And DD is trying the StupidWillowWaltz again...

[Mainemom]

for the third time - oooh, just realized that! 3rd times the charm, right? Her dance partner says her 14 step is great and should pass easily, but she's hung up on the StupidWillowWaltz. :frus: DD is not sweetly graceful and waltzy although she's trying to fake it like crazy to get through this dance...it's enough to make her want to give up dance altogether (not really, but it is getting that frustrating). Dance coach says to smile sweetly and pretend she's having a great time but DD is getting tenser and tenser as the day (Sunday) approaches.

Any pointers from any non-waltz types as to how to get through this?

[phoenix]

I have a dance student w/ the same issues.

I mainly have her focus on deep knee bend, high free leg extensions, and making sure that free leg is ram-rod straight! Also holding the free leg extensions as long as possible throughout the dance.

There are a LOT of waltzes yet to come for her, so now is actually a very good time to start getting the expression pulled together. Good luck to her!

[Mrs Redboots]

It's my nemesis-dance, too, although I do actually like it! But I am not very good at it, alas - I tend to scrape on the steps to forward and rush the Mohawk. All one can really do is relax and enjoy it!

[sk8tmum]

Oh yes, the Willow ... Suggestions that helped my kids, not just with this one (weirdly, my DD finds waltzes easy, but can't tango to save her life :) )

Find skaters performing it on YouTube, and have her watch it. It helped them find the expression and see what it should look like. You just need to search under Willow Waltz, you should get hits.

Video tape her, and have her watch herself to see where it isn't correct; having seen others skate it just previously on Youtube helped with the analysis. Some kids need to see themselves to be able to tell what needs to be fixed.

Dancing it off-ice to the music was useful (and saved on ice time). So did visualising the dance, especially after they'd seen how it looked on YouTube.

If it's timing: creating words to mentally sing it to, counting beats, something to help her associate the step with a rhythm can help. My kid "mentally" sings the counts to herself as she goes along.

[CoachPA]

I tend to see my students don't look "waltzy" when they're head is down and the lower back is not arched.

Have your daughter focus on keeping her ponytail down (if her hair is long enough to be worn in a ponytail) and chin up. That will create an elogated neck and give her a more sophisticated, waltzy look.

Posture-wise, your daughter should feel as though she's only bending the knees and ankles--not the waist--or else she will look as though she's leaning forward. Even if she is not actually leaning forward but rather perfectly straight, her butt may look as though she's sticking it out if she does not focus on driving forward with the hips.

Perhaps have her stand on two feet, knees and ankles bent, with her coach (or you) pushing in slightly on her lower back (to create a nice, natural arching curve) and pulling back on her back arm (if she's in a progressive or similar position) or having her pull her shoulder blades together. If she's got the shoulder blades together enough, she should feel slightly uncomfortable until she develops that position a bit stronger and her body and muscles adjust.

Also, try to get her to relax! I know testing is stressful for nearly all skaters, but it's likely that that tension is coming through in her skating (stiff knees, loss of posture and elongated neck, etc.) Judges want to see that lilt and softness to waltzes.

[PinkLaces]

No advice, but wanted to wish your DD good luck. My DD got a retry on this dance in May and is taking it again a week from Saturday.

[Mainemom]

Find skaters performing it on YouTube, and have her watch it. It helped them find the expression and see what it should look like. You just need to search under Willow Waltz, you should get hits.


This really helped, I think. The biggest thing we saw was how much longer the dancers held their extensions, so she focused on that today and both her FS coach and the other dance coach commented on how nicely she danced it! Just three more days...

[Mainemom]

She passed, she passed! No more STUPIDWILLOWWALTZ! And she also passed the 14 Step, with nice comments. Okay, so there weren't any really nice comments on the WW, but it doesn't matter - it's done! Now, on to the European Waltz - but her coach says the EW is a different kind of waltz and she made it through the WW so who knows? Any thoughts on EW versus WW?

[sk8tmum]

The European Waltz is a beautiful dance. It is also the foundation of a lot of the later waltzes. Best advice - ? Take your time on it. Learn it well - it'll pay off later. It's also a bit more difficult than the Willow. Have her practice- and practice - and practice - her 3-turns :lol: she'll need them.

The skaters who learned and learned well the European seem to be able to do the later Waltzes far more effectively ...

Congrats on the Willow and the 14step: that's fantastic !!!!!

[Mainemom]

She's always been described as checking-impaired on her 3-turns and hammering away at the WW finally solved that problem. The mother of one of our up and coming skaters asked me at the test session why DD does dance and I have to say that one of the reasons is that it helps you fight your way through things that you might be able to get away with to a certain degree in MIF or FS. Her power and carriage are so much better because of dance. She will never be that graceful, willowy dancer, but it has made her a better skater, all around. Plus, it gives her something else to work on when she has just had it with MIF or can't jump because of a pulled muscle or a bad fall. One of the comments on her Juv MIF test was that she had "nice, neat feet - must be a dancer." Her dance coach loved that one!

[twokidsskatemom]

congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!:bow:

[Skittl1321]

Congrats to you daughter!

[PinkLaces]

Congrats!!!!!

[herniated]

Congrats!!!!!