, turning square to his partner (2) and closes his right foot to his left foot, facing diagonal to wall (3).
Ready to begin again . . . . .
Enjoy this Video Demonstration of the Woodside Waltz
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