The main distinction between the old and new style may be concisely summed up as follows: In the old style, the slide of the left foot in beat one, and the right in beat four, is sideways and partially turning at the same time; in the new style, the glide of the left foot in beat one is exactly backward, and that of the right in beat four is exactly forward in a straight line, without a “shadow of turning,” the turn being confined solely to beats two, three, and five, six.
Waltz music contains three beats in a measure, the first of the three being accented. The waltz step consists of six movements, one to each beat of the music, thus occupying two measures. The rhythm of the step corresponds to the rhythm of the music. Thus the first and fourth movements are accented.
The following are the various steps for the gentlemen, but the ladies have the same steps, though they begin with the fourth step and right foot, and continue with the fifth and sixth, and go on to the first without changing; thus the gentleman is executing one, two, three, while the lady executes four, five, six; this continues without variation throughout the waltz.
FIRST STEP.
Take the third position, right foot in front. Glide the left foot directly backward about twelve inches (fourth position).
SECOND STEP.
Pass the right foot two or three inches behind the left heel, at the same time turning on the ball of each foot count two.
THIRD STEP.
Complete the turn by bringing the right foot front in the third position; count three.