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Cross-Step Waltz

Library of Dance Favorites

» Turning Basic
» He Goes, She Goes
» Swingout, Waist Slide
» Tripled Single Pivots
» Pivot Outside Turn
» Tsunami
» Free Spin Around the World
» Grapevine Gancho
» Illusion Turn
» Tango Dip


Complete List of Demo Videos

We've organized the 300+ Cross-Step Waltz variations listed below by where they start in terms of the six counts of a Turning Basic.

Before You Begin

» Starting with Sways

Count 1

Count 1: Turning Basic

» Turning Basic
» Orbits
     » Orbits to Role Reversal
     » Orbits to Role Reversal with Slide on 5
     » Backled Orbits to Role Reversal
» Lead's Fallaway
» The Innovation
     » Innovation Waltzing

Count 1: Straight Along LOD

Count 1: Waltz Walk

» Waltz Walk
     » The Splits
     » Waltz Walk Outside Turn
     » Walking Transition to Rotary Waltz
» Promenade Media Luna

Count 1: Lunge

» Hesitating Tango Lunge
     » Tango Lunge and Close
» Lunge Stop and Go (to Change the Downbeat)
     » Repeated Lunge Stop and Go
     » Lunge Stop and Go on Both Halves
     » Lunge Stop and Go to Role Reversal

Count 1: Lead Goes

Count 1: Lasso

» Lasso (a.k.a. Lead's Underarm Turn)
     » Lasso, Waist Slide
     » Waist Slide
          » Shoulder Slide
          » Waist Slide to Rear-Hand Grapevine Free Spin
          » Waist Slide to Shadow Position
          » Waist Slide to Role Reversal
          » Waist Slide to Role Reversal with Slide on 5
     » He Goes to Shadow Position
          » He Goes, Half Mixmaster to Shadow Position
          » He Goes, Wrist Clips
     » He Goes, Crossed-Hand Matador
     » He Goes to Cradle Position
     » Crossed-Hand Sombrero to Role Reversal

Count 1: He Goes, She Goes

» He Goes, She Goes
     » He Goes, Free Spin
     » He Goes, Rollaway
          » Rollaway Steal to Role Reversal
     » He Goes, She Goes with Waist Slide Ending
     » He Goes, She Goes with Grapevine Styling
          » He Goes, She Goes, She Goes, She Goes
     » He Goes, She Goes to Triple Outside Turn
          » or Double Outside Turn and Free Spin
          » or Double Outside Turn and Rollaway
     » He Goes, She Goes, Around the World and Free Spin
     » He Goes, Double Inside Turn, Pivaloop Double Outside Turn
          » or Outside Turn and Free Spin
          » or Outside Turn and Rollaway
     » He Goes, Double Outside Turn
          » or Outside Turn and Free Spin
          » or Outside Turn and Rollaway
     » He Goes, She Goes to Shadow
     » Inside and Outside Grapevine Combinations

Count 1: Grapevine

Count 1: Three-Count Grapevine

» Grapevine Outside Turn
     » Grapevine Free Spin
     » Chained Grapevine Turns
          » Grapevine Dishrag, Grapevine Free Spin
     » Grapevine Outside Turn to Shadow
     » Ending with a Turn
          » Ending with a Genuflection
     » Two-Hand Grapevine Free Spin
          » Two-Hand Grapevine Rollaway
          » Two-Hand Grapevine Parallel Spin
          » Two-Hand Grapevine Outside Turn
          » Two-Hand Grapevine Inside Turn
               » with Rear Hand Face Loop
     » Two-Hand Grapevine, Matador Around the World
          » Two-Hand Grapevine, Matador Wheel
          » Two-Hand Grapevine, Matador Tabletop, Free Spin
» Grapevine Castigada
     » Grapevine Gancho
» Grapevine Hip Catches
     » Grapevine Hip Catches with Pivot Ending
     » Grapevine Outside Turn to Inside Turn and Outside Turn
» Pivoting Five-Count Grapevine, Double Outside Turn
     » or Outside Turn and Free Spin
     » or Outside Turn and Rollaway
     » Doubled Pivoting Five-Count Grapevine
     » Hesitating Five-Step Grapevine
          » Media Luna Mendocina

