Do you know lots of dance figures but sometimes feel unsure of how to put them together on the dance floor? This page is intended to help dancers deal with this problem. On it we list some amalgamations that work, given to us by professional instructors.

The syllabus dance figures are made up of basic elements that fit together well. An Underarm turn is an element. So are a Crossover Break, a Slip Pivot, a Tango Close, and a Twinkle. The (Foxtrot) Promenade Twist Turn, the (Rumba) Wraparound, and the (Tango) Contra Rocks are figures made up of basic elements, arranged so that one element follows another nicely.

There is more than one syllabus (at least for American Style dancing), so there is no single "right" way to dance. Somebody made up the syllabus figures; they are just combinations of elements that happen to work together. You can make up your own (if you can lead it, gentlemen).

After you dance a figure, what can you do next? Or one level lower, after you dance an element, what can you do next? That's what this page is for. It contains amalgamations: sequences of elements (dance figures), and sequences of syllabus dance figures, that work.

We welcome contributions from any and all instructors.

You can see details of at quite a few (recently they have greatly increased what they offer) patterns on the BallroomDancers.com website. It isn't a substitute for an instructor (a website can't watch you and point out your mistakes), but many people find it helpful to be able to review the details of a particular dance figure when there is no instructor around. This website has details of the steps, and even videos.

• 1/2 Basic (man turns 1/4 R, lady turns 1/4 L at end)
• Begin Traveling Crosses
  • 1 step in CPP (open side by side, lead hand hold)
  • 2 steps of Grapevine (end facing, 2-hand hold)
• Continue Traveling Crosses
  • 3rd step of Grapevine (end backing in direction of motion; man's R hand holds lady's L hand)
  • back rock
• Cross Unwind (Twist Turn)
  • inside foot crosses in front of other foot
  • unwind (end facing, 2-hand hold)
• 1/2 Basic
• Open Break
• Natural Underarm Turn (man continues Basic while leading turn)
• Hip Lift

• 1/2 Basic
• Open Break
• Underarm Pass

• Open Break
• Lunge to Side leading Natural Underarm Turn
• Hip Lift

Frank showed how this amalgamation, with minor modifications, could also be danced in Waltz (actually he taught it in Waltz first) and Rumba.

• 1/2 Basic
• Open Break (end in handshake hold)
• Man leads lady across to Sweetheart position and couple begins turning R
• 3 steps of "Wheel" (man forward, lady back, turning R)
• Man leads lady in pivot, and walks 2 steps forward toward her as she walks backward
• 1/2 Basic
• Add 2 measures of something, since Bolero patterns usually involve 8 measures (to match the music)

The following amalgamations can be danced separately or in sequence.

• Basic Movement (2 measures)
• Open Break (2 measures, consisting of steps 1-3 of the Basic Movement, then the break itself)
• Natural Underarm Turn
• Crossover Breaks (2 measures, to man's R and L)
• Apart Turns (man turns R, lady turns L)
• Cross Body Lead
• Open Break (the break itself), switching to Handshake Hold
• Passing Changes (4 measures)
  • Each partner does:
    • Forward step (past partner, becomes side step due to turn) turning to facing, switch hands to Handshake with other hands (S)
    • Back Rock (QQ)
• Natural Underarm Turn (man leads turn with "wrong" hand)
• Come to Closed Position and do 1/2 Basic or Hip Lift

If not continuing with Amalgamation 2, end Amalgamation 1 as above.
If continuing, last measure of Amalgamation 1 is an Open Break (the break itself), and the partners retain Handshake Hold.

