Waltz Six-Count Underarm Turn

Summary

This instructional dance video focuses on the six-count underarm turn, a social dance variation. The script details the footwork, including the box step and underarm turn, for both men and women. It emphasizes the importance of hand positioning, turning technique, and maintaining contact during the dance. The video also explores variations of the turn, such as the amount of turn for the man and woman, and the importance of space and timing for a smooth and stylish execution.

Takeaways

• 💃 The dance routine involves a six-count underarm turn for the lady, performed over two bars of music.
• 👠 The lady's steps include a half box, an underarm turn, and a closing half box, all while the man performs a box step and a half box.
• 🕺 The man's role is to lead the lady through the turn with precise footwork and body positioning.
• 🤝 The lead is initiated with the man's left hand, inviting the lady to move towards him, and the right hand is released to signal the turn.
• 👥 Maintaining contact is crucial; the lady should keep slight pressure on the man's hand to avoid slipping away during the turn.
• 👣 Proper footwork involves toe-heel movements, with the toe releasing and the heel lowering at the end of each step.
• 🔄 The turns during the dance include a 3/8 turn to the left, a half turn to the right, and a quarter turn to face each other.
• 👀 The man should ensure he clears enough space to move around behind the lady without stepping on her foot.
• 🤔 The lady should respond to the man's lead by stepping straight in line with him, even as he extends his hand for the turn.
• 🌟 Variations of the turn include the man not turning at all, or turning more for a fuller look, depending on the dance setting and available space.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the dance instruction in the transcript?

The main focus of the dance instruction is the six-count underarm turn, a social dance variation where the man leads the lady through an underarm turn over the course of six steps or two bars of music.

What is the man's part in the dance sequence described in the transcript?

The man's part consists of a box step left, a box turn, and a half box. He leads the lady through the underarm turn while performing these steps, ensuring he dances the second half of the box as the lady completes the first part of her underarm turn.

How does the lady begin the dance sequence in the closed position?

The lady begins in the closed position with weight on the left foot, starting with a back step with the right foot, followed by a side step with the left foot, and closing with the right foot to the left foot, which constitutes half a box.

What is the footwork technique used in the dance sequence?

The footwork technique involves toe heel releasing, where the toe of the foot is released and the dancer begins to rise at the end of the step, continuing to rise on the toe and lowering on the heel at the end of the step.

What are the specific turns the man and lady perform during the dance?

The lady performs an underarm turn, which includes no turn on the first half of a box, a 3/8 turn to the left, three walks curving a total of one half turn to the right, a half box turning one quarter turn to the right, and finishing with no turn on the last half of the box.

How is the underarm turn initiated by the man?

The man initiates the underarm turn by using his left hand as an invitation hand, lifting his elbow slightly and taking his left hand back to lead the lady towards him. He then takes her hand over his head and pivots his hand around to maintain contact.

What is the importance of hand positioning during the underarm turn?

Proper hand positioning is crucial for maintaining contact and avoiding tangles. The man must pivot his hand around the lady's as he brings it back to the normal position, while the lady maintains slight pressure on his hand to keep the connection.

How should the man's right hand be managed during the turn?

The man should release his right hand as he extends his left hand into the turn. This release is part of the lead and signals the lady to move. In social dancing, the right hand might stay on her back for extra guidance, but in competitive dancing, it's common to release and open the position.

What are the considerations for foot positions during the underarm turn?

The man should ensure he clears enough space to take his left foot around the lady without stepping over or near her foot. Both partners should turn to meet each other and not rush to reconnect, maintaining a smooth and natural look.

What variations of the turn are discussed in the transcript?

The transcript discusses variations such as no turn on the first three steps of the box, a half turn for the lady and no turn for the man on the second half, and a quarter turn to face each other. It also mentions a more compact turn suitable for crowded floors and a fuller turn with more space for shows or competitions.

Outlines

00:00

🕺 Mastering the Six-Count Underarm Turn

This paragraph introduces a social dance variation where the man leads the lady through a six-step underarm turn, spanning two bars of music. The male dancer performs a box step with specific turning patterns while guiding the lady through her turn. Detailed instructions for both partners include footwork, timing, and movement, emphasizing smooth coordination and proper form. The man's role involves leading through subtle hand movements, with a focus on maintaining contact and balance. The explanation includes nuances of toe-heel techniques, rise and fall actions, and turn amounts, ensuring an elegant execution of the underarm turn.

05:01

💃 Footwork Precision and Turn Variations

This paragraph covers key aspects of foot positioning and turn variations during the underarm turn. It emphasizes the importance of creating space for movement, avoiding crowding the partner's steps, and maintaining a controlled pace. The paragraph offers tips for dancers on managing hand placements and arm movements to enhance their styling. Various turn options are discussed, including minimal turn techniques for beginners and more elaborate turns suitable for advanced dancers or competitive settings. The paragraph concludes with a recap of the six-count underarm turn, highlighting different approaches for different dance environments.

