Very clear instructions. And I really appreciate the good audio quality. (So many online instructors sounds as though they are speaking from inside a tin can.) If I may recommend one change in the videos, it would be to refer to the different dance roles as "leader" and "follower" rather than "man" and "lady."
Hi, eponymousIme, thanks for appreciating our audio quality. Thanks also for suggestion, may I ask why terms Leader and Follower would be better if technique books describe steps and movements for Man and Lady.
Not all technique books refer to dance roles in terms of "man" and "woman." It's the 21st Century, and all the dances I attend have people switching roles all the time. Since there's usually a dearth of male leaders, women often offer to be the leader. I am a heterosexual female and have danced with other women many times when there were no men available to be the leader. The point is: dance is dance, and it doesn't matter what your gender identification is to be able to move in concert with another person and experience the joy of music and connection. Let's each do whatever we can to make the dance community a welcoming community to one and all and knock down artificial barriers.
If it's not possible to dance man with woman, it's undersandable to dance oposite roles. For example, I myself for teaching purposes show lady's steps, right? I hope though use of terms "man" and "lady" in my videos is not a barrier for dancers even if they for some reasons have to dance different roles.
Egils! Yes! This the one that i'm looking for. Was studying these moves last night. Thank you very much Egils. I love your videos. I'll go through all of them one by one. God bless you my friend :-)
The Throwaway Oversway is, in my opinion, still the most common and most spectacular picture line not only in Modern Waltz - but in International Standard dancing in general. (This sway can also be used in modern Tango, and less often, in modern Foxtrot.) Some additional pointers, floor-craft wise, when doing the TO: 1. Avoid doing this picture line in traffic in a crowded social dance floor because this picture line requires you to hold position to a full stop for over a measure. Try doing this in the center of the ballroom - you can do them in a corner but if you must do so, be aware also of the floor traffic. 2. In dancesport, also avoid doing this in traffic, and especially in the preliminary heats. You may have very limited space to allow for the 4 seconds to complete the oversway and you could collide with another couple, which could ruin your placing. In the semifinals and finals, there is more space for you to do this sway, but still use discretion or you could be collided. 3. In show dance demonstrations (where only one couple is dancing), you can add several Throwaway Oversways to your waltz routine, but strategize where you will do those oversways - best to do them in different areas of the ballroom and not do three such sways in one spot, because you want to please the audience.
At the novice level or above, another great entry to the Throwaway Oversway is Continuous Natural Pivots for 6 steps (123 123) or 12 steps (123 123 123 123), and then into the Oversway. The common advanced exit out of that is the Hover to PP and a walk across in PP, just like Egais does in the video. A Natural Standing Spin (1and2and3and, etc.) is also a good entry into this sway.
This oversway is called that because it seems as if the leader is about to "throw away" the follower out of closed hold into something out of open hold. Generally you cannot go into open hold in Modern (standard) dancing, so even with this stretched oversway, the man's and lady's right fronts still have contact so it will still be considered "closed hold." What makes it perceivably open is the strong stretching of the legs (to create a wide leg line), and the wide stance in both the man's and lady's Big Top Line--especially at their head and neck levels.
Hi Eglis, I value your teaching tremendously. Your teaching is so clear that I refer other dancers to your site to learn the difficult steps from you. Recently I came across a figure called "Back Check - Natural Pivot" in waltz that to me it is very complicated especially with body movements (sway). It may seem easy but I am struggling to do it properly. Any chance that you teach this step? If you do I would really appreciate it. Nick
Eglis, I'm confused with your beginning clip. In the dance routine with music, I see you go : 0:03 step to man's right, "side together with left foot" (I don't understand what this step is) 0:04 step forward with left foot, lady head position change from left to right (I don't understand this step either, becasue man's natural turn 123 = supposed to start with man's right foot?) 0:05 step forward with right foot. (i understand this step, man's start with root foot) 0:06 step forward again with left foot close with right foot side together. (count number 2 and side together is count number 3) 0:07 - 0:09 you step back with left foot ( i understand this step), then you step with right foot and pivot (I understand this step) BUT, after that you slowly step back with right foot on 3 (is this natural spin turn? how does lady know it is spin turn with small pivot?)
Hello Jo Hu! Thanks for your questions! First “figure” is introduction or preparation which is kind of hover Telemark (from Slow Foxtrot). You can start directly with Natural Spin Turn. Second part after Pivot action Man leads Lady to step back and brush by rising up on 2. Which figure we dance and count you can see written on screen. Also later in video we have more detailed steps with count. Natural Spin Turn is on 01:16 Hope it helps!
It depends. If you dance basic figures only, then you should stick to basic figures described in technique books. If you dance so called open routines, then it’s ok to use figures also from different dances although keeping character of dance, in this case Waltz character.
Mr.Smagris that is too beautiful I love this can't wait to try this figure. Thank you very much Best of wishes always teddy.
looked this up because of a song, thanks
Beautiful
It is a very good routine. I have to dance the same.
You explained Double Reverse Overspin easily.
Andrea, thanks, glad you find my Routine and explanation helpful 😊
very great
Very clear instructions. And I really appreciate the good audio quality. (So many online instructors sounds as though they are speaking from inside a tin can.) If I may recommend one change in the videos, it would be to refer to the different dance roles as "leader" and "follower" rather than "man" and "lady."
Hi, eponymousIme, thanks for appreciating our audio quality. Thanks also for suggestion, may I ask why terms Leader and Follower would be better if technique books describe steps and movements for Man and Lady.
