The impetus is a

ballroom dance Ballroom dance is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world, mostly because of its performance and entertainment aspects. Ballroom dancing is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television. ...

step used in the

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 ...

foxtrot The foxtrot is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. It is danced to big band (usually vocal) music. The dance is similar in its look to waltz, although the rhythm is in a tim ...

quickstep The quickstep is a light-hearted dance of the standard ballroom dances. The movement of the dance is fast and powerfully flowing and sprinkled with syncopations. The upbeat melodies that quickstep is danced to make it suitable for both formal a ...

. The open impetus is one of several ways to get into promenade position and is used to turn dancers around corners or change their direction on the dance floor. It is often performed after a

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 open impetus has less turn than the closed impetus. The closed impetus remains 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 ...

, while the open impetus ends in an open promenade position.DanceCentral.info
/ref> Both have a heel turn for the man, that is, he turns on his left heel on the second beat.

Closed impetus

;Leader (man) ;Follower (lady)

Open impetus

The open impetus is a Silver syllabus variation on the closed impetus. ;Leader (man) Begin in

, backing

line of dance In ballroom dancing (and in some other types of partner dance), directions of progressive movement, in particular directions of steps, can be indicated either in relation to the room or in relation to the body position. Directions of turns, altho ...

. ;Follower (lady) Begin in closed position, facing line of dance.

References

External links

Victor Veyrasset and Heather Smith demonstrating the open impetus
{{Standard waltz Waltz dance moves