Keywords

💡Underarm Turn

An underarm turn is a dance move where the follower (usually a lady) makes a turn under the leader's (usually a man's) arm. In the script, the underarm turn is a central element of the dance variation being taught, involving a series of steps and turns that the couple executes together. The man's role involves leading the lady through the turn, while the lady follows the man's lead and maintains proper footwork and body positioning.

💡Box Step

A box step is a fundamental dance move in ballroom dancing, characterized by a specific pattern of steps that form a square or 'box' shape on the dance floor. In the video script, the box step is used as a foundational element, with variations introduced to incorporate the underarm turn. The script describes how the man and lady perform a box step, with the lady dancing an underarm turn within the structure of the box step.

💡Lead and Follow

Lead and follow are essential concepts in partner dancing, where the leader (typically the man) guides the follower (typically the woman) through a series of steps and movements. The script emphasizes the importance of clear leading and responsive following, especially during the underarm turn, where the man's lead determines the direction and timing of the lady's movements.

💡Footwork

Footwork refers to the specific steps and movements of the feet in dance. The script provides detailed instructions on the footwork for both the man and the lady, including toe and heel work, and the importance of releasing the toe and rising at the end of each step. Proper footwork is crucial for executing the underarm turn smoothly and maintaining balance and rhythm.

💡Hand Position

Hand position is critical in partner dancing for maintaining connection and communication between the dancers. The script explains how the man uses his left hand to invite the lady into the underarm turn and how the hand pivots around to maintain contact. It also discusses the release of the right hand as part of the lead, which signals the lady to initiate the turn.

💡Turn

A turn in dance refers to a rotational movement, often executed by the follower under the leader's guidance. The script describes various types of turns, including a 3/8 turn to the left, a half turn to the right, and a quarter turn to face each other. These turns are integral to the underarm turn sequence and contribute to the fluidity and expressiveness of the dance.

💡Rise and Fall

Rise and fall are body movements used in dance to create a smooth and flowing motion. The script mentions rising at the end of a step and lowering at the end of another, which helps in the smooth transition between steps and adds a sense of grace to the dance. This technique is particularly important during the underarm turn to maintain the flow and rhythm of the dance.

💡Social Variation

A social variation refers to a dance move or sequence that is adapted for social dancing, often making it more accessible and enjoyable for casual dancers. The script introduces a social variation of the underarm turn, which is designed to be more compact and suitable for dancing in a crowded social setting.

💡Competitive Dancing

Competitive dancing refers to the practice of dancing in a formal competition setting, often with more intricate moves and higher technical standards. The script contrasts social dancing with competitive dancing, noting that in the latter, dancers might execute more turns and open positions for a more dramatic effect.

💡Variations

Variations in dance refer to different ways of performing a move or sequence, often to suit different dance styles, settings, or skill levels. The script discusses variations of the underarm turn, such as no turn, half turn, and quarter turn, which can be adapted based on the dancers' preferences and the context in which they are dancing.

Highlights

Introduction to a social dance variation where the man leaves a lady to dance an underarm turn over six steps or two bars of music.

The man's part involves a box step and a turn as the lady performs the underarm turn.

The lady's steps include a half box, an underarm turn, and a closing half box.

Footwork details emphasize toe and heel movements with specific timing for each step.

The amount of turn during the dance is described in detail, including 3/8 and 1/4 turns.

The importance of hand positioning and the lead's role in guiding the lady through the turn.

The necessity of maintaining contact and avoiding hand slippage during the turn.

The option to release the right hand for a more open position in competitive dancing.

Foot positioning advice to ensure the man clears enough space to move around the lady.

Advice on not rushing to reconnect with the partner after the turn.

The lady's response to the man's lead, including straight stepping and left arm positioning.

Variations of the turn, including no turn on the first three steps and different turns for the man and lady.

The possibility of a more compact turn suitable for crowded floors.

The option for the man to turn more for a fuller look in shows or competitions.

The final steps of the dance involve a box to face each other and coming back together.

The six count underarm turn is summarized with a focus on its social and competitive applications.