• Sit Line movement
  • Man's L foot side, turning to R, leading lady forward on her R foot to swivel to L;
      man places hands on lady's back (S)
  • man replaces to R foot, turning lady to R as a switch turn (Q)
  • Man's L foot forward, leading lady to step back, and change to Handshake Hold (Q)
• Open Break (man breaks forward OP on lady's L side)
• Natural Underarm Turn (again led with "worng" hand), overturned, ending with Cross Hands Hold, R over L
• Advanced Opening Out Movement
• Lead lady to Outside Swivel and Cross Body Lead
• Crossover Break (ending with R hands passing over man's hand and let go
• Natural Underarm Turn (ending with L hands over man's head and let go)
• 5th Position Break in Apart Position

• Basic Movement or Cross Body Lead (2 measures)
• Open Break (2 measures)
• Natural Underarm Turn overturned with lady at right angle;
    end turn in 2-Hand Hold, arms extended
• Open Break With Arm Variation (also known as "2-Hand Opening Outs")
  • Man closes his feet (S)
  • then sways to L pointing his L foot side without weight (S),
      R arm high, L arm low,
      while leading lady into a back break (her count is QQ)
  • Reverse for a total of 4 measures
• Twist Turn
  • Man crosses his R foot in front of L foot after the last break (S);
      lady starts walking around man
  • Man untwists while lady walks around behind him (QQ).
      He keeps his weight on his R foot
• Underarm Pass (2 measures)

Technique Tips: Always start with the Basic. Begin all changes (such as the change from Side Basic to Progressive Basic) on the (man's) right foot back rock. Insert a Basic or two between figures if necessary to make things work more smoothly.

• Side Basic
• Progressive Basic
• Cross Body Lead

• Variation 1: Continue Cross Body Lead into Reverse Underarm Turn

  Variation 2: Continue further (after turn) into Crossover Break-Underarm Turn Combination

• (optional) Chase Turns (separate to Open Facing Position first)

• Variations: Half Turns, Full Turns, Double Turns

• Cross Triples (attain 2 hand hold first, man picks up lady at end)

• Arm Styling Variation for Cross Triples: Handshake hold, switching hands

• Open Break, Underarm Turn

• Basic Step
• Quarter Turns (Basic Forward and Back with turns)
• Left Rock Turn (turns corner)
• Promenade
• Single Twinkle
• REPEAT

NOTE: The Single Twinkle can also be used to turn the corner.
 

• Quarter Turns Variation (underarm turn to Shadow in PP)
• Check to Open Twinkle (hyperextended)
• Open Grapevine
• Promenade Pivot With Zigzag Twinkles Ending

• Natural Fallaway with Weave From Promenade ending
• Open Right Turn
• Promenade Twinkles (Passing Twinkles)
• Open Left Turn
• REPEAT

NOTES:

1. Modify Twinkles as needed to turn corners.
2. Can add any or all of the following to the amalgamation:
3. • Promenade Chassé
   • Single Wrap
   • Grapevine

Basic Steps or Switches can be inserted as needed between other patterns.

• 2 or 3 Basic Steps
• 2 or 3 Switches (R Side Passes)
• Alternating Underarm Turns Pass (Man Under/Lady Under)
• Swim Pass (Lady Under Ending)
• Arm Over (Shoulder) Cuddle
• • Choose one of two endings:
  • 1. Man turns under crossed hands, then Lady Under
  • 2. Lady does 1-1/2 L Pivot Turns in to Shadow Position, then rolls out (1/2 L)
• Regular (True) Cuddle [Hammerlock] with 1-1/2 L ending
• Wrist Flip (Wrist Toss)
• • NOTE DIFFERENT TIMING (SQQ SQQ)
  • Choose one of two endings:
  • 1. 1-1/2 L ending
  • 2. End Wrist Flip in Handshake Hold and do the following sequence:
  • • 1-1/2 L Pivots, ending with lady's R hand behind her back
    • Man's L hand takes lady's L hand (man's hand in front), and he rolls lady 1/2 turn to R, ending with her L hand behind her back.
    • Drop R hands. Man rolls lady 1-1/2 L, switching hands (man's R hand takes lady's L). End with lady's L hand in front (cuddle).
    • Man rolls lady R, ending in Side by Side Position. Partners switch sides during this maneuver.
    • Man rolls lady 1-1/2 L across his body (R to L), ending in layout. Lady puts her R hand on man's L shoulder. Man supports lady's back with his R hand.
    • (Hold layout position for first count, then) man rolls lady to his R
    • Basic Step ending in dance position (open facing)

This is essentially the same as the Beginner Waltz Amalgamation from the same date (see below), with minor modifications to change it to Rumba. Alignments are less important than for Waltz, since the Rumba pattern has very little progression.

