How to Dance the Waltz

Co-authored by Lorena Bravo, MA

Last Updated: May 20, 2023 Fact Checked

The waltz is a simple, elegant ballroom dance that is often done with a partner. It follows a slower tempo and uses “the box step,” a series of 6 movements that form the shape of a box.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.} To dance the waltz, start by learning either the lead or the follow steps so you have the basic movements down. Then, try doing the waltz with a partner so you can put the steps you learned individually into practice. You can also enroll in dance classes and watch videos of other dancers to perfect your waltz and learn how to take it to the next level.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Doing the Lead’s Steps

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Stand with your feet hip distance apart and your arms relaxed at your sides.^{[2]
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Land softly to give the step a light, airy feel. Bend your left leg slightly, stepping on the ball of your foot.^{[3]
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Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}

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Your feet should be side by side, a bit more than hip distance apart.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}
Your feet should be just touching, side by side.^{[5]
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Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}
Bend your right leg slightly as you step back, keeping your upper body straight and relaxed.^{[6]
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Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}
Make sure your feet are side by side, with about 1 foot (0.3 m) distance between them.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}
This will end the “box step” or basic steps of the waltz. You will perform these steps in sequence, drawing small boxes with your feet, when you perform the waltz with a partner.^{[8]
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Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Performing the Follow’s Steps

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Place your feet hip distance apart and keep your arms relaxed by your sides.^{[9]
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Bend your right leg slightly as you step so you on the ball of your foot first. Keep your upper body straight and relaxed.^{[10]
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Make sure there is a 1 foot (0.30 m) distance between your feet and they are facing the same direction.^{[11]
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Your feet should just be touching, side by side.^{[12]
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Bend your left knee slightly as you step your foot forward so you land softly on the ball of your foot.^{[13]
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Your feet should be side by side, slightly more than hip distance apart.^{[14]
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This is the final step in the “box step.” You will repeat these steps, forming a box shape with your partner, when you perform the waltz.^{[15]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Doing the Waltz with a Partner

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The lead, should be facing forward. The follow, should be facing backward, or in the opposite direction of the lead.
Wrap your left hand around the follow’s right hand, keeping your elbow up at shoulder height.
Your right hand should be wrapped in the lead’s left hand. Make sure your elbow is up at shoulder height.
4
Move forward with your left foot if you are the lead. As the lead, you will always step forward, guiding your partner. Use the lead’s steps to lead your partner, starting with your left foot forward and ending with your right foot placed next to your left foot.^{[16]
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- Move with your knees slightly bent so you rise on your toes as you lift your foot and land softly on the ball of your foot. Try to keep your feet low to the ground as you move from side to side.
5
Step backward with your right foot if you are the follow. Allow the lead to guide you. Use the follow’s steps, beginning with your right foot back and ending with your left foot placed next to your right foot.^{[17]
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- Try to land softly and elegantly on the ball of your foot. Move with your feet low to the ground, especially when you perform steps side to side.
6
Perform the waltz to a 3-count tempo.^{[18]
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Expert Source

Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.} Count “1” as the lead steps forward and the follow steps backward. Then, count “2” as the lead steps to the side and the follow steps to the side. Finally, count “3” as the lead brings their feet together and the follow brings their feet together.^{[19]
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- The tempo should be slow, with a rise at each count and a fall between counts. Repeat the steps several times using the 3-count until you have a smooth, confident tempo.
- You can try performing the waltz to music that has a 3-count tempo. Just make sure the music is not too fast or too slow, as this can throw off your steps.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Learning Advanced Steps

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1
Move in a circle with your partner. You can make the circular motion using a ¼ to ¾ turn, depending on your preference. To move in a circle, you and your partner will complete the first two steps of the waltz. Then, the lead will place their left foot at a slight turn on the third step and the follow will place their right foot in the same direction. This will then allow you to turn slightly as you perform the waltz.^{[20]
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- The circular motion will always be to the lead’s left. You and your partner should move in a smooth, fluid turning motion to the left as you complete the steps.
2
Add a basic turn to your waltz. The lead should start facing diagonally to a wall in the room, with the follow facing the opposite direction. The lead will then step forward on their right foot and the follow will step backward on their left foot. The lead will take a quarter turn to the left, placing the left foot parallel to their right foot. The follow will turn with the lead, placing their right foot parallel to their left. The lead will bring their right foot beside their left, and the follow will bring their left foot beside their right to end the step. Follow a 3-count pattern when performing the turn.^{[21]
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- Make sure you open your body to the side when you do the quarter turn to the left or to the right, depending on whether you are the lead or the follow.
- Keep your arms and elbows up, landing softly on the ball of your foot when you perform the turn.
3
Do a waltz underarm turn. Dance with your partner using the first 3 steps of the box step, or waltz. Then, on step 4, the lead will release the follow by dropping their right arm. The lead will then raise their left hand and spin the follow in a clockwise turn towards the left. The lead should continue to do the box step for counts 4,5, and 6 as the follow spins on these counts. The follow should move forward in the turn on counts 4, 5, and 6. The lead and the follow will then meet at the starting position at count 6.^{[22]
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- Make sure the lead takes shorter steps on counts 4,5,6 so they do not get in the way of the follow.
- The follow should move forward in a smooth, fluid turn, using a pattern of heel, toe, toe, putting weight on their heel for count 4 and then on their toes for count 5 and 6.

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Question

How many steps are in a waltz?

Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor
Lorena Bravo is a Dance Instructor and the Founder of Bravo Dancing Ballroom Academy based in Los Angeles, California. Specializing in ballroom dancing for both American Smooth and International Standard Divisions, Lorena has over 20 years of professional dance experience. Along with running Bravo Dancing, Lorena has served on the faculty of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and is currently on the faculty at Chapman University’s dance department. She is also the head ballroom coach for the University of Southern California (USC) Ballroom and Latin Dance Team. Lorena holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Bilingual Education from USC and is certified in Associate American Smooth by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.

Lorena Bravo, MA

Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Answer

There are 6 steps in the basic form of the waltz. Some waltzes can get a little more complicated, but the most common form has 6 steps and follows a 3-count tempo.

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What kind of shoes are best for dancing

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Flats or flats with a bit of heel are the best for dancing the waltz, it would be best to stay way from running shoes and high heels.

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Does the person who is leading always start with their left foot?

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Yes, generally it is standard to start with your left foot if you're the lead.

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Tips

Perfect your waltz by taking a professional dance class at your local dance studio or community center. Your instructor can teach you how to perform the waltz correctly and how to improve your technique.

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Watch videos of professional dancers perform the waltz online. You can also attend a dance contest or performance that features the waltz to learn from professional dancers and get better.

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