The Modern Dances/Chapter 5
The Walking Boston
The Walking Boston, sometimes designated the One Step Waltz, is a very simple dance in which many graceful figures may be introduced. It is done to the same music as the Hesitation Waltz and Dream Waltz.
Position, as shown in Illustration I.
The man starts forward with his left foot and the lady backward with her right, simply walking to waltz time, counting one, two, three to each step. At each step rise on the toes. Four of these steps are taken forward (backward by the lady), then balance backward and forward. As you balance make a quarter turn to the man's right to the one, two, three count of the music—four of these quarter turns making the complete revolution. Throughout this turn the man keeps his right foot and the lady her left on the floor, using it as a pivot on which to turn.
Now the man steps backward with his left foot and the lady forward with her right, taking four steps. Then balance, and instead of four quarter turns to the one, two, three count of the music, make two half turns in the same time.
A word now as to balancing, for you will do a great deal of it in the Walking Boston, and the dance cannot be performed easily or gracefully unless the balancing is done properly. Balancing means throwing the weight of the body successively onto one foot and then on the other. This is done with one foot well in advance of the other. Get plenty of swing into your action. Swing forward. Swing backward. And right here take warning! In balancing onto the forward foot, the backward foot should barely leave the floor, and in no event should it be brought forward. And in balancing onto the backward foot the forward foot should not be brought backward.
The above are the fundamental figures of the Walking Boston. There is no rule governing the number of steps to be taken forward or back, the number of times to balance, or the number of turns to be made. This is left entirely to the pleasure of the dancers. I have mentioned four in the preceding instructions merely to get you started.
Other Walking Boston Figures
The fundamental figures may be varied by skipping, the man on his left foot, the lady on her right. This skipping step is made by the man on his left foot only, and by the lady on her right only, thus making every other step a skipping step. Do not attempt to skip in balancing or turning.
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Illustration 11
Four steps are taken forward, dipping on the fourth step (see Illustration 11), then back four steps and turn.
Position, as shown in Illustration 6.
Couple starts forward, the man with his left foot and the lady with her right, taking three steps, making a little skip as the third step is taken; this skip is on the man's right foot and the lady's left; now balance twice, then repeat.
Position, as shown in Illustration 6.
The man starts forward with his left foot and the lady with her right, taking five steps forward, skipping on each step. Balance twice, then turn the body around without changing the position of the arms and take four steps in the opposite direction (see Illustration 12), skipping on each step as before; then turn as described previously.
I suggest the turn after each of the figures, but the order of the figures is optional with the dancers.
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Illustration 12
¶ 1. Both starting with the left foot, take four steps forward; on the fifth step, change position, the man crossing over behind the lady without releasing the hands or losing a step; three more steps forward and then cross back again; then three more steps forward. In other words, this is merely twelve steps forward, changes of position being made on the fifth and ninth steps. Completion of these twelve steps should leave you in the same position as at the start.
¶ 2. Now, without losing a step or getting out of time with the music, both take one step straight to the side with the left foot, then backward with the right foot and dip (see Illustration 4). Again sideways with the left foot and backward with the right and dip, and so on for ten or twelve steps, keeping on a straight line to the left.
¶ 3. Repeat ¶ 1.
¶ 4. Keeping the same position as in Illustration 3, do the Grape Vine, dipping on the backward step.