WZ Lesson 2--"Mission Bell Waltz"

Prerequisite: Lesson 1

~ MISSION BELL WALTZ ~

An easy true waltz (not a learning exercise) is the classic Mission Bell Waltz.

Easy Phase 2 WZ Link to CUE SHEET Tips on how to read cue sheets

Q-TIP: Why have Cue Sheets? They are meant for use by cuers, not dancers; but are provided as a

convenience for those who find it easier to learn from printed word than from observation.

STEP 1: Observe the dance.

Sample 1. Source: J.Miller Channel

STEP 2: Investigating the Cues.

Instead of WZ AWY & TOGETHER [TOG], the TOG has an overturn,

so that each dancer ends up facing Reverse Line of Dance [RLOD].

So the cue would be: WZ AWY; TURN IN;

The TURN IN is to LEFT OPEN position. That means that the leader is on the left side of the follower.

Then there is a BACK UP WZ (so go BACK, BACK, CLOSE),

followed in the next measure by a BACK, DRAW, TOUCH.

That BACK is a placement step backward, but both the DRAW and the TOUCH are action steps,

so they do not take weight.

CAUTION NOTE: Some cuers will replace the TOUCH with POINT [PT],

meaning to use the toe to point behind you at the conclusion of the BACK, DRAW.

So the cue would be BK UP WZ; BK, DRW, TCH. (or some cuers would say BK UP WZ; BK, DRW, PT)

Then dance a pair of TWINKLES [TWK].

TWINKLE = CROSS, SIDE, CLOSE—usually turning slightly in the direction of body movement.

--VIDEO Cue Teach: Various TWINKLES. Source: carrol4373 Channel

Next is a TWIRL/VINE. The follower TWIRLS while the leader VINES in 3 steps.

For the TWIRL, the follower turns under the leader’s arm in three steps while travelling down line.

VINE = SIDE, CROSS IN BACK, SIDE [SD, XIB, SD]

Then there is a THRU, FACE, CLOSE [THRU, FAC, CLS]

THRU = both dancers cross in front [XIF]

FACE = step sideways down line to end up squared in front of partner

Q-TIP: each measure of music is separated by a semi-colon;

each beat within a measure is separated by a coma.

So, that is all of the first part--Part A--of the dance.

Part A:

WZ AWY; TURN IN; BK UP WZ; BK, DRW, TCH;

TWK to reverse; TWK to face;

TWRL/VIN 3; THRU, FAC, CLS;

The second part only has a few cues since four measures are used by the LEFT TURNING BOX.

Part B:

BAL L&R; ; TWRL/VIN 3; THRU, FAC, CLS; LEFT TURNING BOX; ; ; ;

So the box is turning to the leader’s left with a TURN, SD, CLS four times (once for each wall).

--VIDEO Cue Teach: LEFT TURNING BOX Source: carrol4373 Channel

That is the entire dance. Part A followed by Part B three times.

So the sequence is: A B A B A B

STEP 3: Practicing and Polishing Performance. Cue Variations.

The following clip includes some closeups of footwork.

Sample 2. Practicing in Hawaii. Cued by Dan. Source: J.Miller Channel

Sample 3. Slow and easy. Cued by P.Stultz. Source: O.Deckard Channel

SAMPLE 4. (With POINT, not TOUCH) Source: J.Miller Channel

[Note that some of the dancers incorrectly attempt to POINT forward instead of backward.]

Bonus Example.

Sample 5: Dancing in Japan. (POINT version) Source: 中華民國方塊舞協會格主

After learning the various steps used in Mission Bell Waltz, move on to Lesson 3