Waltz Figures and Sources for How to Dance Them
The following figures are those standardized by Roundalab on behalf of the round dance
movement. There are variations and unphased figures which are found in many dances.
Roundalab Standard Figures
Phase 1
Balance Forward & Back * Box * Reverse Box *
Balance (Side) * Circle Away and Together * Waltz Away & Together *
Phase 2
Back Twinkle * Lace * Sway
Back Waltz * Left Face Turning Waltz * Thru Side Close *
Box Left Turning * Maneuver * Thru Twinkle *
Box Right Turning * Pickup * Turn Face Close *
Open Box * Progressive Twinkle * Twinkle *
Open Reverse Box * Reverse Twirl * Twirl *
Progressive Box * Reverse Twirl Vine * Twirl Vine *
Solo Left Turning Box * Right Face Turning Waltz * Twisty Balance *
Canter * Roll * Twisty Vine *
Change Sides * Solo Waltz Turn * Vine Six *
Cross Wrap Spin Maneuver * Vine Three *
Forward Waltz * Spot Spin * Wheel *
Phase 3
Back Back/Lock Back * Forward Forward/Lock Impetus to Semi *
Box Finish * Forward * Interrupted Box
Chasse´ Hover * Pivot to Semi *
Forward Chasse´ * Back Hover Slip Pivot *
Thru Chasse´ to Banjo * Cross Hover * Spin Turn *
Thru Chasse´ to Semi Forward Hover Whisk *
Turn L & R Chasse´ * Hover Fallaway * Wing *
Thru Hover
Phase 4
Back Hover Telemark Hover Corte Progressive Wing
Back Passing Change Hover Telemark Promenade Sway
Back Whisk In & Out Runs Quick Diamond Four
Chair & Slip Left Whisk Reverse Fallaway from CP
Change of Direction Natural Hover Fallaway Reverse Fallawy from Semi
Closed Impetus Open Finish Right Lunge
Closed Wing Open In & Out Runs Slow Side Lock
Cross Hesitation Open Natural Turn Telemark to Banjo
Cross Pivot Open Reverse Turn Telemark to Semi *
Cross Swivel Outside Change to Banjo Viennese Cross
Develope´ Outside Change to Semi Viennese Turns
Diamond Turn Outside Check Weave to Banjo
Drag Hesitation Outside Swivel Weave to Semi
Heel Pull Oversway Whiplash
Hesitation Change
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Waltz Figures and Sources for How to Dance Them
Phase 5
Back Turning Whisk Jete´ Point Right Lunge Roll & Slip
Contra Check Lilt Pivot Right Turning Lock
Contra Check & Slip Mini Telespin Ripple Chasse´
Contra Check & Switch Natural Hover Cross Rising Lock
Curved Feather Natural Telemark Royal Spin
Double Reverse Spin Natural Weave Running Open Natural
Eros Line Outside Spin Swivel Whisk
Forward Tipple Chasse´ Quick Lock Slow Lock Syncopated Whisk
Hairpin Quick Open Reverse Tipple Chasse´
Hinge Reverse Fallaway & Slip Top Spin
Hover Cross Ending Reverse Impetus Turning Lock
Phase 6
Big Top Reverse Corte Spin & Twist
Checked Natural Slip Reverse Pivot Split Ronde
Checked Reverse Slip Ronde & Slip Teleronde
Continuous Hover Cross Rudolph Ronde Telespin to Banjo
Continuous Wing Rudolph Ronde & Slip Telespin to CP
Double Natural Spin Rumba Cross Telespin to Semi
Double Reverse Overspin Running Hover Three Fallaways
Double Telemark Running Spin Throwaway Oversway
Link to Promenade Same Foot Lunge Traveling Contra Check
Pivot to Hairpin Spin & Double Twist Tumble Turn
Roundalab.org, defining figures on behalf of the round dance movement, offers subscriptions to
Manuals (defining figures) and to Videos of each figure.
ICBDA.com provides to members a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) manual with
information about the more advanced figures (4-6) and has past convention clinic videos
for sale.
* Figures defined and diagrammed in Cold Feet II: Beginning Waltz & Two-Step Basics, pp.
115-156 and/or Fancy Figures: Easy Level Waltz, pp. 1-136. Cold Feet II is available
free to anyone in the world at icbda.com public page, left menu. Easy Level Waltz is
available free to members of ICBDA (download from right-hand menu on member home
page. Find “How to Dance” and select “Beginning Manuals.”) Improved descriptions for
the figures and rhythm are defined on this website (see Teaching cue sheet and
Supplemental Notes).
Clinic Notes from ICBDA Conventions (Waltz and Standard or Smooth)
ICBDA members also may freely download the following articles located on left-hand menu of
ICBDA member home page under “Past Convention Syllabus.” Select the convention year
and scroll to the page number.
