My Mind’s gone blank - Help!
We’ve all experienced that moment at a Tea Dance when suddenly, “eeeek!”—you forget every single step you know! To help you regain your confidence on the dance floor, here are a few short and simple combinations for each dance that serve as a reminder of the basics. Practising these combinations will encourage your body to recall them even when your mind goes blank. However, it’s important to remember that skilled social dancing involves much more than just following a ‘routine’. It requires various skills that take time to learn and improve, including good dance etiquette and floorcraft, listening to the music and exploring musicality, developing body awareness, and expressing different movement qualities. Additionally, it requires the development of partnering skills essential for leading, following, and improvising with clarity and consideration.
-
Short & simple combinations
Feather Step – Reverse Turn – Three Step
Feather Step - Closed Telemark - Curved Feather - Back Feather - Feather Finish
1-3 Natural Turn - Open Impetus Turn followed by Weave from Promenade Position - Three Step
Easy corner figures for beginners
Change of Direction
Natural Turn
Open Impetus
Reverse Wave (underturned at a corner)
Fundamental figures for the social dance floor
Change of Direction
Contra Check
Double Reverse Spin
Extended Reverse Wave
Fallaway Reverse Turn & Slip Pivot
Feathers: Feather Step, Feather Ending, Feather Finish, Curved Feather, Curved Feather from Promenade Position, Back Feather, Hover Feather
Hover Corte
Hovercross
Impetus: Closed Impetus, Open Impetus, Open Impetus followed by Weave
Lilting Fallaway with Weave Ending
Natural Turn
Natural Twist Turn
Natural Zig-Zag from Promenade Position
Outside Change
Outside Spin, Underturned Outside Spin
Outside Swivel
Oversway
Passing Natural
Progressive Chasse to Right
Quick Open Reverse Turn
Reverse Pivot
Reverse Turn
Reverse Wave, Extended Reverse Wave, 1-4 Reverse Wave followed by Weave
Running Finish
Telemark: Closed Telemark, Open Telemark, Open Telemark Feather Ending, Open Telemark followed by Weave from Promenade Position, Natural Telemark, Hover Telemark, Natural Hover Telemark
Three Step, Curved Three Step
Top Spin
Weaves: Weave from Promenade Position, 1-4 Reverse Wave followed by Weave, Open Impetus followed by Weave, Open Telemark followed by Weave from Promenade Position, Lilting Fallaway with Weave Ending, Natural Weave, Quick Natural Weave from Promenade Position
Whisks: Whisk, Back Whisk
Wing
-
Foundation
Forward/Backward Walks & Side Step
Quarter Turn to Right and Left
Optional extras
Continuous Rock Turn
Forward Walks & Side Step turned to Promenade
Jazz Box Ronde
Natural Pivot Turn
Promenade Chasse
Promenade to Counter Promenade Swivels
Side Taps
Turn using Tipple Chasses & Locks (Tipple – Lock – Tipple – Lock)
Underarm Turn/Continuous Underarm Turn (both followed by Side Taps)
Zig Zag
Easy corner figure
‘Bend’ the basic around the corner
Rock Turn
-
Short & simple combinations
Quarter Turn to Right - Progressive Chasse - Forward Lock
Quarter Turn to Right - V6 - Tipple Chasse to Left
Fishtail without turn - Natural Hesitation - Chasse Reverse Turn
Easy corner figures for beginners
Natural Pivot Turn
Forward Lock – Tipple Chasse to Left – 2-4 Tipple Chasse to Right at a corner – 2-4 Forward Lock Lock
Natural Spin Turn (underturned at a corner)
Natural Turn – 2-4 Back Lock – Running Finish
Zig Zag - Back Lock - Running Finish
Fundamental figures for the social dance floor
Basics: Quarter Turn to Right, Progressive Chasse
Change of Direction
Chasse Reverse Turn
Contra Check
Cross Chasse
Cross Swivel
Double Reverse Spin
Fallaway Reverse Turn & Slip Pivot
Fishtail (with or without turn)
Foxtrot Figures: Curved Feather, Curved Feather from Promenade Position, Back Feather
Hover Corte
Impetus: Closed Impetus, Open Impetus
Locks: Forward, Backward, Turning Lock to Right