Transcripts

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alright here's a nice social variation

where the man leaves a lady to dance an

underarm turn over the course of six

steps one two three four five six or two

bars of music now the man's part if you

noticed with simply a box step left box

turn as she's dancing the underarm turn

as I'm leading that I'm dancing the

second half of the box first on the

first part of the underarm turn and the

first part of the box on the second part

of the underarm turn

we then finish with half a box so really

I just have the box unless his part is

more interesting she's going to teach

that to you now ladies we begin in

closed position with weight on the left

foot and we begin back with the right

foot side with the left foot and closed

the right foot to the left foot that's a

half a box from here we begin our six

count underarm turn forward on the left

foot forward on the right foot and

forward on the left foot then forward on

the right foot side with the left foot

and close the right foot to the left

foot we finish with a half a box back in

dance position with the man forward on

the left foot side on the right foot and

close the left foot to the right foot

our footwork is toe heel releasing the

toe of the left foot and beginning to

rise at the end of the step with no foot

rise toe continuing to rise and toe heel

lowering at the end of the step then

heel toe beginning to rise at the end of

the step toe continuing to rise and toe

heel lowering at the end of the step

then heel toe beginning to rise at the

end of the step toe continuing to rise

toe heel lowering at the end of the step

and finally healed toe beginning to rise

at the end of the step toe continuing to

rise

and so he'll lowering at the end of the

step all right our amounts of turn are

on the first half of a box no turn up to

3/8 of a turn to the left then we do

three walks curving a total of one half

turn to the right half a box turning one

quarter turn to the right and finish

with one half of the box with no turn up

to 3/8 of a turn to the left ok let's

talk a little bit about the underarm

turn starting with the lead so we are

going to use the left hand as our

invitation hand I'm going to just lift

my elbow slightly and take my left hand

back and that leads her to move towards

me and ultimately past me take that hand

over the head now this hand position

doesn't work for long if we keep it it's

going to just get tangled up so we have

to make sure the hand pivots around as

we bring it back around were basically

pivoting around her hand with my hand

ladies maintaining a slight pressure to

his hand so that we can keep contact and

not slip away from each other so once

again invitation lifting the elbow

slightly and pivoting that hand around

to bring it back to its normal position

as for the right hand of course we have

to release that hand that's part of also

what tells her that the lead is coming

so I'm going to let go with my right

hand while I'm extending the left hand

into that turn it's possible with a

strong enough lead to keep the right

hand on her back which you might want to

do for a little extra guidance and

social compact miss I see this a lot

more in social dancing whereas in

showing competitive dancing we tend to

release and really open that position up

choice is yours

now one last thing about

this time about the foot positions we've

just done the first three steps I'm

opening this up so you can see it on

this four step it's icy in in beginning

social dancers a lot of the time the men

step over the lady's foot or near the

lady's foot you need to make sure you

clear enough space that you can take the

left foot around the other side of the

lady okay so give yourself lots of space

to move around behind her by the time

you get to the forward step on your left

foot around the side of the lady and

also when you do come back together turn

to meet each other don't rush to pick

each other up

it's a little desperate looking and

unnecessary

I trust my lady I don't need to go

grabbing her as fast as I can

we'll just take our time finish the

underarm turn pick each other up over

the course of the next half box or so

ladies when you feel the man go ahead

and initiate the turn by pulling on your

hand make sure that you still step

straight in line with him and do not try

and go straight into the turn where you

might truly trip over his foot so always

straight with him even as he releases

that even as he extends that hand also

you might wonder what to do with your

left arm when he starts pulling on your

right hand immediately take your left

hand off of his arm so that you are

ready to bring it through ahead of your

body so it does not get trapped back

here and you can either bring the hand

through and keep your arm compact for

social styling or for a more stylized

look you can extend your arm and you can

bring it up you can bring it across your

whatever you like to do and when he goes

to reconnect with you wait until you

feel his hand on your back before you

place your left

hand back on his arm all right real

quickly one more thing we're going to

talk about some variations of turn turn

we taught you we did no turn on the

first three steps of the box and then

the man has no turn on the second half

of the box as the lady does a half turn

we're now facing the same direction from

there we do a box to face each other

inside foot goes forward actually I'm

going to take this toward the camera

here inside foot then comes forward and

we do a quarter turn over the next three

steps to face each other our space we're

still a little bit apart so we use that

last half of a box to come back together

so we had a half a turn during the

lady's first three steps and or for the

lady a half a turn for the lady no turn

for the man and then a quarter turn to

face each other there are some

variations of this some people like to

teach it in the very beginning where the

man doesn't turn at all and the lady has

to do quite a bit of turn it's gonna be

a very small turn but it is possible and

that works very well it makes it a very

compact turning is a little better for a

crowded floor for again a show or a

competition we might be more inclined to

turn more gentlemen so after the first

half of box instead of doing no turn

here you could turn an eighth or even up

to a quarter and you can see that's

making her travel a lot farther and

giving it a much fuller look but you

just need to make sure you have the

space to do that and there you have it

the six count underarm turn

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you

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