Whisk

(International Ballroom Style Step)

The Whisk is a fundamental figure in the International Style Slow Waltz, often used to transition between different dance figures while adding an elegant and smooth touch to the dance. It involves a step to the side and a crossing action behind the standing leg. Here's a breakdown of the Whisk for the man (lady's steps are the natural opposite):

1. On count one, the man steps forward with his left foot (lady steps back with her right foot)

2. On count two, the man steps to the side with his right foot (lady steps to the side with her left foot)

3. On count three, the man crosses his left foot behind his right foot (lady crosses her right behind of her left foot) Creating Promenade Position.

During the Whisk, the dancers maintain a closed dance position, with the man leading the lady through the steps and the upper body turn. The Whisk can be used as a transitional step between other figures, such as the Natural Turn or Reverse Turn, or as a preparation for more advanced figures like the Chassé from Promenade Position. The elegant crossing action of the Whisk adds a refined touch to the Slow Waltz and showcases the smooth and graceful movement that characterizes this dance.

How Whisk was born…

The exact origin of the Whisk step in ballroom dancing is not well-documented, but the figure is deeply rooted in the history and development of the Waltz itself. The Waltz originated in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Central Europe, evolving from various folk dances that involved turning, gliding, and swaying movements.

But their is one story going around about whisk; during evening gala the leader had to much of whisky and lost balance during the step Closed Change…

As the Waltz became more refined and formalized, the dance gradually gained popularity among the upper classes in Europe. In the early 20th century, standardized teaching methods and dance figures emerged, including the Whisk step, as ballroom dancing became a more structured and disciplined art form.

The Whisk, along with other basic figures, helped to create the flowing and elegant movements that are characteristic of the Waltz. The figure likely developed as dancers sought to incorporate transitional steps between turns and other movements, adding to the dance's smoothness and fluidity. Although the exact birth of the Whisk step cannot be pinpointed, its role in the evolution and refinement of the Waltz is clear.