Waltz Box Step Mixer
Students learn the waltz box step in three-four time and dance it in a big circle where pairs rotate every musical phrase. They work on triple meter, posture, floor awareness and getting along, which comes in handy for events such as prom or graduation.
How to play
- Listen to a waltz and clap "ONE-two-three," accenting the first count; 2 minutes.
- Teach the box step without a partner: forward-side-close, back-side-close, tracing an imaginary square on the floor; 4 minutes of practice in lines.
- Form pairs in closed position (or open if they prefer) and practice the box together for 4 minutes, one partner moving forward and the other back.
- Set the pairs in a big circle marked with cones and teach them to turn the box a quarter each measure to travel counterclockwise. 4 minutes.
- Mixer: every 8 measures the whistle blows and the followers move on to the next pair in the circle. Dance 2 full songs, about 5 minutes.
- Spend 1 minute discussing where people dance the waltz today and how it felt.
Rules
- Anyone can lead or follow, and roles switch halfway through the class.
- All pairs travel in the same direction to avoid collisions.
- Respect the distance your partner asks for; open position is always allowed.
Variations
Easier
Dance the box in place, without traveling around the circle, to a slow waltz.
Standard
Box step traveling around the circle with a partner change every 8 measures.
Harder
Add the follower's underarm turn every 4 measures and change partners every 4.
Adaptations
- A student in a wheelchair rolls forward and back on the beat while the partner does the box in front, keeping the hand hold.
- For students who are deaf or hard of hearing, one person raises a hand on the "ONE," and partner changes are signaled with a colored card.
- Students who feel less confident keep the same partner for the first song before rotations begin.
Learning goals
- Perform the waltz box step in three-four time.
- Move around the dance floor as a group in an orderly way.
- Appreciate the waltz as a social dance still used at celebrations.
Equipment for a class of 25
- music: 1
- speakers: 1
- cones: 12
Teacher tip
Students often step on their partners by taking steps that are too long; ask for steps about one foot-length.
PatioLab has "Waltz Box Step Mixer" and 1299 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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