Waltz Basic and Advanced Routine with Contra Check

ballroom routine timing & music waltz

The short answer: this lesson gives you two Waltz routines in one video. The basic routine uses Change Steps, a Natural Turn, Reverse Turn, Whisk, Chasse from Promenade Position and Natural Spin Turn. The advanced routine adds a Weave from Promenade Position, Back Lock, Closed Impetus Turn and Reverse Corte, and finishes with a Contra Check. Each routine is danced in full, then named figure by figure and counted out loud.

What is in this Waltz lesson?

Two routines, danced with Zoe. The basic Waltz is one you may already know, so you can see exactly how we dance it. The advanced Waltz is an interesting combination: a Chasse that stays in Promenade Position, 1 to 3 of a Weave, a Back Lock and an unusual ending into a Reverse Corte. For each one you see the routine danced in full, then every figure named, then the timing counted.

How do you count these Waltz routines?

Most figures are counted 1, 2, 3 for each bar. The chasse actions are counted 1, 2-and-3: the Chasse from Promenade Position in both routines, and the Back Lock and Chasse to Right in the advanced routine. I count both routines out loud in the video so you can dance along on time.

What steps are in the basic Waltz routine?

Change Step
Natural Turn
Change Step
Reverse Turn
Whisk
Chasse from Promenade Position: counted 1, 2-and-3.
Natural Spin Turn
4–6 Reverse Turn

What steps are in the advanced Waltz routine?

Whisk into Promenade Position
Chasse from Promenade Position: stay in Promenade Position.
1–3 Weave from Promenade Position
Back Lock: counted 1, 2-and-3.
Closed Impetus Turn
Reverse Corte
Chasse to Right: going against the line of dance, just for a moment.
Contra Check to finish the combination

Common mistakes

Dancing the chasses as an even 1, 2, 3 instead of 1, 2-and-3.
Leaving Promenade Position after the Chasse from Promenade in the advanced routine. You stay in Promenade Position for the Weave.
Travelling too long against the line of dance on the Chasse to Right. It's only for a moment before the Contra Check.

Try this in your next practice

Dance the basic routine along with the timing section of the video, counting 1, 2, 3 out loud and 1, 2-and-3 on the Chasse from Promenade. When it feels easy, do the same with the advanced routine.

Frequently asked questions

How do you count Waltz?

1, 2, 3 for each bar. Chasses, like the Chasse from Promenade Position, are counted 1, 2-and-3. I count both routines out loud in the video.

How fast is Waltz music?

WDSF competition rules set Waltz at 28 to 30 bars a minute.

Is this Waltz routine suitable for beginners?

The basic routine is. It uses core figures: Change Steps, Natural and Reverse Turns, Whisk, Chasse from Promenade Position and Natural Spin Turn. The advanced routine is for improvers.

How does the advanced Waltz routine finish?

With a Chasse to Right, travelling against the line of dance for a moment, then a Contra Check to finish the combination.

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Vaughan Liddicoat is a 4 time World Professional 10 Dance representative for Australia, an accredited coach and the founder of Ballroom Mastery. He has a passion for dance and wants to help you become the best dancer you can be and have an amazing time doing it.

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