The Blues Waltz is a waltz sequence dance composed by Geo. Chester in 1924.
It was awarded first prize at the British Association of Teachers of Dancing Conference that year.
Closed position, Lead facing LOD.
Part I - Back the Follow (4 bars): Back the Follow three steps (1, 4, 1), then side, close toward outside wall (4, 5).
Part II - Twinkle and Sway (4 bars): Turning 1/4 to the right to face the wall, the Lead steps forward right (1), close left to right (3), and back right (4), as the Follow dances opposite. Then step side along LOD (1), close without weight (2), step side against LOD (4), and close without weight (5).
Part III - Promenade (4 bars): Both facing along LOD, with leading arms extended, promenade three steps along LOD (1, 4, 1), dipping down slightly on the third step, then rise up on that foot (3) and come back down on the other foot against LOD (4).
Part IV - Crab Step (4 bars): With Lead facing out, a slow side (1) close (4) along LOD, followed by a quick mirrored grapevine along LOD, both stepping side (1), crossing behind (2), stepping side (3), crossing through (4), stepping side (5), and closing up (6).
Turn 1/4 to the left into the first step of Part I to repeat from the beginning.
"The Blues Waltz" by J. A. Diamond is the specified tune, but it doesn't appear to have been recorded, so any square, early 20th century slow waltz will do (the tempo is specified as "slower than ordinary waltz").
© 2019 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.
For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.
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