To simplify the transition from Waltz to Rumba, Frank starts the Box with a forward (for the man) S, rather than a Q to the side.

• Progressive Basic With Quarter Turns
• • First Half Left Box
  • First Half Right Box, Turning Right 1/4 Turn
  • Second Half Right Box
  • Second Half Left Box, Turning Left 1/4 Turn
• Repeat Progressive Basic With Quarter Turns
• Forward and Back Balance Steps
  • The forward and back steps are on S beats, and there is a weight change on each Q.
• Forward Balance Step, Open Break
• Come Together and Begin Underarm Turn
  • Partners do Balance Steps toward each other
  • Man does second half of Left Box while leading lady in Natural Underarm Turn
• Box
• Cross Body Lead
  • First half of Left Box
  • Lead lady across, finishing in Closed Position
• REPEAT

This pattern can also be danced in Waltz, with minor modifications.

• Full Basic Box (2 measures)
• Natural Underarm Turn
• Forward and Back Hesitations (step, close and step in place--2 measures)
• Repeat Forward and Back Hesitations
• Side Hesitations--oprional
• REPEAT

This is essentially the same as Amalgamation 3 in Bolero and Waltz, that Frank taught at his June 2006 Berclair classes.

• 1/2 Basic
• Open Break (end in handshake hold)
• Man leads lady across to Sweetheart position and couple begins turning R
• 3 steps of "Wheel" (man forward, lady back, turning R)
• Man leads lady in pivot, and walks 2 steps forward toward her as she walks backward
• 1/2 Basic

• Full Basic Box (2 measures)
• 2 Offset Breaks (starting L side to L side)
• Full Box
• 3 Crossover Breaks
• Natural Underarm Turn (man does 5th Position Break)
• 2 steps in place, forward step
• 2 measures Left Turning Rocks

The lady dances the natural opposite except where otherwise specified.

• First half Box
• Chassé (the first two measures are the typical lead-in to some type of break)
• Crossover Break (3rd step: just step on foot instead of bringing it back)
• Side step (face partner), Cuban Rocks (side rocks--NOT Cucaracha) using 2-hand hold
• Crossover Break (3rd step: just step on foot instead of bringing it back)
• Side step (face partner), Cuban Rocks (side rocks--NOT Cucaracha) using 2-hand hold
• Crossover Break (come back to facing on 3rd step)
• Lady's Natural Underarm Turn or Apart Turns (both partners)

This can be followed by one or more of the following figures (in any order). The leader can insert a Basic Box between figures, if needed to make the transition easier.

• Cradle Circle
• Open Cuban Walk
• Shoulder Check

Desireé combined Offset Breaks (Outside Partner, Shoulder to Shoulder) with Reverse Underarm Turns and built an amalgamation around the combination.

After a Full Box . . .

At this point the couple is ready to repeat this amalgamation, or start any other Rumba pattern.

NOTE 1: Man's R foot moves to 5^th position on S at end of Full Box (measure 2), and he turns ¼ L on the next step.

NOTE 2: Lady's second pivot turn (to facing) can come slightly earlier, in which case she walks 3 steps backward in next-to-last measure.

• Basic A
• Corté
• Reverse Turn (composite figure)
  • 2 walks, curving left
  • Open Left Turn with Closed Ending (feet closed, closed dance position)
    (using International Style terminology this would be called Open Reverse Turn, Lady Outside, Closed Finish)
  • Tango Close
• Promenade B (2 times)
• Open Fan
• REPEAT

NOTE: Open Fan can be done with underarm turn ending (and there are other variations).
 

