european waltz?

[fan]

hello all,

I am an adult skater who will be testing her european waltz in a couple of weeks. I'm looking for tips - what to do, what to avoid, etc. I'm generally pretty good at not wide-stepping, but i have trouble straightening my freeleg when i bring it in to do the turn. Is that a failable offense?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Cheers,

Fan

[backspin]

Re. straight leg failable offense--perhaps not, although a sloppy foot position through the turns might be. Since you do those turns a lot from here on out, it's worth working at to fix the leg position as much as possible now. You'll have to do it at some point anyway.

I always focus on holding every extension until the last split-second before drawing the free foot in for the next turn or step. It contributes greatly to the expression of the waltz.

[fan]

Re. straight leg failable offense--perhaps not, although a sloppy foot position through the turns might be. Since you do those turns a lot from here on out, it's worth working at to fix the leg position as much as possible now. You'll have to do it at some point anyway.

I always focus on holding every extension until the last split-second before drawing the free foot in for the next turn or step. It contributes greatly to the expression of the waltz.

what's considered a sloppy foot position on the turns?
Thanks!

[Spazactaz]

make sure you just really have the "down-up-down" waltz expression. one of the girls i partnered failed for this reason and i was sooooooooooooo mad so now it's the #1 thing i focus on. :p

otherwise... just making sure the 3turns are clean, not skidded... then really keeping the toe-to-heel or whatever position you do as you push to ensure it's not widestepped at all.

as for when the freeleg is brought in though...... i wouldn't want it completely straight there. judges always mistake that for being on 2 feet which is pretty much automatic fail... so it will have to be bent slightly because you aren't on 2 feet.

[Aussie Willy]

Neat Feet in the European are so important.

I would also suggest making sure you step on the edge as you push into your outside edges. Sounds obvious but it really does help with the turn. And as you push forward that the heel of your skating foot is connecting with the boot of the pushing foot.

Another thing is not to overrotate after the back pushes. You want the pattern you set to look like two coins that have been put side by side and the next back push should be where those two coins meet. I hope that one makes sense.

Also make sure you are not hitching the hip up on the turns. That shows that you are not using the edges to let the turn happen but rather forcing the turn.

If you can get hold of one of the ISU dance DVDs it has a very young Tessa and Scott doing the European.

[skatemommy]

My advice is to push on the backward transitions, especially the one coming out of the end pattern. If you just step rather than push your partner will run over you because he is doing a forward cross roll. Stay square as was mentioned above. Good luck and let us know how you do!

[backspin]

what's considered a sloppy foot position on the turns?
Thanks!

Foot not held tightly to skating leg--wide feet in air usually means wide step out of the turn too. If you do bend your free leg knee slightly, make sure the feet are still extremely neat and controlled. If the knee is bent a LOT, then the whole thing looks sloppy, and yes, might be a failable offense, since it will get repeated over & over.

[vesperholly]

Watch the step forward into the 3-turn — it's easy to turn too soon and then you'll lose the tracking with your partner.

[Diane Mars]

Here's a good example, I think : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP1pT1YciWI

[Aussie Willy]

Here's a good example, I think : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP1pT1YciWI

I think that is a good example too. They have very nice feet and they are in a good position on the turns. You feel comfortable watching them do that dance.

[Jasmar]

Also take care not to drop your shoulder and hip into the circle on each lobe, but let the edge do the work. It's really easy to collapse into that circle, and I used to see a lot of skaters making that mistake as they were learning the dance, especially if they'd never done figures (to learn the edge control without heaving the body around).

Good luck!

[fan]

i passed! it was the best pass i ever had, with all "goods". thank you to everyone for your help!

[briancoogaert]

i passed! it was the best pass i ever had, with all "goods". thank you to everyone for your help!

CONGRATS !

[skatemommy]

You are now officially an Ice Dancer! Congratulations!

[manleywoman]

i passed! it was the best pass i ever had, with all "goods". thank you to everyone for your help!

Congrats!!!

[overedge]

Excellent!!! Congratulations. That dance is a tough one, so you should be very proud to get those ratings.

[Diane Mars]

Congrats

[Aussie Willy]

Well done and congratulations. Hard dance to do.

[sk8er1964]

Congrats! I might pass it....some day....

[luenatic]

Congrats!