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.
| 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
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.
| Beat | Foot position | Alignment | Amount of turn | Footwork |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Left foot back in contra body movement position (CBMP) | Backing diagonal center against line of dance (LOD) | None | Toe – heel |
| 2 | Right foot diagonally back | Backing diagonal center against LOD | None | Toe |
| 3 | Left foot crosses behind right foot into PP | Facing diagonal wall | None | Toe – heel |
| 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 | between 1 and 2 | Toe |
| 3 | Right foot crosses behind left foot into PP | Facing diagonal center | between 2 and 3 | Toe – heel |
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 on the right foot. The third is a left whisk on the first beat.[4]
| 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 |
| 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 | between 1 and 2 | Toe – heel |
| 3 | Left foot back in CBMP | Backing line of dance | between 2 and 3 | Toe – heel |