Hops-Walzer

(Ecossaise Walzer)

(1820s - 1830s)



Contemporary Description


The Position

Waltz position throughout.

Lead begins facing LOD, Follow against LOD.


The Footwork

1: The Lead steps forward with his right foot as the Follow steps back with her left foot, rotating 90° clockwise.

2: The Lead clicks his right heel to his left heel sideways along LOD. The Follow clicks her left heel to her right heel sideways along LOD. Note: Of course, after the heel click, the clicking heel returns to the ground. In terms of weight changes, a heel click is like a hop on the clicking foot, although you hop slightly early, to click exactly on the count.

3-and-4: The Lead steps back across LOD with his left on count 4, and the Follow steps forward along LOD with her right, to dance the first three counts of a rotary waltz in quick-quick-slow timing, turning clockwise to get into position for the next count 1.


The Music

Music in 2/4 time.

Today, it's often danced to Polka music, but the Hops-Walzer predates the Polka.


Related Dances

The Wiener Walz is the Hops-Walzer in 3/4 time.


© 2015 Nick Enge


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.


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