Natural Pivot Turn
Natural Spin Turn, Underturned Natural Spin Turn
Natural Turn at a corner
Natural Turn - Back Lock - Running Finish
Natural Turn with Hesitation
Outside Change
Outside Spin, Underturned Outside Spin
Oversway
Passing Natural Turn
Progressive Chasse to Right
Quarter Turn to Left
Quick Open Reverse Turn
Quick Runs: Four Quick Run, Six Quick Run
Reverse Pivot
Rumba Cross
Running Cross Chasse
Running Finish
Running Right Turn
Telemark: Closed Telemark, Open Telemark
Tipple Chasses: Tipple Chasse to Left, Tipple Chasse to Right along side of room, Tipple Chasse to Right at a corner
Tipsys: Tipsy to Right, Tipsy to Left
V6
Wing
Zig-Zag - Back Lock - Running Finish
-
Short & simple combinations
Walks – Progressive Link – Closed Promenade
Progressive Link - Open Promenade - Outside Swivels
Walks to diag. centre – Basic Reverse Turn – Brush Tap
Easy corner figures for beginners
Walks
Five Step
Natural Twist Turn
Fundamental figures for the social dance floor
Back Corte
Back Open Promenade
Brush Tap
Chase
Closed Promenade, Open Promenade
Contra Check
Fallaway Promenade
Fallaway Reverse Turn & Slip Pivot
Fans
Five Step, Reverse Five Step
Four Step, Four Step Change, Fallaway Four Step
Natural Promenade Turn
Natural Promenade Turn to Natural Rock Turn
Natural Rock Turn
Natural Twist Turn
Outside Spin, Underturned Outside Spin
Outside Swivels: to Right, to Left, Reverse Outside Swivel
Oversway
Passing Natural
Progressive Link
Progressive Side Step, Progressive Side Step Reverse Turn
Promenade Link
Quarter Beats
Reverse Pivot
Reverse Turns: Basic Reverse Turn, Closed or Open finishes, Open Reverse Turn Follower In Line, Open Reverse Turn Follower Outside
Rocks
Telemark: Closed Telemark, Open Telemark
Walks
Whisks: Whisk, Back Whisk
Wing
-
Foundation
Continuous Closed Changes – Turning Box Step at a corner
The Social Waltz: 1/4 turns (Closed Change, ¼ turn, Closed Change, ¼ turn)
Turning Waltz: 3/8 turns (Closed Change, Natural Turn, Closed Change, Reverse Turn)
Short & simple combinations
Whisk – Chasse – Natural Turn
1-3 Reverse Turn (underturned) – Weave in Waltz Time – Forward Lock
Natural Hesitation - Progressive Chasse to R (to centre) - Outside Change
Easy corner figures for beginners
Turning box step for complete beginners
Natural Turn with Hesitation
Natural Spin Turn (underturned)
Fundamental figures for the social dance floor
Chasses: Chasse from Promenade Position, Progressive Chasse to Right
Closed Change: Left Foot Closed Change (Reverse to Natural), Right Foot Closed Change (Natural to Reverse)
Contra Check
Double Reverse Spin
Drag Hesitation
Fallaway Natural Turn
Fallaway Reverse Turn & Slip Pivot
Foxtrot figures: Curved Feather, Curved Feather from Promenade Position, Back Feather, Curved Three Step
Hover Corte
Impetus: Closed Impetus, Open Impetus, Open Impetus followed by Wing, Open Impetus followed by Cross Hesitation, Open Impetus followed by Weave
Locks: Forward, Backward, Turning to the Left or Right
Natural Turn
Natural Turn with Hesitation
Outside Change
Outside Spin, Underturned Outside Spin
Oversway
Passing Natural Turn
Reverse Corte
Reverse Pivot
Reverse Turn
Running Finish
Spin Turns: Natural Spin Turn, Underturned Natural Spin Turn, Running Spin Turn
Telemark: Closed Telemark, Open Telemark, Open Telemark followed by Wing, Open Telemark followed by Cross Hesitation
Weaves: Weave in Waltz Time, Weave from Promenade Position, Whisk followed by Weave
Whisks: Whisk, Back Whisk, Fallaway Whisk, Left Whisk, Whisk followed by Weave
Wings: Closed Wing, Wing from Promenade Position
-
Basic Viennese Waltz
Natural Turns – Backward Change – Reverse Turns – Forward Change
Corner figure
Underturn the second half of a Natural Turn
Beginners Fleckerl
Natural Turns to centre – Natural Fleckerls – Natural Turns to rejoin line of dance
Reverse Turns to centre - Reverse Fleckerls - Reverse Turns to rejoin line of dance
-
Check back soon!
-
Check back soon!
