Meredith & Harold

ROUND DANCING — CHOREOGRAPHED BALLROOM

EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES

MAJOR SECTIONS: Figures | Articles | Links | Alph. Index | Search | Home

BROWSE
Figures in the Smooth Rhythms
Foxtrot
Quickstep
Waltz
Viennese Waltz
International Tango
American Tango
Two Step
Five Count
One Step
Polka
Rhythm
Figures in the Latin Rhythms
Cha Cha
Rumba
Jive
Single Swing
West Coast Swing
Lindy
Hustle
Bolero
Slow Two Step
Mambo
Salsa
Samba
Argentine Tango
Merengue
Paso Doble
Dance Articles
Articles Home

Dance Figures

Dance Rhythms
Lead and Follow
Dance Styling
Fred Astaire Album
Other Sections
Dance Links
Music Clips For Each Rhythm
Search Site/Web
Sources
Contact Me

Round Dance Tips by Tim Eum—

Two Picture Figures

Back to Slow Promenade Oversway (Waltz – Phase 4)

“Me & My Sister” is a phase 4 waltz written by Kay & Joy Read and in 2015-2016 was the number 6 dance in the phase 3-4 ICBDA Top 15 list. A very interesting figure in this dance is the “Back to Slow Promenade Oversway.” It is a two-measure (i.e., six-beat) combination and a slight modification of the standard phase 4 figures “Promenade Sway” and “Oversway."

Start in banjo facing DRW (Diagonal RLOD and Wall) with trail foot free (man’s right and lady’s left) and step back (lady forward) blending to CP and begin turning left face. After having turned ¼ LF, step side left (lady right) to SCP (semi-closed position, which is what ballroom calls “promenade” position) to end facing DLW (Diagonal LOD and wall). Note that after these first two weight-taking steps, there are no more steps; the remaining four beats of music are all done only with the body and head.

On beat 3, go into the “Promenade Sway” position by first rising high onto straightened lead legs, stretching the man’s left side of body (lady’s right side) and looking forward and up but then tilting the upper body frame forward and down and looking in that down direction. This “tilt” should now stretch man’s right side and lady’s left without compressing the man’s left side and lady’s right side thus leaving the couple “high”. That’s a lot to do in one beat, but it can and should be done quickly and smoothly and if necessary you can lag a bit and use some of the next beat.

On beat 4, complete the “Promenade Sway” if you haven’t already and begin to lower by relaxing in your lead leg (man’s left, lady’s right) and beginning to go from SCP to CP.

On beat 5, slightly rotate the upper body frame LF about an 1/8 and complete going into CP (lady’s head now looks left).

Finally on beat 6, end the rotation in “Oversway” position with the upper body frame slightly tilted with lead elbows higher than trail elbows. This can also be described as “stretching the man’s left side and lady’s right,” but this time in CP instead of SCP as in step 2 of this figure.

Note that in beats 3 through 6 the trail foot is free. Keep the trail foot pointed side and back (changes to side & forward for lady) throughout these four beats. The lady’s foot should be parallel or even slightly pointed away from the man’s -- not pointed in between the man’s feet.

This figure is enhanced if the couple can maintain a good steady upper body frame throughout – no matter the changes from BJO to CP to SCP to CP.

Right Lunge (Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango -- Phase 4 )

The Right Lunge is a “picture figure” but there are things you need to do to make it a beautiful picture. Roundalab describes this as a “side & slightly forward” lunging step for the man (“side & slightly back” for the lady using the man’s right foot and lady’s left foot). This is unfortunate because this description leads to couples doing an unattractive dipping to man’s right side with the man stepping “outside” of lady’s left foot and remaining separated (perhaps even in Butterfly position). Note that the Right Lunge is only properly done in Closed Position.

To make this attractive, first realize that you should begin in a very snug Closed Position and remain in a very snug Closed Position throughout the Right Lunge. In other words, maintain a good attractive upper body frame.

Then realize that when the man steps into the right lunge with his right foot that it should go between the lady’s feet on the “inside” of the lady’s left foot and thus the man’s step is more forward than side. However, it will feel like a “side” step because while moving forward the couple will turn their upper body frame LF (i.e., the man moves forward with a right shoulder lead). Note that doing this will have the man’s right leg come in contact with the lady’s left leg.
 
The man does turn his head from looking over the lady’s right shoulder to looking over her left shoulder and “rolls” the frame into a sway to the man’s right – similar to a Same Foot Lunge.

Remember to “relax” the lead leg to lower just before moving the trail foot forward & side (back & side for lady) into the Right Lunge. If you also remember to maintain frame throughout, turn the frame LF, roll the upper body into a sway to the man’s right – you will have a beautiful Right Lunge.

 
Tim Eum has prepared many Round Dance Tips for Calls 'n' Cues, WASCA, for his weekly Rocket Rounds email reports, and for other publications. DRDC is grateful for permission to collect and reprint. A Tim Eum archive.

 

dingbat





Alphabetical Index to
Figures
and Technique
Dance
Figures
Dance
Articles
Dance
Search
Dance
Links
Dance
Home
Online since 2001 ©Harold and Meredith Sears, Boulder, CO, harold@rounddancing.net. All rights reserved.