• Basic A
• Turning Corté
• Right Side Fan
• Turning Corté to Outside Swivel (Fan)
• REPEAT

NOTE: Can use Basic A between any two figures as needed to get into correct alignment.
 

• Quick Count Variation
• Open Left Turn to Quick Fans
• Corté and Throwout
• Rondé to Fan
• Oversway
• Pivots to Open Same Foot Lunge

Start DW

• Progressive Basic With Quarter Turns
  • First Half Left Box
  • First Half Right Box, Turning Right 1/4 Turn
  • Second Half Right Box
  • Second Half Left Box, Turning Left 1/4 Turn
• Repeat Progressive Basic With Quarter Turns, overturning at end to finish LOD
• Forward and Back Balance Steps
• Forward Balance Step, Open Break
• Come Together and Begin Underarm Turn
  • Partners do Balance Steps toward each other
  • Man does second half of Left Box while leading lady in (start of) Natural Underarm Turn
• Finish Turn, Finish Box
  • Man does first half of Left Box, turning 1/4 left to meet lady as she completes Underarm Turn
  • Second half of Left Box
• Cross Body Lead
  • First half of Left Box, turning to Reverse LOD
  • Lead lady across, finishing in Closed Position DW
• REPEAT

NOTE: Alter amounts of turn as needed to turn corners.
 

This pattern can also be danced in Rumba, with minor modifications.

• 1-1/2 Basic Box (3 measures)
• Natural Underarm Turn (2 measures)
• 1/2 Basic
• Forward and Back Hesitations (2 measures)
• Repeat Forward and Back Hesitations (2 measures)
• Side Balances (Hesitations)--optional
• REPEAT

This is the same as measures 1-4 of Frank's November-December 2005 amalgamation (Progressive Basic With Quarter Turns), starting DW. These 4 measures can be repeated to travel around the floor.

This is essentially the same as Frank's Amalgamation 3 in Bolero (Amalgamation 2 in Waltz), from the Berclair classes he taught June 2006.

Start aligned W

• 1/2 box
• Open Break (side, rock step), ending with handshake hold
• Man walks diagonally forward then takes 2 forward steps, while leading lady across to Shadow Position
• 3 steps of "Wheel" (man forward, lady back, turning R)
• Man leads 4th position pivot and walks 2 steps forward toward lady as she walks backward
• Second 1/2 Box

• Half Box turning 1/4 L
• Roll Turn (Apart Turns)--3 forward steps
• Crossover, recover (turn to facing), close
• Side (1/4 R), forward, close (or Forward Hesitation turning 1/4 R)
• Twinkle
• Twinkle Ending

• Check to Open Fallaway
• Curved Three Steps
• Promenade Chassé
• Syncopated Right Underarm Turn
• Oversway
• Single Wrap to Shadow Right Turns
• Spot Turn With Underarm
• Open Left Turn to Cross Swivels
• Fallaway Twist
• Champagne Glide
• Oversway Variation
• Rhythm Break

NOTES:

1. The Curved Three Steps is a good pattern to use to turn the corner.
2. The Curved Three Steps and the Single Twinkle can be inserted as desired between other figures.

• Basic (Sugar Push)
• Left Side Pass
• Right Side Pass
• Cha-Cha Locks
• Sugar Tuck
• Right Side Pass
• Bump Step

Then start over.

• Basic
• Left Side Pass with hand change
• Maxixe
• Reverse Whip (funky hand hold)
• Slingshot (Hustle Step)
• Cheek to Cheek
• Cheek to Cheek
• Tuck
• Tuck with Toe Points
• Slingshot,
• (this is extra)
  • Slingshot
  • Honey Bun
  • Wrist Catch
  • Sailor Shuffle
  • Coca Cola Turns
  • Left Side Pass with Wrist Catch
  • Tuck (doing the Ed Thing) You have to see it to understand it!!!!