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Recording: LS 45-402
Music: "Nights of Gladness" by Ancliffe.
This is possibly the very simplest of waltzes in Viennese tempo. It
is a joyous little dance, and has a winsome quality that has
endeared it to both expert waltzers and casual square dancers. It is
discussed on p 216 of "The Round Dance Book."
Position: Open, near hands joined, facing LOD.
Footwork: Opposite throughout. Instructions for man, woman does
opposite steps.
Introduction: 8 meas of fast waltz. Standard acknowledgment on
the last meas.
Measures
1-4 STEP, SWING, ; STEP, SWING, ; STEP, SWING, ;
(BACK-TO-BACK) STEP, SWING-TOUCH
Man steps twd LOD on his L foot, and, pivoting outward,
swings R foot fwd (also swinging joined hands fwd); man
steps fwd on his R and, pivoting slightly inward, swings his
L foot fwd (swinging joined hands bwd); man steps fwd on
his L and swings his R foot (and joined hands) fwd,
pivoting so partners are almost back-to-back; man steps on
R completing the pivot so he is completely back-to-back
with his partner and lets L foot swing into a "touch" pos,
next to the supporting R foot.
5-8 STEP, , DRAW; STEP, , DRAW; STEP, SWING
AROUND, ; STEP, TOUCH,
In back-to-back pos, man steps twd RLOD on L, holds, and
draws R to L; repeat; man steps on L and letting go with his
R hand, swings his R foot out and around, doing a L-face
pivot on his L foot so he is again facing his partner (woman
opp); face-to-face, partners join both hands, as man step on
R and touches L to R.
9-12 STEP, SWING, ; STEP, SWING, ; SIDE, , BEHIND;
SIDE, SWING,
Partners face-to-face, both hands joined, man steps twd
LOD on L and swings R across; man steps twd RLOD on R
and swings L across R; steps twd LOD on L, holds one
count, steps behind L on R; (These two meas make a
cantered grapevine) man steps twd LOD on L again and
swings R across L.
13-16 STEP, SWING, ; STEP, SWING, ; SIDE, , BEHIND;
SIDE, SWING,
Repeat meas 9-12 in reverse, starting twd RLOD on man's
R foot. On the last meas, open out to face LOD in open pos.
17-24 REPEAT MEAS 1-8
On the last meas, close up into closed dance pos, pivoting
so that man is facing LOD or nearly so.
25-32 DIP, , ; PAT, , ; WALTZ FOR 6 MEASURES
Partners in closed pos, man facing approx LOD, man steps
bwd twd RLOD on his L foot and holds 2 counts (woman
dips fwd on her R with L leg arched behind her) while he
keeps his R foot off the floor and held with a straight leg;
man pats R foot lightly straight in front of him and lifts it
again and holds 2 counts; stepping fwd in LOD on man's R,
do 6 meas of R-face turning waltz, ending with a "step,
step" on the last meas, twirling the woman into pos to
repeat the dance.
Sequence: The entire dance is done 4 times. On the last time
through, twirl the woman on the 5th meas of waltz, and end with a
bow and curtsey.
Variation: Dancers may omit the DIP and PAT on meas 25 and 26,
if they prefer and go directly into 8 meas of turning waltz. The dip
and pat is much more fun.
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