1930s Waltz Variations: The Waltz Balance Step

Moving right along with my series of short descriptions of 1930s waltz variations, here's an easy one that appeared in the first (1930) edition of Lillian Ray's Modern Ballroom Dancing, reappearing in the next five editions (through 1935) and then vanishing from the revamped seventh edition (1936).  Other posts in this series may be found in the 1930s category archive.  See the first 1930s waltz post for a brief description of the basic waltz of this era.

The Waltz Balance Step is essentially a series of four quarter-turns counter-clockwise which bring a couple around 360 degrees over four bars.  This leaves the dancers making a little four-bar eddy in their travel, actually stepping against line of dance on the second bar, so it should be done carefully on the actual dance floor -- either moving a bit towards the center and out of the "fast lane" before performing it or at least checking carefully for traffic immediately behind.

Rather than performing a box step (step-side-close) sequence on each bar and quarter-turn, however, the Waltz Balance Step is a series of "step-point..." sequences, making the turn on the first beat and then pointing the free foot, without weight, in the direction stepped on the second and third beats.

The Waltz Balance Step
(Starts and ends with man facing line of dance)

1    Man forward left (woman back right) making a quarter turn counter-clockwise (man faces center of room)
2-3 Man points right foot forward (towards center); woman points left foot backward; no weight

1    Man back right (woman forward left) making a quarter turn counter-clockwise (man faces against line of dance)
2-3 Man points left foot back (along line of dance); woman points right foot forward; no weight

1    Man forward left (woman back right) making a quarter turn counter-clockwise (man faces wall)
2-3 Man points right foot forward (towards wall); woman points left foot backward; no weight

1    Man back right (woman forward left) making a quarter turn counter-clockwise (man faces line of dance)
2-3 Man points left foot back (against line of dance); woman points right foot forward; no weight

This is an easy sequence to enter and exit and should be a cinch for anyone who can do quarter-turns.  Think "step-point..., step-point..., step-point..., step-point."

Variations
While not suggested in the book, there is no particular reason the Waltz Balance Step couldn't be done turning to the right as well by either (1) initiating the sequence with the man stepping forward right and making a quarter-turn clockwise to face the wall on the first step or (2) initiating the sequence with the man's back to line of dance, him starting with his left foot and making the first quarter-turn clockwise to face the wall. 

It's also entirely possible to just do half the sequence, leaving the man's left foot free to step against line of dance for whatever move comes next.  Ray suggests that the Waltz Balance Step is "frequently used to turn corners;" my assumption is that by this she means doing only two "quarter" turns and underturning each for a total rotation of ninety degrees rather than a full half-turn, leaving the man's back to line of dance.  The same two possibilities for clockwise rotation listed above would also apply to a half-sequence either on the straightway or at a corner.

Comments

[Dwight Blubaugh]

This Waltz step is still taught and done in Rounds and Square dance clubs