Count 1: Five-Count Grapevine

» Five-Count Grapevine, Inside Turn and Outside Turn
     » Nine-Count Orbiting Grapevine Turns

Count 1: Six-Count Grapevine

» Six-Count Grapevine, Double Outside Turn
     » Six-Count Grapevine, Outside Turn and Free Spin
     » Six-Count Grapevine, Outside Turn and Rollaway
     » Six-Count Grapevine, Double Outside Turn Behind the Back
» Twelve-Count Grapevine

Count 1: Follow's Solo

» Follow's Solo
     » Touches Styling
     » Sweeps Styling
     » Flicks Styling
     » Feather Stitch Styling
     » Lead's A-Frame Stance Styling
     » Counter Crossing
» Follow's Solo Corte
     » Quick Follow's Solo Corte
     » Follow's Solo Corte with Outside Turn
     » Follow's Solo Corte with Double Outside Turn
          » with Outside Turn and Free Spin
» U-Turn

Count 1: Swingout

» Swingout
     » Traveling Swingout
          » Swingout Tuck Turn
               » Swingout Tuck Free Spin
               » R-in-R Wrap to Shadow Position
          » Hand-to-Hand Zig-Zag
          » Free Spin to Pivots, Outside Turn
               » Sweep to Pivots, Outside Turn and Free Spin
                    » or Double Outside Turn
                    » or Outside Turn and Rollaway
     » Swingout, Waist Slide
     » Forcefield Redirection
     » Swingout, Duck Ride
     » Swingout, Reverse Dip (on 5)
          » Swingout, Reverse Dip (on 6)

Count 1: Rotating Left Together

Count 1: Zig-Zag

» Zig-Zag
     » Zig-Zag with Lead Crossing Behind
     » Toss Across
     » Transition to Hustle

Count 1: To Follow Backing

» Molinete
     » Chassé Molinete
» Transition to Box Step Waltz
» Cross-Body Transition to Latin Waltz
» Transition to Country Waltz
» Transition to Reverse Waltz

Count 1: Rueda

» The Eddy
     » Rueda
     » Grapevine Rueda

Count 1: Reverse Turning Basic

» Reverse Turning Basic
     » Reverse Waterfall
     » Zig-Zag in Reverse Cross-Step Waltz
     » Inside Turn in Reverse Cross-Step Waltz
     » Reverse Tripled Single Pivots
          » Reverse Tripled Single Pivots (in Cross-Step Waltz)
     » Cross-Body Inside Turn and Pivaloop Free Spin to Cross-Step Waltz
     » Transition to Mirror Waltz
» Left Turn with Tango Close

Count 1: Reverse Pivot

» Reverse Pivot to Follow's Lunge
     » Reverse Pivot to Follow's Lunge (with Quick Recovery)
     » Reverse Pivot to Hesitating Lunge and Pivot

Count 1: Walkaround Wrap

» Walkaround Wrap to Cradle Position
     » Short Cradle Wrap
     » Walkaround Wrap to Wrong-Way Cradle Position
» Peeling Off to Shadow Position

Count 1: Lead's Cradle

» Lead's Cradle Waist Slide
     » Lead's Cradle with Pivaloop Free Spin
          » or Pivaloop Double Outside Turn
          » or Pivaloop, Rollaway
     » Behind-the-Back Wrap to Wrong-Way Cradle Position
     » Lead's Cradle to Role Reversal

Count 1: Follow Crossing Behind

» Co-Waterfall
» Follow's Backing Ochos

Count 2

Count 2: Side Step Along LOD

» Stop and Go (to Change the Downbeat)
» Hesitating Side Sways
     » Hesitating Transition to Rotary Waltz
     » Transition to Mazurka Clandestina
     » Transition to Bluesy Waltz
» Cross Swivels
» Scorpion Side Steps

