Impetus (Waltz)

The impetus is a ballroom dance step used in the Waltz, FoxTrot or Quickstep. The open impetus is one of several ways to get into promenade position and is used to turn dancers around corners or change their direction on the dance floor. It is often performed after a natural turn.^[1]

The open impetus has less turn than the closed impetus. The closed impetus remains in closed position, while the open impetus ends in an open promenade position.^[2]

Closed Impetus

Leader (Man)

Step #	Foot Position	Alignment	Amount of Turn	Footwork
1	LF back	Backing LOD	Begin to turn to right	TH
2	Close RF to LF (heel turn)	Facing DC	3/8 turn to right between 1-2	HT
3	LF side & slightly back	End Backing DC against LOD	1/4 turn to right between 2-3	TH
1	RF back	Backing DC against LOD		T

Follower (Woman)

Step #	Foot Position	Alignment	Amount of Turn	Footwork
1	RF fwd	LOD	Begin to turn to right	HT
2	LF to side	Backing DC	3/8 turn to right between 1-2	T
3	RF diag fwd having brushed to LF	Backing DW	1/4 turn to right between 2-3	TH
1	LF fwd	Backing DW		H

Open Impetus

The open impetus is a Silver syllabus variation on the closed impetus.

Leader (Man)

Begin closed position, backing LOD.

Step #	Foot Position	Alignment	Amount of Turn	Footwork
1	LF back.	Backing LOD	Begin to turn to right	TH
2	Close RF to LF (heel turn)	Facing DC	3/8 turn to right between 1-2	HT
3	LF diagonally forward in promenade position	DC		TH

Follower (Woman)

Begin closed position, facing LOD.

Step #	Foot Position	Alignment	Amount of Turn	Footwork
1	RF forward	LOD	Begin to turn to right	HT
2	LF side. Brush RF to LF	Facing DW against LOD	3/8 turn to right between 1-2	T
3	RF side in promenade position	DC	3/8 turn to right between 2-3 (body turns less)	TH

References

1. Ballroom Dancers.com
2. DanceCentral.info

External Links

Victor Veyrasset and Heather Smith demonstrating the open impetus