Home About Dances Manuals Search
Rotary Waltz & Reverse Waltz
(Waltz, Viennese Waltz)
Complete List of Demo Videos
Contemporary Rotary Waltz
Basics
»
Turning Basic (Basic Version)
»
Turning Basic (Pivot Version)
»
Turning Basic (Side Step Version)
»
Turning Basic (Follow Backing Version)
Follow's Turns
»
Outside Turn on 4
»
Free Spin on 4
»
Rollaway on 4
»
Outside Turn on 2
»
Double Outside Turn on 2
»
Outside Turn, Free Spin on 2
»
Single Turn on 1
»
Double Turn on 1 (Pivot + Waltz)
»
Double Turn on 1 (Waltz + Pivot)
»
Triple Turn on 1
»
Outside Turn, Lead's Underarm Turn, Pivaloop
»
Triple Free Spin Combo
»
Quadruple Turn on 4
»
Quintuple Turn on 2
»
Texas Tommy
Lead Goes
»
Shoulder Slide
»
Lasso (a.k.a. Lead's Underarm Turn)
»
Lasso, Pivaloop
»
Outside Turn, Behind the Back Pass
»
Lasso, Waist Slide to Double Pivaloop Outside Turn
»
Dishrag Lead Goes, Follow Goes
»
Behind the Back Hand Change, Outside Turn
Swing Out
»
Swing Out
»
Swing Out, Texas Tommy
Windows
»
Windows, Mixmaster
»
Windows, Double Turn
»
Double Windows, Double Turn
» Windows, Valentino Dip (see "Endings")
» Double Windows, Valentino Dip (see "Endings")
Follow Backing
»
Pursuit
»
Cross-Body Inside Turn to Pivaloop Outside Turn
»
Cross-Body Inside Turn to Pivaloop Free Spin
»
Cross-Body Double Inside Turn to Pivaloop Outside Turn
»
Cross-Body Double Inside Turn to Pivaloop Double Outside Turn
Open Position (Side by Side)
»
Single Free Spin
»
Double Free Spin
»
Triple Free Spin
»
Rollaway
»
Toss Across, Inside Turn to Open Position
Crossed Hands
»
Outside Turn Entrance
»
Crossed Hands
»
Fog Hands
»
Cloud Hands
»
Crossed-Hand Matador
»
Crossed Hands to Shadow
»
Crossed Hands to Wedding Cake
»
Crossed-Hand Mixmaster
Shadow Position
» Crossed Hands to Shadow (see "Crossed Hands")
»
Mixmaster
»
Face Loop Exit
Wedding Cake
»
Free Spin Entrance
» Crossed Hands to Wedding Cake (see "Crossed Hands")
»
Wedding Cake
»
Lowered Wedding Cake
»
Exploded Wedding Cake
»
Blooming Wedding Cake
»
Left Hands Floating
»
Wedding Cake Inside Turn
»
Face Loop Exit
»
Inside Turn Exit
Cradle Position
»
Follow's Wrap
»
Cradle Wheel
»
Roll Out of Cradle
»
Roll into Cradle
»
Cradle Yo Yo
»
Lead's Wrap
»
Lead's Cradle Wheel
»
Lead's Wrap, Follow's Inside Turn
»
Double Turn from Cradle
»
Double Unwind from Cradle
»
Deney Terrio's Double Unwind from Cradle
Cinderella Waltz Variations
»
Cinderella Sways
»
Varsovienne (Two Ways)
»
Chassé Waltz
»
Roll Out to Skater's Walk
»
Roll Out to Skater's Wheel
»
R-in-R Cinderella Wheel
»
Outside Turn to Matador Wheel
Inspired by 19th Century Polka
»
Vis à Vis
»
Pas d'Allemande
»
Coquette (Love Chase)
»
Follow's Initiative: Coquette (Love Chase)
Pivots
» Turning Basic (Pivot Version) (1 Pivot) (see "Basics")
»
Single Canter Pivot (2 pivots)
»
Canter, Waltz, Canter, Waltz (ABAB)
»
Waltz, Waltz, Canter, Waltz (AABA)
»
Three Quick Pivots (3 Pivots)
»
Double Canter Pivot (4 Pivots)
»
Canter Pivot, Three Quick Pivots (5 Pivots)
»
Six Quick Pivots (6 Pivots)
Hammerlock and Skaters
»
Lead's Hammerlock Waltz
»
Follow's Hammerlock Waltz
»
Roll Out to Skater's Waltz
»
Face Loop Exit from Skater's Waltz
Zillertaler Arms
»
Double Turn into Zillertaler Arms
»
Face Loop Exit from Zillertaler Arms
Fancy Footwork
»
Redowa
»
Redowa to Reverse Redowa
»
Reverse Redowa
»
Reverse Redowa to Redowa
»
Cross-Step Redowa
»
Cross-Step Redowa (Waterfall Version)
Endings
»
Underarm Turn to a Bow
»
Underarm Turn to a Genuflection
»
Sliding in to Home Base
»
Check into a Dip
»
Free Spin Dip
»
Windows, Valentino Dip
»
Double Windows, Valentino Dip
»
Wrap into Cradle Side Dip
Lifts
»
Lift
Positions
» Waltz Position (see "Turning Basic")
»
Half Closed
»
Follow Holding Dress
»
Follow Holding His Shoulder
»
Neck Hold
»
Chess Game of the Hands
» Crossed Hands, etc. (see "Crossed Hands")
» Wedding Cake, etc. (see "Wedding Cake")
Super Speed Waltzing
»
Pivot Version
»
Waltz Walk
»
Hopped Pivots
»
Double Boston
»
Waltz Chassé
»
Chassé Waltz
»
Polka
—————
Contemporary Reverse Waltz
—————
Vintage Waltz
About the Dance
Rotary Waltz is the original 19th century waltz, first described in Thomas Wilson's A Description of the Correct Method of Waltzing in 1816. It has been danced continuously, relatively unchanged, since then, although many variations have been added over the past two centuries.
Simply called Waltz for most of its history, it is now often called Rotary Waltz to differentiate it from the many other types of waltzing that coexist with it. The "Rotary Waltz" name comes from the mid 20th century revival of "old time" dancing in England, where they added the "Rotary" modifier to distinguish it from newer forms of waltzing.
While the original Waltz turned to the right, later evolutions included both right and left turns. Today, we call the left-turning version Reverse Waltz.
Rotary Waltz Music
Here are some of our favorite Rotary Waltz songs, arranged by tempo:
Teaching Videos
For full instruction on many of these Rotary Waltz moves, see our full Rotary Waltz course at the University of Dance:
© 2016-2024 Nick Enge
If you or your community is interested in learning Rotary 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.
Home About Dances Manuals Search