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Waltz Figures and Sources for How to Dance Them
Waltz
Year: Page Presenter/s Title
2021: 31-32 Mike & Leisa Dawson "Phase 4/5 Waltz Clinic"
2014: 4 (1-4) Mark & Pam Prow "Transitioning to Intermediate Waltz"
2014: 4 (5-6) Ron & Mary Noble "An Easier and More Efficient Way to Dance Waltz"
2014: 4 (7-8) Wayne & Barbara Blackford "Improving Our Waltz at Phase V and VI"
2008: 68-69 Paul & Linda Robinson "Waltz and Foxtrot, A Comparison"
2008: 70-74 Paul & Ann Clements "Leading and Following in Waltz & Foxtrot"
2007: 67 Anne & Gup Gupton "Waltz & Foxtrot Figures"
2005: 138 Kay & Joy Read "Waltz Turns, When & How"
2005: 139-40 Bill & Carol Goss "Waltz Clinic Notes"
2000: 62-63 Jerry & Diana Broadwater "Character in Waltz"
2004: 118-119 Richard E. Lamberty "Rise in Waltz and Foxtrot"
1996: 62-63 Jerry & Diana Broadwater "Character in Waltz"
1994: 37 Russ & Barbara Casey "Waltz Workshop Notes"
1992: 39 Hardie & Sara Hartung "Waltz Clinic Notes - Phase VI Figures"
1992: 40-41 Pete & Mary McGee "Waltz Clinic Notes"
1991: 67 Jack & Frances Kern "Waltz Clinic"
1990: 59A Bill & Carol Goss "Waltz Clinic Notes"
1989: 40-42 Roy & Sally Plaisance "The Waltz, History and Comments"
1987: 74-78 Bill & Carol Goss "Waltz Clinic Notes"
1987: 80-82 Roy & Phyllis Stier "International Waltz"
1985: 83-84 Bill & Carol Goss "Waltz Clinic Notes"
1984: 23-24 Brent & Michey Moore "Waltz/Foxtrot Clinic Notes"
1983: 23-26 Peter & Beryl Barton "International Style Waltz Clinic"
1982: 119-125 Charlie & Nina Ward "International Waltz - Intermediate Clinic Notes"
1981: 18-19 Bill & Carol Goss "Waltz Clinic"
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Waltz Figures and Sources for How to Dance Them
Modern Ballroom or Smooth Rhythms
Year: Page Title
2024: 30-31 Bill & Carol Goss "Lines, They Aren't Always Straight: A Picture Figure
Clinic"
2019: 33-34 John & Karen Herr "Suggestions for Better Dancing"
2018: 39-41 Dan & Sandi Finch "The Lefts and the Rights: Improving Your
Rotational Figures"
2010: 109-111 Paul & Linda Robinson "Smooth Dancing"
2010: 113 Gert-Jan & Susie Rotscheid "It's Not Just About Getting There -- But How You
Get There"
2009: 51-53 Ron & Mary Noble "Dance with Ease: Constants in Dancing"
2007: 70 Kristine & Bruce Nelson "Movin' on UP!"
2007: 74 Judy & Hank Scherrer "Intermediate Picture Figures"
2006: 74-76 Chris & Terri Cantrell "Lead? Follow?"
2006: 77-79 Ralph & Joan Collipi "Smooth Dancing: If Fred Ginger Can Do It, Why
Can't You?"
2006: 80-83 Sandi & Dan Finch "Finding Solutions for Common Problems in Smooth
Dancing"
2005: 115-116 Wayne & Barbara Blackford "The Secrets of Successful Dancing (S.O.S. Help!)"
2005: 117-118 Jack & Judy DeChenne "Your Space or Mine?"
2005: 121-123 Richard E. Lamberty "Partnered Rotations: Turns, Spins, and Swivels"
2005: 135-137 Kenji & Nobuko Shibata "Shape & Make a Line: Picture Figure Clinic"
2004: 112-113 Brent & Judy Moore "It's a Side Show"
2004: 118-119 Richard E. Lamberty "Rise in Waltz and Foxtrot"
2004: 120-121 Richard E Lamberty "Sway: The Basics"
2003: 49 Kay & Joy Read "Transcending from Telemarks to Telespins"
2003: 50-51 Gert-Jan & Susie Rotscheid "Spins & Turns"
2003: 54-55 Brent & Judy Moore "Taking the Mystry Out of CBM and CBMP"
2002: 65 Curt & Tammy Worlock "Heel Turns"
2001: 61-63 Brent & Judy Moore "Making and Adapting Ballroom Lines"
2001: 67 Richard Lamberty "The Five Fundamental Foot Positions"
2000: 54 Richard E. Lamberty & Alise "Open Work in Higher Level Rounds"
Halbert
1999: 42-43 Wayne & Barbara Blackford "The ABC's of Dancing"
1999: 53-54 Curt & Tammy Worlock "Stretch & Shape (Creating Sway)"
1998: 50-53 Jerry & Diana Broadwater "The Rotary & Linear Action Relative to Our Swing
Rhythms"
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Waltz Figures and Sources for How to Dance Them
1998: 65 Richard E. Lamberty & Alise "An Analysis of Widely Used Figures from Popular
Halbert Dances"
1997: 18-24 Richard E Lamberty "Footwork and Rise: Two Sides of the Same Coin"
1996: 33-37 Richard Lamberty "Basic Latin Action" (compared with Ballroom)
1995: 37 Peter & Beryl Barton "Peter & Beryl Barton's Comments & Suggestions for
Better Dancing"
1987: 46-50 Mike & Diana Sheridan "Lines and Picture Figures"
1981: 15-17 Roy & Phyllis Stier "Styling Clinic"
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