Closed and Open Changes

The Closed Change is a Pre-Bronze, or newcomer Waltz figure, performed in closed position. ^[1]

Changes may start of the right foot or left foot, moving forward or backward. This makes four different types of changes. Combine two close changes and you have a Box Step.

In Right changes the man starts from the right foot, while in Left ones the man starts from the left foot.

A change is called "closed", if on the last step the moving foot closes to the standing foot. A change is "open", if on the last step the moving foot passes the standing foot.

The figures are called "changes", because they allow dancers to change from Natural Turn to Reverse Turn and vice versa. For example, a basic practicing variation in Waltz goes as follows:

1. Dance 1–6 steps of Natural Turn,
2. then 1–3 steps of Right Closed Change,
3. then 1–6 steps of Reverse Turn,
4. then 1–3 steps of Left Closed Change,
5. repeat until the music stops or partner drops.

All four changes are similar, therefore a detailed description is only for the Right Closed Change.

Right Closed Change

The man steps forward on right foot while the lady steps backward on the opposing (i.e., left) foot. They will then step to the side (and possibly slightly forward, in relation to the man) on the other foot, and conclude the figure by closing the first foot beside the second. Each step takes up a full beat of the music.

A turn of up to 1/8 is optional. There will be slight CBM on 1, and sway on 2,3.

Leader (Man)

Step #	Foot Position	Alignment	Amount of Turn	Footwork
1	RF forward	Facing DC	Nil	HT
2	LF side, slightly fwd	Facing DC	Nil	T
3	RF closes to LF	Facing DC	Nil	TH

Follower (Woman)

Step #	Foot Position	Alignment	Amount of Turn	Footwork
1	LF back	Backing DC	Nil	TH
2	RF side, slightly back	Backing DC	Nil	T
3	LF closes to RF	Backing DC	Nil	TH

Hesitation Change

The Hesitation Change is a Bronze syllabus figure. The first 3 steps are identical to the natural turn. The last 3 steps comprise the "hesitation." The leader's heel pull allows time to change directions or pause for floor craft.^[2]

Leader (Man)

Step #	Foot Position	Alignment	Amount of Turn	Footwork
1	RF fwd	Facing DW	Start to turn R	HT
2	LF to side	Backing DC	1/4 between 1-2	T
3	RF closes to LF	Backing LOD	1/8 between 2-3	TH
1	LF back	Backing LOD	Start to turn R	H
2	RF to side small step (Heel Pull)	Facing DC	3/8 between 4-5	IE of foot, whole foot
3	LF closes to RF without weight	Facing DC		IE of toe (LF)

Outside Change

The Outside Change is a Bronze syllabus figure. It has regular waltz rise and fall over the three beat phrase.^[2]

Leader (Man)

Step #	Foot Position	Alignment	Amount of Turn	Footwork
1	LF back	Backing DC		TH
2	RF back	Backing DC	Starts to turn L	T
3	LF to side and slightly fwd	Pointing DW	1/4 between 2-3, body turns less	TH
1	RF fwd in CBMP, OP	Facing DW		H

Follower (Woman)

Step #	Foot Position	Alignment	Amount of Turn	Footwork
1	RF fwd	Facing DC		HT
2	LF fwd	Facing DC	Starts to turn L	T
3	RF to side and slightly back	Backing DW	1/4 between 2-3, body turns less	TH
1	LF back in CBMP	Backing DW		T

References

1. The Ballroom Technique; Moore, Alex (2006). Published by ISTD ASIN: B000PH46KI.
2. BallroomDancers.com

External Links

• Demonstration of Closed Changes by Jonathan and Melissa Atkinson