Dance Workshops - Consolidated Information and References
Line Dance Workshop
We have held several short Line Dance workshops, mostly focused on specific songs or specific people groups
An instuctional video on the steps that make up many line dances with a table of contents may be found here.
A set of line dances put together for a group of late teens / early 20s
These people supposedly already knew a number of standard line dances and wanted something more comtemporary
The information for these dances may be found on the Line Dances webpage.
Partner Dance Workshops
Partner dances are fixed pattern dances for couples.
For anyone interested in self-learning these dances, a sugggested sequence may be found here:
Partner Dance Self Learning Sequence
We have held the first session several times for different groups.
A second session is being planned to continue moving through the list.
Instructions and videos may be found on the Partner Circle dance page.
Waltz Dance Workshop
Several couples requested a waltz workshop.
Note that our focus is on social dancing with your partner for fun, not competition.
We have made adjustments to leads to make them more obvious for the infrequent dancer.
Further, terminology found across the Internet is not always consistent.
In both partner circle and sequence waltzes, we have made slight adjustments
to reuse step or hand holds / leads across multiple dances and to increase reusability
in free-form (non-pattern) dances.
For waltz, we insist that people count to 6 because in the transition from 6 to 1 is
where a new step pattern should start.
The workshop uses a couple of Partner Line Dances to get people to count to 6.
These two different dances (Sandwich Waltz and River Waltz) are then snapped together
end-to-end to generate a longer sequence from two separate sequences.
Then the workshop switches to the White City Waltz (a UK sequence dance) in social frame position
to develop a basic sequence of step patterns to practice in a social frame position.
Finally, the White city Waltz is pulled apart and new dance step patterns are taught and
inserted to demonstrate how to snap together step patterns at the 6 count boundary.
The Sandwich and River Waltz are described on the Partner Circle pages.
The White City Waltz is described on the Sequence dance page.
Note we replace the White City "Hovers - Whisk" combo with our "Twinkles- Whisk" combo
because we find our leads are easier for novice and infrequent dancers to remember and
we think the Twinkles look flashier and are more re-useable in free-form dance.
We teach similar moves - cousins - together to show the difference in leads.
Material developed for the waltz workshop follows
Introduction to the Waltz Workshop
Waltz Workshop Lesson Plans
Waltz Dance Practice Sequence
Sandwich Waltz
River Waltz with modified hand holds in turns
White City Waltz sequence dance with Twinkles instead of Hovers step sheet
White City Waltz sequence dance as originally scripted walkthrough
Twinkles, Whisks, and Sweeps with distinctive leads
Boxes and Balances and Progressives (balances instead of hestitations to keep moving feet)
Change Direction - Turning Box, Outside Turn
Promenade and Patty Cake
We like the Social Dance Online YouTube Channel by Brian B and Miss Megan.
There is much overlap between their "The 7 Best Beginner Waltz Dance Steps" and what we are teaching.
But there are differences as well.
Below are the parts of this video that align with what we teach.
Social Frame (except we don't dance diaphragm to diaphragm)
Waltz Box (note rise on toes on 2 with fall to flat foot bent knee at the end of 3)
Progressive Waltz Box
Skip Hestitation Step at 7:45. We encourage balance steps that keep your beginner feet moving to the beat
Left Turning Waltz Box
Skip Right Turning box at 13:02. Just turn left.
Left Outside Turn (turn left)
Patty Cake (Front to Front - Back to Back) But use a whisk to end, instead of promenade. Already learned in White City Waltz and more stable for people our age on a cruise ship
Their Promenade is similar, ours includes optional leg lift for flair
Their little routine to practice. Build your own to practice non-White City Waltz moves
Slow Dance Flair
Slow dance flair is a one hour workshop to teach some basic flair moves
to add interest to your slow dance, rather than just rocking in place.
These are not formal dance moves, but small sequences of steps a couple can use.
The moves taught are
"I am So Pretty" an outside turn to full arm extension, an inside turn, and return to social position.
"Cuddle" - a two handed push away with a return to a cuddle position.
"Start the Lawnmower" - exit the cuddle to a free spin, then return to social position.
"Walk" - promenade across the dance floor to an open area by using inside feet, outside, inside,..
And More...
Slow Dance Flair