Count 2: Pivots

» Tripled Single Pivots
     » Pivots to Fix the Timing
» Pivot Outside Turn
     » Pivot Free Spin
     » Pivot Rollaway
     » Pivot Parallel Spin
     » Texas Tommy
     » Chained Pivot Turns
          » Chained Pivot Rollaways
          » Intensifying Pivot Turns
» Pivot Hip Catches
     » Pivot Hip Catch with Pivot Ending
» Pivot Catch
» Double Pivots
     » Quintuple Pivots
» Park Avenue with Pivots
» Pivot Transition to Rotary Waltz
» Two and Half Pivots to Role Reversal

Count 2: Inside Turn

» Inside Turn with Grapevine Recovery
     » Free Spin with Grapevine Recovery
     » Rollaway with Grapevine Recovery
» Chained Inside and Outside Turns
     » Magic Wand
» Double Inside Turn, Double Outside Turn
     » Double Inside Turn, Outside Turn and Free Spin
     » Double Inside Turn, Outside Turn and Rollaway
     » Halo Frisbee
          » Halo Frisbee with R-in-R Hands
          » Halo Rollaway
» Inside Turn, Reverse Pivot
» Inside Turn to Cradle Position
     » Inside Turn to Cradle Lunge
          » Inside Turn to Cradle Lunge (as an Ending)
» Inside Flip to Shadow Position
» Inside Turn Transition to Swing Waltz
» Inside Turn Dip
     » Inside Turn Face Loop Dip
» Inside Turn Behind-the-Back Dip
» Inside Turn Face-to-Face Side Dip

Count 2: Cross-Body Inside Turn

» Cross-Body Inside Turn to Pivaloop Free Spin
     » Cross-Body Inside Turn to Pivaloop Double Outside Turn
     » Cross-Body Inside Turn to Pivaloop Rollaway
     » Pivaloop Around the World
» Cross-Body Triple Inside Turn
» Cross-Body Inside Turn to Cradle Wheel
     » Cross-Body Cradle Wheel, Double Outside Turn
» Cross-Body Inside Turn to Reverse Cross-Step Waltz

Count 2: Toss Out

» Toss Out
     » Toss Out, Waist Slide

Count 2: Dip

» Hesitating Tango Dip
     » Tango Dip
     » Face Loop Dip
     » Toss Across Dip
     » DWTS Dip
          » Dip to DWTS Dip

Count 2: Outside Turn

» Double Outside Turn
     » Outside Turn, Free Spin
     » Outside Turn, Rollaway
» Barrel Roll, Outside Turn
     » Barrel Roll, Free Spin
     » Barrel Roll, Rollaway

Count 2: Brake Step

» Brake Step
     » Brake Step to Role Reversal

Count 2: Lead's Inside Turn

» Lead's Flip into Role Reversed Shadow Position

Count 2: Lift Prep

» Lift

Count 3

Count 3: Slide Along LOD

» Right Turn with Tango Close

Count 4

Count 4: She Goes

» She Goes, Free Spin
     » She Goes, Rollaway
     » She Goes, Inside Turn and Rear-Hand Face Loop
» She Goes Steal to Role Reversal

Count 4: Scorpion Waltz Walk

» Scorpion Waltz Walk
     » Scorpion Inside Turn

Count 4: Waterfall

» Waterfall
» Waterfall Follow's Solo
» Tsunami
     » Tsunami with Sweeps
     » Tsunami with Inside Turn
» Waterfall Grapevine Inside Turn
     » with Waist Slide Ending
     » to Triple Outside Turn
» Long Waterfall Grapevine, Slow Outside Turn
» Waterwheel
     » Waterwheel Outside Turn
» Parallel Breaks
» Waterfall Lunge Stop and Go (to Change the Downbeat)
» Short Carousel

Count 4: Second-Half Pivots

» Joining the Follow for Pivots
» Pivots to Finish the Phrase
     » Delayed Pivot Recovery
          » Follow's Grapevine to Delayed Pivot Recovery

Count 5

Count 5: Free Spin

» Free Spin Around the World
     » Free Spin Around the World with Waist Slide Ending
     » Matador Wheel, Lasso
» Arm Catch Free Spin

Count 5: Sendout to Two Hands

» Cradle Whip
     » Cradle Whip, Outside Turn
» Shoulder Whip
     » Shoulder Whip, Free Spin