-
Short & simple combinations
Close Basic - Underarm Turn to Right - New Yorkers
Time Steps - Spot Turn - Three Cha Cha Chas
Close Basic - The Fan - Hockey Stick
Easy ways to link figures
Spot Turn
Underarm Turn
Fundamental figures for the social dance floor
Alemana
Basics: Time Step, Closed Basic, Open Basic, Cross Basic
Checks / New Yorkers
Cuban Breaks & Split Cuban Breaks
Curl
Fan
Follow My Leader
Hand to Hand
Hip Twist: Closed, Open
Hockey Stick
Natural Top
Rope Spinning
Shoulder to Shoulder
Spot Turns
Sweetheart
Underarm Turns
Three Cha Cha Chas
Turkish Towel
-
Short & simple combinations
Basics – Underarm Turn – Hip Bumps
Fallaway Throwaway - Change of Hands Behind The Back – American Spin
Mooch – Turning Basics – Promenade Walks Slow & Quick
Fundamental figures for the social dance floor
American Spin
Basics: Basic in Place, Basic in Fallaway, Turning Basics
Change of Hands Behind The Back
Chicken Walks
Drunken Sailors
Fallaway Throwaway (can be overturned)
Flick Ball Change
Flicks into Break
Hip Bump
Jive Break
Laird Break
Link
Promenade Walks: Slow, Quick
Rolling off the Arm
Simple Spin
Spanish Arms
Stop & Go
Toe-Heel-Swivels: Slow, Quick
Underarm Turns: Change of Place from Right - Left, Change of Place from Left - Right (can be overturned)
Whip: Single, Double Cross, Double Cross Throwaway, Curly, Reverse
Windmill
Additional social figures
Backward Walks
Basket
Chugging
Coca Rola
Miami Special
Peek - a - Boo
Rock & Stomp / Rock & Points
Sliding Doors
Performance routines popular on the social dance floor
Rockabilly Jive (solo)
-
Short & simple combinations
Sur Place (ended in Promenade Position) - Huit - Promenade Close
Sur Place (ended in Promenade Position) - Spanish Line - Flamenco Taps - Spanish Line ending
Fallaway Whisk / Ecart - Promenade Close - Twist Turn
Chasse to Left ended in Promenade Position - Grand Circle - Sur Place
Easy ways to link figures
Sur Place or Basic Movement
Fundamental figures for the social dance floor
Appel
Attack
Banderillas
Basic Movement
Chasses: Left ended in Promenade Position, Right
Chasse Cape
Coupe de Pique
Drag
Elevations to Right
Fallaway Reverse Turn
Fallaway Whisk / Ecart
Farol
Flamenco Taps
Fregolina
Grand Circle
Huit
La Passe
Promenade
Promenade Close
Promenade to Counter Promenade
Separation, Separation to Fallaway Whisk, Separation with Caping Walks, Syncopated Separation
Sixteen
Spanish Line
Sur Place
Travelling Spins
Twist Turn
Twists
-
Short & simple combinations
Basics - Underarm Turn to Right - Alternative Basics - Cuban Rock
Time Steps - Checks - Underarm Turn to Left - Underarm Turn to Right
Underarm Turn to Right - Side Steps & Cucarachas - Fan
Easy ways to link figures
Spot Turn
Underarm Turn
Fundamental figures for the social dance floor
Aida / Fallaway
Alemana
Basics: Close Basic, Alternative Basic
Checks / New Yorkers
Cuban Rocks
Cucarachas
Cuddles / Opening Out to Right & Left
Curl
Fencing
Hand to Hand
Hockey Stick
Hip Twist: Closed, Open
Rope Spinning
Rumba Walks
Shoulder to Shoulder
Side Steps & Cucarachas
Sliding Doors
Spiral
Spot Turn
Three Alemanas
Three Threes
Top: Natural, Reverse
Underarm Turns
-
Short & simple combinations
Basics – Dropped Voltas – Samba Locks in Open Promenade Position
Stationary Samba Walks – Whisks to Left & Right – Basics
Reverse Turn - Samba Side Chasses - Volta Spot Turn to Right for follower - Samba Whisk
Promenade Bota Fogo – Side Samba Walk – Shadow Bota Fogos – Travelling Voltas
Fundamental figures for the social dance floor
Basics: Natural, Progressive, Reverse
Botafogos: Contra, Promenade, Shadow, Travelling
Carioca Runs
Circular Voltas
Corta Jaca
Cruzados Walks & Locks
Natural Roll
Plait
Promenade to Counter Promenade Runs
Reverse Turn
Rocks: Backward, Close, Open
Rolling Off The Arm
Rhythm Bounce
Samba Locks
Samba Side Chasses
