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The whisk is a ballroom dance step used in the waltz and American style Viennese waltz . It is one of several ways to get into promenade position and is used to turn dancers around corners or change their direction on the dance floor. It can be performed after a reverse turn .[ 1]
As in most waltz steps, the body rises starting at the end of the second beat and lowers on the end of the third. There is a sway to the left from the man's point of view, starting on the second beat.
Leader (man)
Beat
Foot position
Alignment
Amount of turn
Footwork
1
Left foot forward
Facing diagonal wall
None
Heel – toe
2
Right foot to side and slightly forward
Facing diagonal wall
Slight body turn to right between 1 and 2
Toe
3
Left foot crosses behind right foot into promenade position (PP)
Facing diagonal wall
None
Toe – heel
Follower (lady)
Beat
Foot position
Alignment
Amount of turn
Footwork
1
Right foot back
Backing diagonal wall
None
Toe – heel
2
Left foot diagonally back
Pointing diagonal center
1 ⁄4 between 1 and 2, body turns slightly less
Toe
3
Right foot crosses behind left foot into PP
Facing diagonal center, body turned slightly to left
None
Toe – heel
[ 2]
The back whisk is a variation on the basic whisk. It is very similar to the basic whisk except that it progresses backward rather than forward.
Leader (man)
Follower (lady)
Beat
Foot position
Alignment
Amount of turn
Footwork
1
Right foot forward in CBMP
Facing diagonal center against LOD
Begin to turn right
Heel – toe
2
Left foot to side
Facing center
1 ⁄8 between 1 and 2
Toe
3
Right foot crosses behind left foot into PP
Facing diagonal center
1 ⁄8 between 2 and 3
Toe – heel
[ 3]
The left whisk is a Gold syllabus variation on the whisk. There are at least three versions of the left whisk. One begins in promenade position with the couple moving forward on the first beat. The second starts in closed position with the man moving backward on the right foot. The third is a left whisk on the first beat.[ 4]
Left whisk from promenade position [ edit ]
Leader (man)
Beat
Foot position
Alignment
Amount of turn
Footwork
1
Right foot forward and across in PP and CBMP
Facing diagonal wall , moving along line of dance
Heel
2
Left foot to side and slightly forward
Pointing diagonal wall
Body start to turn left
Toe – heel
3
Right foot crosses behind left foot
Facing diagonal wall
Body turn to left
Toe
Follower (lady)
Beat
Foot position
Alignment
Amount of turn
Footwork
1
Left foot forward and across in PP and CBMP
Facing diagonal center , moving along line of dance
Start to turn left
Heel – toe
2
Right foot to side and slightly back
Backing diagonal wall
1 ⁄4 between 1 and 2
Toe – heel
3
Left foot back in CBMP
Backing line of dance
1 ⁄8 between 2 and 3
Toe – heel
[ 5]