The closed change is a
Pre-Bronze, or newcomer
waltz
The waltz ( ), meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom and folk dance, normally in triple ( time), performed primarily in closed position.
History
There are many references to a sliding or gliding dance that would evolve into the wa ...
figure, performed in
closed position
In partner dancing, closed position is a category of positions in which partners hold each other while facing at least approximately toward each other.
Closed positions employ either body contact or body support, that is, holding each other is ...
.
[The Ballroom Technique; Moore, Alex (2006). Published by ISTD ASIN: B000PH46KI.]
Changes may start of the right foot or left foot, moving forward or backward. This makes four different types of closed changes. Combining two changes results in a
box step
Box step is a basic dance step named after the pattern it creates on the floor, which is that of a square or box. It is used in a number of American Style ballroom dances: rumba, waltz, bronze-level foxtrot. While it can be performed individu ...
.
In right changes the man starts from the right foot, while in left ones the man starts from the left foot.
The figures are called "changes" because they allow dancers to change from
natural turn to reverse turn (i.e., left to right turn) and vice versa. For example, a basic practising variation in waltz goes as follows:
# Dance 1–6 steps of natural turn,
#then 1–3 steps of closed change from natural to reverse,
#then 1–6 steps of reverse turn,
#then 1–3 steps of closed change from reverse to natural,
# repeat until the music stops or partner drops.
Other change steps include the hesitation change and the outside change, described below.
Closed change from natural to reverse turn
The man steps forward on right foot while the lady steps backward on the opposing (i.e., left) foot. They will then step to the side (and possibly slightly forward, in relation to the man) on the other foot, and conclude the figure by closing the first foot beside the second. Each step takes up a full beat of the music.
A turn of up to is optional. There will be slight
contra body movement
Contra body movement (CBM, sometimes called contrary body movement) is used in ballroom dances, such as waltz, foxtrot, tango, and quickstep. It comprises turning the body (hips and shoulders) against the movement of the legs: either moving forw ...
(CBM) on 1, and
sway on 2,3.
;Leader (man)
;Follower (lady)
Other closed changes
The closed change from reverse to natural turn is the mirror image of the move just described. Backward changes start with the leader stepping back and the follower stepping forward.
Hesitation change
The hesitation change is a
Bronze syllabus figure. The first 3 steps are identical to the
natural turn A natural turn is a dance step in which the partners turn around each other clockwise. Its near-mirror counterpart is the reverse turn, which is turning to the counter-clockwise.
This terminology is used mainly in the "International Standard" grou ...
. The last 3 steps comprise the "hesitation". The leader's heel pull allows time to change directions or pause for floor craft.
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;Leader (man)
Outside change
The outside change is a Bronze syllabus figure. It has regular waltz rise and fall over the three beat phrase.
References
External links
Demonstration of closed changesDemonstration of hesitation changeDemonstration of outside change
{{Standard waltz
Waltz dance moves