Samba Walks: Promenade, Side, Stationary
Three Step Turn
Voltas: Circular, Continuous Volta Spot Turn (Maypole), Dropped, Volta Spot Turn, Travelling
Whisks
Performance routines popular on the social dance floor
Samba Party Dance
-
Some popular sequence dances we have taught in our classes and events so far include:
Balmoral Blues
Bellissimo Cha Cha Cha
Caribbean Calypso
Charleston Line Dance
Charleston Rag
Gainsborough Glide
Heel-Toe Polka
King Charles Waltz
Mayfair Quickstep
Melody Foxtrot
Ria Bachata
Rosalie Rumba
Rumba One
Sally Ann Cha Cha
Samba Party Dance
Saunter Together
Sindy Swing
Square Tango
St Bernard's Waltz
Sweetheart Waltz
Veleta
Viennese Swing
Wedgewood Blue Gavotte
Here are the names of the main popular sequence dances that I believe are danced in our area, along with the years they were published:
Popular Classical Sequence: Alpine Stroll (2006), Balmoral Blues (1971), Boston Two Step (1908), Gainsborough Glide (1950), Invitation Swing (1983), Kensington Two Step (date?), Lilac Waltz (1951), Military Two Step (1904), Premier Two Step (1958), Ragtime Swing (1969), Rialto Two Step (1962), Saunter Reve (1961), Saunter Shiraz (2008), Saunter Together (1975), Sindy Swing (1984), Square Tango (1920), St Bernard’s Waltz (1913), Stardust Saunter (1999), Sweetheart Waltz (1945), Tango Serida (1961), Tayside Tango (2003), Veleta (1900), Viennese Swing (1973), Waltz Catherine (1953), Waltz Marie (1948), Waverley Two Step (1956), Wedgewood Blue Gavotte (1959), Yearning Saunter (1919).
Popular Modern Sequence: Broadway Quickstep (1957) Emmerdale Waltz (1979) Glenroy Foxtrot (1976) Hoabie Quickstep (2013) Iris Foxtrot (1958) King Charles Waltz (2023) Mayfair Quickstep (1956), Melody Foxtrot (1964), Platinum Waltz (2022) Quando Quickstep (1979), Sweetheart Waltz (1945) Tina Tango (1986) White City Waltz (1993), Woodside Waltz (1964) Waltz Catherine (1956).
Popular Latin Sequence: Bellissimo Cha Cha (2011), Blue Angel Rumba (2006) Caribbean Samba (2010) Let’s Jive (1993) Midnight Jive (2010) Nikko Paso (2001) Paso La Paz (2008), Paso Madrid (1964) Queen of Hearts Rumba (1997) Rumba One (1971), Rosalie Rumba (1966) Sally Ann Cha Cha (1973),Samba Katrina (1972), Valentino Jive (date?).
Some extra sequence dances it is useful to know:
Party Sequence: Charleston Line Dance (1995), Charleston Rag (date?), Eva Three Step (1904), Heel-Toe Polka (date?), Palais Glide (1928), Samba Party Dance (date?).
Other Sequence: Argentine Stroll (2011) Caribbean Calypso (Bachata) (date?), Mambo Magic (1997), Metronome (Bachata) (2024), Ria Bachata (2019), Salsa Mexicana (2011).
Also, it may be handy to be aware of these dances for other social occasions:
Dashing White Sergeant (1826), Lancers Quadrille (1817).
-
Short and simple combinations
Check back soon!
Performance routines popular on the social dance floor
Hound Dog Blues
-
Short and simple combinations
Check back soon!
Performance routines popular on the social dance floor
Killer Boogie
-
Foundation
1920s Charleston: Tap-Step with foot swivel
1930s Charleston: 8-count with swinging kick actions
1920s Charleston: short & simple combinations (partnered)
Basics - Switch Turn - Skates - Cow Tail (or taps)
8-count Underarm Turn - Hand to Hand - Switch Turn
Scarecrow - Itches - Waterfall - Granny’s Kneecaps
1930s Charleston: short & simple combinations
Check back soon!
Performance routines popular on the social dance floor
Charleston Line Dance (solo)
Charleston Rag (partnered)
Sing Lim Charleston (solo)
-
Short and simple combinations
Check back soon!
Performance routines popular on the social dance floor
Shim Sham
Other performance routines
Big Apple
The Lindy Chorus
California Routine
Jitterbug Stroll
Mama’s Stew
New York Stroll
Sing Lim Charleston
Swing Stroll
Tranky Doo
Trickeration