Not all technique books refer to dance roles in terms of "man" and "woman." It's the 21st Century, and all the dances I attend have people switching roles all the time. Since there's usually a dearth of male leaders, women often offer to be the leader. I am a heterosexual female and have danced with other women many times when there were no men available to be the leader. The point is: dance is dance, and it doesn't matter what your gender identification is to be able to move in concert with another person and experience the joy of music and connection. Let's each do whatever we can to make the dance community a welcoming community to one and all and knock down artificial barriers.
If it's not possible to dance man with woman, it's undersandable to dance oposite roles. For example, I myself for teaching purposes show lady's steps, right? I hope though use of terms "man" and "lady" in my videos is not a barrier for dancers even if they for some reasons have to dance different roles.
Egils! Yes! This the one that i'm looking for. Was studying these moves last night. Thank you very much Egils. I love your videos. I'll go through all of them one by one. God bless you my friend :-)
Allan, thanks and blessings to you! 😀
The Throwaway Oversway is, in my opinion, still the most common and most spectacular picture line not only in Modern Waltz - but in International Standard dancing in general. (This sway can also be used in modern Tango, and less often, in modern Foxtrot.)
Some additional pointers, floor-craft wise, when doing the TO:
1. Avoid doing this picture line in traffic in a crowded social dance floor because this picture line requires you to hold position to a full stop for over a measure. Try doing this in the center of the ballroom - you can do them in a corner but if you must do so, be aware also of the floor traffic.
2. In dancesport, also avoid doing this in traffic, and especially in the preliminary heats. You may have very limited space to allow for the 4 seconds to complete the oversway and you could collide with another couple, which could ruin your placing. In the semifinals and finals, there is more space for you to do this sway, but still use discretion or you could be collided.
3. In show dance demonstrations (where only one couple is dancing), you can add several Throwaway Oversways to your waltz routine, but strategize where you will do those oversways - best to do them in different areas of the ballroom and not do three such sways in one spot, because you want to please the audience.
Thanks Charles for helpful comment!
wonderful.
bravissimo Egils as always....
romy thanks!
I like your vidéo. You explain very good
+Sara thanks 😀
At the novice level or above, another great entry to the Throwaway Oversway is Continuous Natural Pivots for 6 steps (123 123) or 12 steps (123 123 123 123), and then into the Oversway. The common advanced exit out of that is the Hover to PP and a walk across in PP, just like Egais does in the video. A Natural Standing Spin (1and2and3and, etc.) is also a good entry into this sway.
Really helpful!
This oversway is called that because it seems as if the leader is about to "throw away" the follower out of closed hold into something out of open hold. Generally you cannot go into open hold in Modern (standard) dancing, so even with this stretched oversway, the man's and lady's right fronts still have contact so it will still be considered "closed hold." What makes it perceivably open is the strong stretching of the legs (to create a wide leg line), and the wide stance in both the man's and lady's Big Top Line--especially at their head and neck levels.
Hi Eglis, I value your teaching tremendously. Your teaching is so clear that I refer other dancers to your site to learn the difficult steps from you. Recently I came across a figure called "Back Check - Natural Pivot" in waltz that to me it is very complicated especially with body movements (sway). It may seem easy but I am struggling to do it properly. Any chance that you teach this step? If you do I would really appreciate it. Nick
Nick, thanks finding our videos helpful! About your suggestion: I put back Check to Natural Pivot in my future video plans. Egils
Me ha estado empezado a gustar este tipo de baile, 😭 pero no hay donde practicarlo aquí donde vivo 😞😭😭
Javier, espero que puedas encontrarla cerca de donde practiques el vals.
Estoy en la misma situación mi hija tendrá sus 15 años y quisiera un profesor así, que sepa bailar correctamente un vals 😕.
Eglis, I'm confused with your beginning clip. In the dance routine with music, I see you go :
0:03 step to man's right, "side together with left foot" (I don't understand what this step is)
0:04 step forward with left foot, lady head position change from left to right (I don't understand this step either, becasue man's natural turn 123 = supposed to start with man's right foot?)
0:05 step forward with right foot. (i understand this step, man's start with root foot)
0:06 step forward again with left foot close with right foot side together. (count number 2 and side together is count number 3)
0:07 - 0:09 you step back with left foot ( i understand this step), then you step with right foot and pivot (I understand this step) BUT, after that you slowly step back with right foot on 3 (is this natural spin turn? how does lady know it is spin turn with small pivot?)
Hello Jo Hu! Thanks for your questions! First “figure” is introduction or preparation which is kind of hover Telemark (from Slow Foxtrot). You can start directly with Natural Spin Turn. Second part after Pivot action Man leads Lady to step back and brush by rising up on 2.
Which figure we dance and count you can see written on screen.
Also later in video we have more detailed steps with count. Natural Spin Turn is on 01:16
Hope it helps!
Thank you for the clarification. So my new question is it ok to mix different dances into Waltz? like hover Telemark (from Foxtrot, different dance)?
It depends. If you dance basic figures only, then you should stick to basic figures described in technique books. If you dance so called open routines, then it’s ok to use figures also from different dances although keeping character of dance, in this case Waltz character.
01:16 Natural Spin Turn
03:14 Reverse Turn
04:46 Double Reverse Overspin
07:17 Oversway - R Lunge - Throwaway Oversway - Hover
09:02 Curved Feather
10:59 Chasse Roll to Right
13:12 Hesitation - Travelling Contra Check
ㅈ
MANTO:RFtobacktoside
ChangeshapetoRightCS
toleftlikelyup