• The footwork and steps should be kept very simple
• We should be able to see a slight swaying action from the couple - a musical lilt - a gentle rise and fall. Mimics riding on the crest of a wave - the movement's more on the progression
• We should see lots of rotation.

The Basic Steps of the Waltz

1. Natural turns - turn to the right
2. Reverse turns - turn to the right
3. Change step - this step is executed in-between the natural and reverse steps and is used to aid the dancers to move to the other foot.

Video clip...

The Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman shows you how it's done - click here
Plus, How to do the Viennese Waltz

The Foxtrot...

History
During the summer of 1914, actor Harry Fox was appearing in shows in New York with Yansci Dolly, in an act of Hammerstein's. People at the "Jardin de Danse" on the roof of the New York Theatre, soon started to copy the act that Harry was putting on downstairs, leading them to refer to the dance as "Fox's Trot".

The Basic Requirements of the Foxtrot

• The dance should flow, this is a very smooth dance - there should be no jerkiness
• Timing - slow, quick, quick, slow. The dancers should drive off on the slow and let the quicks take care of themselves. (drive, easy, easy, drive)
• Trotting steps, very up and down
• Fixed expressions on the faces of the dancers.

The Basic Steps of the Foxtrot

• Weave - the weave is 6 quicks in a row - all taken on the toes. Quicks are generally taken on the toe, slows on the heels
• Feather Step - when the man steps outside of the girl
• Reverse turns - as in the waltz - turn to the left
• Natural turns - as in the waltz - turn to the right
• Lines - lots of these - they should very elegant
• Should cover the floor very well. Works in zig-zags across the floor.

Video clip

The Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman shows you how it's done - click here .

The Quickstep...

History
During the 1920s many bands played the Quickstep too fast and some couples couldn't keep up. Over time, a faster version was born, absorbing extra elements of ragtime such as the Charleston. This led to the creation of what we today call the Quickstep.

The Basic Requirements of the Quickstep
The Quickstep should be a light, bright dance with tricky footwork. The dancers should look like they are dancing on hot coals - most of the moves should be up on the toes because of the speed. We should be able to see lots of:

• Ankle work - Need strong ankles
• A lot of work on the balls of the feet
• Lots of spring from the feet
• A sporty delivery and very fast paced movement
• Facial expressions. Not compulsory but helps to capture the essence of the dance.

The Basic Steps of the Quickstep

• The basic feel is slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick. The majority of the slow should be taken on the heel; the majority of the quick should be taken on the toe
• Should see a good mixture of heels and toes
• Should see lots of fast moving steps which are generally made up of locks and shasses with synchronised timing
• Shasse - 3 steps going to the side (side - close - side)
• Lockstep - cross one foot behind the other foot. We should see lots of these
• Turing lock steps - a lockstep that turns
• Spin Turn (also in the waltz) - one complete turn, usually danced in corners.
• Pivot - continuous turns (spinning around)
• Natural turns and reverse turns. Natural turns: 3 steps to the right - should form up to half a circle. Reverse turns: 3 steps to the left - should form up to half a circle
• Variations - fast little hopping movements are referred to as variations, but this is a very vague term
• Runs - little fast, quick repetitive movements/steps.

Video clip
The Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman shows you how it's done - click here .