Basic Waltz Demo
Mirko Gozzoli & Alessia Betti
Content: ISTD Syllabus Figures (see notes)
Step Patterns
Prep Step (3)
Natural Spin Turn (123456)1
Turning Lock to Right (1&23)
Chassé from PP (12&3)
Quick Open Reverse (1&23)2
Hover Corté (123456)
Back Whisk (123)
Chassé from PP (12&3)
Natural Spin Turn (123456)
Turning Lock (1&23)
Left Whisk on (1), Recover (23)
Contra Check (123)3
"Hover" (123)
*See Commentary*
Outside Spin (123)4
Natural Spin Turn (123456)
Reverse Pivot (&)5
Double Reverse Spin (12&3)
Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot (1&23)
Double Reverse Spin (12&3)
1-3 Reverse Turn
Left Whisk (123) Untwist (4&56)
Back Whisk (123)
Open Natural Turn from PP(123)6
Back Whisk (123)
Wing (123)
Progressive Chassé to Right (12&3)
Back Lock (1&23)
Underturned Outside Spin (123)7
Turning Lock (1&23)8
Underturned Natural Spin Turn (123456)
4-6 Reverse Turn (123)
1-3 Reverse Turn (123)
Oversway (123)9
Notes
1 The Natural Spin Turn includes 1-3 of a Natural Turn.
2 The Quick Open Reverse is borrowed from the Quickstep 
figure list, and is not allowed in syllabus Waltz.
3 The amalgamation of Turning Lock, Left Whisk on (1), Recover 
to Contra Check is specifically outlined in the ISTD syllabus, and 
is the only point at which the Left Whisk may be danced on (1).
4 This Outside Spin has been overturned to rotate 1 1/2 turns.
5 The combination of Natural Spin Turn and Reverse Pivot is often 
referred to as a Checked Spin Turn.
6 Not part of the ISTD or IDTA syllabi. It is allowed as an 
additional figure under German DTV rules.
7 The Underturned Outside Spin ends like a Natural Spin Turn, 
whereas the normal Outside Spin ends with a Natural Pivot.
8 Closed Ending.
9 The Oversway is loosely borrowed from the Tango figure list, 
and is not part of the ISTD/IDTA Waltz syllabi.
Commentary
At 0:39, the video subtitles call the figure linking the Contra Check and the Outside Spin a "Hover." It is not a syllabus figure, 
and we have not been able to find it in any other book or video. Note that a Cross Hesitation could be danced here without 
changing entry or exit. 

Breaking this figure apart, we see the following:
1) The Man dances 1-3 of a Weave from PP, a combination used in Alex Moore's Popular Variations to link promenade 
figures to natural pivoting figures in one bar of music (see Waltz Variations #9, #11, #47 and #50).
2) During the 1-3 Weave from PP, the Lady closes her LF to her RF on step 3 rather than stepping Outside Partner. This 
technique resembles the Cross Hesitation as written in the ISTD or IDTA syllabus. 

Thank you to Stephen for bringing the name of the Hover to our attention.
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Return to Waltz Video Analysis

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Marcus & Karen Hilton
Content: ISTD Syllabus Figures
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William Pino &
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