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Footwork6 minutes

Closing your feet in the Waltz: on three, with no gap left

By Bernhard De LucaUpdated

In short
  • In closed Waltz steps, bring your free foot fully alongside your supporting foot on three.
  • Your feet then stand next to each other, without deliberately leaving a gap or forcing them together.
  • As you close, transfer your weight onto the foot you brought in and release the other foot.
  • First practise solo with a familiar sequence, then bring the complete closing step into the partnership.

A small remaining gap may seem insignificant, but it leaves unclear which foot is actually supporting your body. A simple exercise makes this difference tangible, without requiring you to learn a new move.

What you need for the exercise

  • A familiar waltz sequence with feet closing on three
  • A flat, dry floor with enough clear space
  • Well-fitting shoes without overly grippy soles
  • The count of one, two, three
  • A stable support for the first weight test

Closing means bringing your feet together and transferring your weight

A closing step is a step in its own right, not just bringing your foot up. After the second step, your weight is initially on the foot you landed on. The other foot is free and can be brought in. On three, this free foot comes alongside the foot bearing your weight and takes your weight. If your shoes are next to each other but you are still standing on the same foot as before, the movement is not yet complete.

Fully closed means side by side, not pressed together. Use the inside edge of your standing foot as a guide. Depending on the shape of your shoes, they may touch lightly or stand right next to each other. Don’t force them into hard contact or twist your feet just to make the edges of the soles line up everywhere. A foot that ends noticeably behind the other is not a clean close either.

This exercise applies only to places where your familiar figure calls for a regular foot close. Not every third step in Waltz closes. You can find out how to tell the difference in the introduction to both Waltzes; you can find more figures in the Slow Waltz section. Crossing your feet in certain parts of the Viennese Waltz, on the other hand, is a different foot action and isn’t covered in this exercise.

Even a loose shoe can feel snug, even though your foot still shifts sideways inside it.
Even a loose shoe can feel snug, even though your foot still shifts sideways inside it.

Practice closing your feet fully in seven steps

  1. Choose a suitable point

    Choose exactly one bar from a sequence you know, where the third step closes. Decide which foot bears your weight on two and which foot comes in on three; for now, always use the same side so you don’t switch between different tasks.

  2. Stop after the second step

    Dance steps one and two slowly, then stop after two. If needed, lightly hold onto a stable support and briefly take the weight off the other foot; it needs to be free to move before you can bring it in to close.

  3. Bring the free foot alongside

    On the imagined count of three, bring the free foot directly beside the supporting foot. Don’t leave an intentional gap or cross the inside edge; the foot should end beside it, not in front, behind, or crossed over.

  4. Briefly check the final position

    Stay still for this check and look down: Both shoes should be side by side, aligned lengthwise. Correct any remaining gap during this practice pause, but remember the complete final position for your next attempt without making further adjustments.

  5. Take on the full weight

    Put your weight on the brought-in foot and take it off the foot you were standing on. Briefly lift the sole of that foot off the floor with support, without shifting sideways. If you can do that, you can use this foot for the next planned step.

  6. Practice the other side on its own

    Repeat the same sequence at a familiar point where the other foot closes. Guide it directly to its target spot and transfer your weight there; on both sides, the closing step should work without an extra adjustment step.

  7. Apply the closing step with a partner

    Dance the selected section now with your dance partner, counting slowly. Each person performs their own closing step, then pause to check, without pulling each other by the hands onto the new supporting foot.

These corrections help with the closing step

That's right

  • Bring the moving foot next to the supporting foot
  • Finish with light contact or close proximity
  • After placing the foot, shift your weight onto the foot you brought in
  • Check during the learning break, then dance upright again

Not like this

  • Leave your foot just in front of your supporting foot
  • Press your shoes hard against each other
  • Put weight on both feet and don't free the next foot
  • Stare at your shoes throughout the entire sequence

This is how to tell what level you're at

Before the first run-through

Selection

After Solo Practice

Check

After the partner test

Application

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. A light touch is possible, but you don't have to press your shoes together. What matters is that they end up directly next to each other, without a deliberately open gap. Wide sole edges may touch before your feet inside the shoes do, so the shape of the shoes alone doesn't prove that your feet are fully closed.

Standard dance classes for your Waltz technique

In a standard dance class, you can keep practicing the closing step within the Waltz figures you already know.

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Practice your foot closure together

On udansa, you can find dance partners to practice familiar Waltz sequences with. Arrange a short practice session to work on the closing direction you’re still unsure about, at your own pace.

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Practice your foot closure together

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