Reverse Turn - V Waltz

Viennese Waltz Reverse Turn

The Viennese Waltz Reverse Turn is a Bronze figure. This online reference gives a detailed description of the dance steps, including timing, footwork, alignment, and movement; steps diagram; a list of figures that may precede or follow the pattern; and videos providing instruction and demonstration of the figure, techniques and practice routines that include it.

Note that Lady's steps are really the same as Man's but doing 2nd half first, then 1st half of Man's steps.

Man

Start with Man facing DW, turning 1/8 to step LF forward along LOD.

• 1: LF fwd | Facing LOD | HT | 1/8 to L between preceding step and 1 | Sway(S) | CBM | Start to rise at end of 1

  • Commencing alignment is DW, start with 1/8 turn L, then step. LF straight, don't turn out LF.

• 2: RF to side and slightly back | Backing Wall | T | 1/4 L btwn 1 and 2 | Sway(L) | Cont to rise on 2 and 3

  • Instead of thinking side step, it's more of a forward step, then turn.

  • RF should track under LF and then forward, Avoid rondes.

• 3: LF crosses in front of RF | BDW | TH | 1/8 L btwn 2 and 3 | Sway(L) | up on 3, lower at end of 3

  • At end of step 2, RF is turning on ball of foot, causing LF to cross, don't gap LF and RF to much, two feet should be parallel.

• 1: RF back and slightly to side | BLOD | TH | 1/8 L btwn 3 and 4 | Sway(S) | CBM | Start to rise e/o 4, NFR

• 2: LF to side | Pointing DW | T | 3/8 L btwn 4 and 5, body turns less | Sway(R) | body rise on 5 and 6

• 3: RF closes to LF | FDW | Flat | body completes turn | Sway(R) | Lower e/o 6

  • Settle.

Note:

• • Man may hold the preceding sway slightly at the beginning of steps 1 and 4.

Lady

Starting BDW, then turn 1/8 to L.

• 1: RF back and slightly to side | BLOD | TH | 1/8 L btwn preceding step and Count 1 | Sway(S) | CBM | Start to rise e/o 1, NFR

  • Toe slightly turned in. Stretch head to L, but keeping L side body to Man.

  • Be careful not to turn shoulder to left as hip girdle area is turning left. Body turns less than hips. Left side stretched very long, upward angle, presenting into Man's right side. Left side is positive.

• 2: LF to side | Pointing DW | T | 3/8 L btwn 1 and 2, body turns less | Sway(R) | body rise on 2 and 3

  • Track with leg, do not leave out and block Man.

  • Do not pop up. Keep L knee flexed when drawing RF in, which will help staying flat. Focus on bigger movement.

  • Do not take head too quickly to LF. Keep upward, leftward poise. Stretch to left. Create space with Man, Keep the volume.

• 3: RF closes to LF | FDW | Flat | body completes turn | Sway(R) | Lower e/o 3

  • Settle. Lower to neutral position.

• 1: LF fwd | LOD | HT | 1/8 L btwn 3 and 4 | Sway(S) | CBM | Start to rise e/o 4

  • Straight forward down LOD. It appears to step right at Man, the fact that he's turning as well, it will work out. Don't try to step to side, it will create gap.

  • Big step, drive, keep flat, but move more.

  • LF could have slightly turn out, but not too much.

  • No shape or shape slightly (not too much) toward inside of the turn, lengthen the opposite side, don't collapse left side, help to make next step bigger.

  • Take head and spine to LF. Left side is positive.

  • It's easy to loose R arm, R hand pressure to Man. Make sure arm is in front of body, extend arm and keep RH pressure.

• 2: RF to side | Backing Wall | T | 1/4 L btwn 4 and 5 | Sway(L) | cont to rise on 5 and 6

  • Swivel on LF and push off LF to make the side step bigger.

  • RF track under LF (no rondes), then forward, then turn on ball (which makes it a equivalent of a side step).

  • RF should be quite fwd down LOD first, (then turned to be BW), do not veer off LOD to right side otherwise, after crossing LF in front RF, the feet are going to be too far apart.

  • RF continue to turn when LF draw crosses in front (in next step).

• 3: LF crosses in front of RF | BDW | TH | 1/8 L btwn 5 and 6 | Sway(L) | up on 6, lower e/o 6

  • RF continues to swivel on "3", then LF crosses in front.

  • The two feet should be parallel, BDW. If RF is turned out, it means RF didn't continue to swivel.

  • Settle with weight on LF (front foot). L side positive, do not square off shoulder.

Note:

• • The movement is straight down line of dance. (Linear rather than circular.)

  • To avoid dizziness: (instead of spotting on one spot), spot different spots on the wall.

  • Feet should keep solid contact with floor. it helps to provide control/balance and makes steps smoother.

  • Stretch more to L, keep the head volume, give arms to Man, both arms forward which counters head shaping more left. (Tendency is to shift to Man's space).

  • Stay more flat. Keep flexed knees.

  • Don't do double lowering. Settle at end of 3 (this is the "neutral" position with flexed knees.). Next step, because of spreading the legs, it will naturally go lower. Do not do another "lower" and then step.

  • Reverse Turn either has light shaping to inside of the turn, or some top dancers do not do shaping at all.

    • Shaping lengthens opposite side for bigger stride, shape forward, do not collapse the other side.

    • Shaping allows for longer step on step 2 and 5.

  • Reverse turn is normally used to travel down long side, and Natural Turn on short side. It's easier to underturn Natural Turn to go around corners than overturning Reverse Turn.

  • Before getting ready to use Change Step, last Reverse Turn will have smaller movement, maybe some shape. where Lady can turn head to R.

Preceding Figures

1. LF Backward Change (Natural to Reverse)

2. RF Forward Change (Natural to Reverse)

3. Reverse Fleckerl

4. Reverse Turn

Following Figures

1. LF Forward Change (Reverse To Natural)

2. Reverse Turn

3. Reverse Fleckerl

4. Contra Check

5. RF Backward Change (Reverse To Natural) (after 1-3 Reverse Turn, do Backward Change, then 4-6 of Natural Turn)