Count 5: Coda Pivot

» Coda Pivot to Outside Turn and Free Spin
» Coda Pivot to Inside Turn

Count 5/6: Hold

» Face-to-Face Side Dip
» Tango Drop

Cradle Variations

» Cradle Walk
» Cradle Wheel
» Cradle Yo Yo
     » Free Spin Dip
» Chained Cradle
» Single Pop Turn in Cradle
     » Double Pop Turn in Cradle
» Pop Turn from Cradle to Shadow
     » Pop Turn from Cradle to Skater's
» Cradle Side Dip
» Cradle Steal to Role Reversal

Cradle Exits

» Outside Turn Exit from Cradle
     » Roll-Off-the-Arm Exit from Cradle
» Double Outside Turn Exit from Cradle
     » Outside Turn and Free Spin Exit from Cradle
     » Outside Turn and Rollaway Exit from Cradle
     » Outside and Inside Turn Exit from Cradle
     » Deney Terrio Double Unwind from Cradle
     » Matador Around the World Exit from Cradle
     » Tornado Exit from Cradle
» Cradle Release Exit

Shadow and Skater's Variations

» Shadow Walk
     » Side Slips to Change Sides
     » Shadow Splits
» Shadow Wheel
» Shadow Underarm Turn
     » Shadow Underarm Turn to Lead's Shadow
     » Follow's Flip in Front to Shadow
     » Mixmaster
          » Mixmaster (Superspeed Version)
     » Multiple Shadow Underarm Turns

Lead's Foot Fudge to Shadow Footwork

» Windmill
» Illusion Turn
» Shadow Waltz

Hammerlock Combo

» Lasso Transition from Shadow Position to Left Hammerlock
     » Flip Transition from Left Hammerlock to Left Skater's
          » Inside Turn Transition from Left Hammerlock to Left Skater's
     » Lasso Transition from Left Skater's to Right Hammerlock
     » Flip Transition from Right Hammerlock to Right Skater's
          » Inside Turn Transition from Right Hammerlock to Right Skater's

Zillertaler Arms

» Double Turn to Zillertaler Arms
     » Face Loop Exit from Zillertaler Arms

Pop Turns

» Single Pop Turn in Shadow
     » Double Pop Turn in Shadow
» Pop Turn from Shadow to Cradle
     » Pop Turn from Skater's to Cradle
» Shadow Side Dip
» Sombrero Neck Roll Dip
» Valentino Dip
» Shadow Sombrero to Role Reversal
» Shadow Steal to Role Reversal
» Mixmaster Steal to Role Reversal

Shadow and Skater's Exits

» Free Spin Exit from Shadow Position
» Face Loop Exit from Shadow Position
     » Face Loop Exit from Skater's Position
» Sombrero from Shadow Position

Mirror Waltz

» Mirror Turning Basic
» Mirror He Goes, She Goes
» Transition to Cross-Step Waltz

Cross-Step Troika

» Cutting In (2 Leads)
» Cutting In (2 Follows)
» Tripling
» Trio Waltz
» More than Three

Other Timings

» Cross-Step Foxtrot
» Cross-Step Hustle
» Cross-Step Waltz in 5/4 Time
» Cross-Step Waltz in Slow 7/4 Time
» Cross-Step Waltz in Fast 7/4 Time
» Hesitation Cross-Step Waltz










About the Dance

As Richard Powers writes, "Cross-Step Waltz is the newest social dance form, spreading quickly because it's easy to learn yet endlessly innovative, satisfying for both beginners and the most experienced dancers. It travels and rotates like traditional waltz but the addition of the cross-step opens up a wide range of playful yet gracefully flowing variations."

Cross-Step Waltz originally evolved as a variation of Blues in Paris in the 1920s, and was revived in the 1990s at Stanford University.

Today, it is danced around the world. For over 2,000 videos of it being danced around the world, click here.


Cross-Step Waltz Music

Here are some of our favorite Cross-Step Waltz songs, arranged by tempo:


Teaching Videos

For full instruction on many of these Cross-Step Waltz moves, see our full Cross-Step Waltz course at the University of Dance:


© 2016-2024 Nick Enge


If you or your community is interested in learning Cross-Step Waltz, .


For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.

For help crafting a life you love, visit: Project Quartz.


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