Closed and Open Changes
Encyclopedia
Closed Change and Open Change are basic dance steps in the waltz
, performed in closed position
.
The Closed Change is known as the Box Step
in some other dances.
Changes also may be Right and Left, making four types of changes in total: Right Closed, Left Closed, Right Open and Left Open.
In Right changes the man starts from the right foot, while in Left ones the man starts from the left foot.
A change is called "closed", if on the last step the moving foot closes to the standing foot. A change is "open", if on the last step the moving foot passes the standing foot.
The figures are called "changes", because they allow dancers to change from Natural Turn to Reverse Turn and vice versa. For example, a basic practicing variation in Waltz goes as follows:
All four changes are similar, therefore a detailed description is only for the Right Closed Change.
Details of International Style Waltz technique:
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
, performed in closed position
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....
.
The Closed Change is known as the Box Step
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 performed individually, it is usually done with a partner. This is the most...
in some other dances.
Changes also may be Right and Left, making four types of changes in total: Right Closed, Left Closed, Right Open and Left Open.
In Right changes the man starts from the right foot, while in Left ones the man starts from the left foot.
A change is called "closed", if on the last step the moving foot closes to the standing foot. A change is "open", if on the last step the moving foot passes the standing foot.
The figures are called "changes", because they allow dancers to change from Natural Turn to Reverse Turn and vice versa. For example, a basic practicing variation in Waltz goes as follows:
- Dance 1-6 steps of Natural Turn,
- then 1-3 steps of Right Closed Change,
- then 1-6 steps of Reverse Turn,
- then 1-3 steps of Left Closed Change,
- repeat until the music stops or partner drops.
All four changes are similar, therefore a detailed description is only for the Right Closed Change.
Right Closed Change
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.Details of International Style Waltz technique:
- Turn:
- Up to 1/8 of right turn may occur on step 2.
- FootworkFootwork (dance)Footwork refers to dance technique aspects related to feet: foot position and foot action.The following aspects of footwork may be considered:*Dance technique: a proper footwork may be vital for proper posture and movement of a dancer....
:- Man: HT, T, TH.
- Lady: TH, T TH.
- Rises-falls:
- Man: Begin rise at end of 1, fall at the end of 3.
- Lady: Begin rise at end of 1 (no foot rise), fall at the end of 3.
- Bodywork: CBMContra body movementContra body movement is a term used in ballroom dances, such as Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep. It describes a specific coordination of the movement of a dancer's body when doing or preparing to do a step which involves rotation...
on 1, swaySway (dance)The term sway has a specific meaning in the technique of ballroom dances. Basically, it describes a dancer's body position in which the entire body gracefully deflects from the vertical. Entrance to and exit from this position are matters of fine technical detail and differs in various dance...
on 2,3.