There are several types of lock step in waltz dancing, including International Standard waltz. A "lock step" is when the moving foot approaches to the standing foot and crosses in front of or behind it, creating a "check" position.[1]
There are several locking steps in waltz, including: the back lock, which is a Bronze syllabus figure; the turning lock, of the Silver syllabus; and the turning lock to right, of the Gold syllabus.[2]
Back lock
The back lock is a Bronze syllabus step. It is a progressive figure borrowed from quickstep. It is commonly used as the ending to a progressive chassé to right.[2]
- Leader (man)
| Beat
|
Foot position
|
Alignment
|
Amount of turn
|
Footwork
|
| 1
|
Left foot back in contra body movement position (CBMP)
|
Backing diagonal wall
|
|
Toe – heel
|
| 2 (1⁄2 beat)
|
Right foot back
|
Backing diagonal wall
|
|
Toe
|
| & (1⁄2 beat)
|
Left foot crosses in front of right foot
|
Backing diagonal wall
|
|
Toe
|
| 3
|
Right foot diagonally back
|
Backing diagonal wall
|
|
Toe – heel
|
- Follower (lady)
| Beat
|
Foot position
|
Alignment
|
Amount of turn
|
Footwork
|
| 1
|
Right foot forward in CBMP, outside partner (OP)
|
Facing diagonal wall
|
|
Heel – toe
|
| 2 (1⁄2 beat)
|
Left foot diagonally forward
|
Facing diagonal wall
|
|
Toe
|
| & (1⁄2 beat)
|
Right foot crosses behind left foot
|
Facing diagonal wall
|
|
Toe
|
| 3
|
Left foot diagonally forward
|
Facing diagonal wall
|
|
Toe – heel
|
Forward lock
The forward lock is the same figure as the back lock, only with reversed roles between leader and follower.[3]
Turning lock
The turning lock is a Silver syllabus step. It transitions from a right turning figure into a left-turning one.
- Leader (man)
| Beat
|
Foot position
|
Alignment
|
Amount of turn
|
Footwork
|
| 1 (1⁄2 beat)
|
Right foot back, right side leading
|
Backing diagonal center
|
|
Toe
|
| & (1⁄2 beat)
|
Left foot crosses in front of right foot
|
Backing diagonal center
|
|
Toe
|
| 2
|
Right foot back and slightly right
|
Backing diagonal center
|
Start to turn left
|
Toe
|
| 3
|
Left foot to side and slightly forward
|
Pointing diagonal wall
|
1⁄4 between 2 and 3, body turns less
|
Toe – heel
|
| 1
|
Right foot forward in CBMP, OP
|
Facing diagonal wall
|
|
Heel
|
- Follower (lady)
| Beat
|
Foot position
|
Alignment
|
Amount of turn
|
Footwork
|
| 1 (1⁄2 beat)
|
Left foot forward, left side leading
|
Facing diagonal center
|
|
Toe
|
| & (1⁄2 beat)
|
Right foot crosses behind left foot
|
Facing diagonal center
|
|
Toe
|
| 2
|
Left foot forward and slightly left
|
Facing diagonal center
|
Start to turn left
|
Toe
|
| 3
|
Right foot to side and slightly back
|
Backing diagonal wall
|
1⁄4 between 2 and 3, body turns less
|
Toe – heel
|
| 1
|
Left foot back in CBMP
|
Backing diagonal wall
|
|
Toe
|
Turning lock to right
The turning lock to right is a Gold syllabus step. It was only added to the ISTD syllabus after 1966, due to its increasing popularity.[4]
- Leader (man)
| Beat
|
Foot position
|
Alignment
|
Amount of turn
|
Footwork
|
| 1 (1⁄2 beat)
|
Right foot back right side leading
|
Backing line of dance
|
|
Toe
|
| & (1⁄2 beat)
|
Left foot crosses loosely in front of right foot
|
Facing center
|
1⁄4 to right between 1 and "&"
|
Toe
|
| 2
|
Right foot to side and slightly forward, small step, between partner's feet
|
Facing diagonal center
|
1⁄8 between "&" and 2
|
Toe
|
| 3
|
Left foot diagonal forward, left side leading in promenade position (PP)
|
Pointing diagonal center, body facing line of dance
|
Slight body turn to right
|
Toe – heel
|
- Follower (lady)
| Beat
|
Foot position
|
Alignment
|
Amount of turn
|
Footwork
|
| 1 (1⁄2 beat)
|
Left foot forward, left side leading
|
Facing line of dance
|
|
Toe
|
| & (1⁄2 beat)
|
Right foot crosses loosely behind left foot
|
Backing center
|
1⁄4 to right between 1 and "&"
|
Toe
|
| 2
|
Left foot to side and slightly back
|
Backing diagonal center
|
1⁄8 between "&" and 2
|
Toe
|
| 3
|
Right foot to side in PP, having brushed towards left foot
|
Pointing to center, moving diagonal center
|
3⁄8 between 2 and 3, body turns less
|
Toe – heel
|
References
External links