Arts >> Dance >> Waltz

How to Do Ladies' Waltz Steps

As the joke goes, Ginger Rogers had to do everything Fred Astaire did, only backwards and in heels. In the waltz, the man leads and the lady follows, but their steps are basically the same except for moves like underarm turns. Both dancers try to achieve an elegant, flowing movement with a graceful rise and fall. Be sure to learn the basic box step before adding more complicated moves. Once you have the basic waltz movements, practice using music in 3/4 time.

Things You'll Need

  • Dance shoes
  • Room to practice
  • Partner
  • Waltz music
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Instructions

  1. Basic Box Step

    • 1

      Stand with your feet together (closed position) and place your left hand on the man’s shoulder and your right hand in his left hand.

    • 2

      Step back with your right foot.

    • 3

      Place your left foot back and to the side (at the back left corner of the “box”).

    • 4

      Bring your right foot next to your left foot.

    • 5

      Step forward with your left foot.

    • 6

      Place your right foot forward and to the side (at the front right corner of the “box”).

    • 7

      Bring your left foot next to your right foot. You’ve now completed the box.

    • 8

      Repeat the steps in a smooth rhythm, counting 1 - 2 - 3, 1 - 2 - 3. You can also perform the box step while turning.

    Turning Box

    • 9

      Stand with your feet together (closed position) and place your left hand on the man’s shoulder and your right hand in his left hand.

    • 10

      Step back with your right foot.

    • 11

      Move your left foot back and to the side (at the back left corner of the “box”) and turn it 90 degrees before placing it on the floor.

    • 12

      Bring your right foot next to your left foot.

    • 13

      Step forward with your left foot.

    • 14

      Move your right foot forward and to the side (at the front right corner of the “box”) and turn it 90 degrees before placing it on the floor.

    • 15

      Bring your left foot next to your right foot. You’ve now completed the box and turned the opposite direction from where you started.

    • 16

      Repeat the steps in a smooth rhythm, counting 1 - 2 - 3, 1 - 2 - 3.

    Underarm Turn

    • 17

      Stand with your feet together (closed position) and place your left hand on the man’s shoulder and your right hand in his left hand.

    • 18

      Step back with your right foot.

    • 19

      Move your left foot back and to the side (at the back left corner of the “box”) and turn it 90 degrees before placing it on the floor.

    • 20

      Bring your right foot next to your left foot.

    • 21

      Step forward with your left foot.

    • 22

      Begin turning to the right (under the man’s left arm) by stepping forward with your right foot, turning an eight of a turn to the right.

    • 23

      Continue turning by stepping forward with your left foot, turning an eight of a turn to the right..

    • 24

      Step forward with your right foot.

    • 25

      Continue turning by stepping forward with your left foot, turning an eighth of a turn to the right.

    • 26

      Continue turning by stepping forward with your right foot, turning an eight of a turn to the right so that you’re facing the man again.

    • 27

      Step forward with your left foot.

    • 28

      Move your right foot forward and to the side (at the front right corner of the “box”) and turn it 90 degrees before placing it on the floor.

    • 29

      Bring your left foot next to your right foot. You’ve now completed the underarm turn.

    • 30

      Count 1 - 2 - 3, 1 - 2 - 3 as you perform the steps.

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Waltz

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