Introduction
The current Ballroom Technique by Alex Moore is in its 10th Edition, and the ISTD syllabus of today is based upon this volume.
Compared below are:
- 2nd Edition from 1950
- 4th Edition [Revised] from 1955
- 6th Edition from 1966
- 8th Edition [Reprinted with Amendments] from 1976
- 10th Edition [Reprinted with Amendments] from 1994
We feature the old ISTD syllabi in order to provide a historical perspective on the evolution of codified ballroom dancing. Many of the figures were not listed at the level they are currently taught; some are no longer part of syllabus ballroom.
Please remember that these may not be used as step lists for any syllabus competition. We cannot be held responsible for reprimands or disqualifications based on following these lists.
Compared below are:
- 2nd Edition from 1950
- 4th Edition [Revised] from 1955
- 6th Edition from 1966
- 8th Edition [Reprinted with Amendments] from 1976
- 10th Edition [Reprinted with Amendments] from 1994
We feature the old ISTD syllabi in order to provide a historical perspective on the evolution of codified ballroom dancing. Many of the figures were not listed at the level they are currently taught; some are no longer part of syllabus ballroom.
Please remember that these may not be used as step lists for any syllabus competition. We cannot be held responsible for reprimands or disqualifications based on following these lists.
Former Syllabus Figures
The following figures are featured in some or all of the ISTD syllabi but have since been removed. They are listed along with the edition in which can last be found:
-Backward Passing Changes [6th]
-Double Natural Spin [8th w/Am.]
They are now only available to non-ISTD competitors.
-Backward Passing Changes [6th]
-Double Natural Spin [8th w/Am.]
They are now only available to non-ISTD competitors.
Key: New Figure ◊ – New Combination * – Change of Level (Up) Δ (Down) ∇ – Last known Listing † – Renamed ‡
2nd Edition April 1950
Associate Syllabus (Bronze)
1. Closed Changes
2. Natural Turn
3. Reverse Turn
4. Backward Passing Changes
5. Natural Spin Turn
6. Hesitation Change
7. Reverse Corté
8. Double Reverse Spin
1. Closed Changes
2. Natural Turn
3. Reverse Turn
4. Backward Passing Changes
5. Natural Spin Turn
6. Hesitation Change
7. Reverse Corté
8. Double Reverse Spin
Standard Variations (Silver)
9. Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation
10. Open Telemark and Wing
11. Open Impetus
12. The Whisk
13. Outside Spin
14. Drag Hesitation
9. Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation
10. Open Telemark and Wing
11. Open Impetus
12. The Whisk
13. Outside Spin
14. Drag Hesitation
4th Edition [Revised] October 1955
Associate Syllabus (Bronze)
1. Closed Changes
2. Natural Turn
3. Reverse Turn
4. Backward Passing Changes
5. Natural Spin Turn
6. Hesitation Change
7. Reverse Corté
8. Double Reverse Spin
1. Closed Changes
2. Natural Turn
3. Reverse Turn
4. Backward Passing Changes
5. Natural Spin Turn
6. Hesitation Change
7. Reverse Corté
8. Double Reverse Spin
Members' Syllabus (Silver)
9. Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation
10. Open Telemark and Wing
11. Open Impetus and Cross Hesitation *
12. Open Impetus and Wing *
13. The Whisk
14. Outside Spin
15. Drag Hesitation and Backward Lock ◊*
9. Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation
10. Open Telemark and Wing
11. Open Impetus and Cross Hesitation *
12. Open Impetus and Wing *
13. The Whisk
14. Outside Spin
15. Drag Hesitation and Backward Lock ◊*
The Named Variations (Gold)
16. Outside Change ◊
17. Left Whisk ◊
18. Fallaway Whisk ◊
19. Synchopated Chassé ◊
20. Double Natural Spin ◊
21. Closed Wing ◊
22. Contra Check ◊
23. Turning Lock ◊
16. Outside Change ◊
17. Left Whisk ◊
18. Fallaway Whisk ◊
19. Synchopated Chassé ◊
20. Double Natural Spin ◊
21. Closed Wing ◊
22. Contra Check ◊
23. Turning Lock ◊
6th Edition August 1966
Associate Syllabus (Bronze)
1. Closed Changes
2. Natural Turn
3. Reverse Turn
4. Backward Passing Changes †
5. Natural Spin Turn
6. Hesitation Change
7. Reverse Corté
8. Double Reverse Spin
9. The Whisk ∇
10. The Synchopated Chassé ∇
1. Closed Changes
2. Natural Turn
3. Reverse Turn
4. Backward Passing Changes †
5. Natural Spin Turn
6. Hesitation Change
7. Reverse Corté
8. Double Reverse Spin
9. The Whisk ∇
10. The Synchopated Chassé ∇
Members' Syllabus (Silver)
11. Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation
12. Open Telemark and Wing
13. Open Impetus and Cross Hesitation
14. Open Impetus and Wing
15. Outside Spin
16. Drag Hesitation and Backward Lock
17. The Outside Change ∇
18. The Turning Lock ∇
11. Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation
12. Open Telemark and Wing
13. Open Impetus and Cross Hesitation
14. Open Impetus and Wing
15. Outside Spin
16. Drag Hesitation and Backward Lock
17. The Outside Change ∇
18. The Turning Lock ∇
The Named Variations (Gold)
19. Left Whisk
20. Fallaway Whisk
21. Double Natural Spin
22. Closed Wing
23. Contra Check
24. The Weave from PP ◊
19. Left Whisk
20. Fallaway Whisk
21. Double Natural Spin
22. Closed Wing
23. Contra Check
24. The Weave from PP ◊
8th Edition [Reprinted with Amendments] January 1976
Associate Syllabus (Bronze)
1. Closed Changes
2. Natural Turn
3. Reverse Turn
4. The Outside Change ∇
5. Natural Spin Turn
6. Hesitation Change
7. Reverse Corté
8. Double Reverse Spin
9. The Whisk
10. The Chassé from PP ‡
11. The Back Whisk ◊
1. Closed Changes
2. Natural Turn
3. Reverse Turn
4. The Outside Change ∇
5. Natural Spin Turn
6. Hesitation Change
7. Reverse Corté
8. Double Reverse Spin
9. The Whisk
10. The Chassé from PP ‡
11. The Back Whisk ◊
Members' Syllabus (Silver)
12. The Progressive Chassé to R ◊
13. Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation
14. Open Telemark and Wing
15. Open Impetus and Cross Hesitation
16. Open Impetus and Wing
17. Outside Spin
18. Drag Hesitation and Backward Lock
19. The Weave from PP ∇
20. The Turning Lock
21. The Reverse Pivot ◊
12. The Progressive Chassé to R ◊
13. Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation
14. Open Telemark and Wing
15. Open Impetus and Cross Hesitation
16. Open Impetus and Wing
17. Outside Spin
18. Drag Hesitation and Backward Lock
19. The Weave from PP ∇
20. The Turning Lock
21. The Reverse Pivot ◊
The Named Variations (Gold)
22. Left Whisk
23. Fallaway Whisk
24. Contra Check
25. Closed Wing
26. Weave (Waltz) ◊
27. Double Natural Spin †
22. Left Whisk
23. Fallaway Whisk
24. Contra Check
25. Closed Wing
26. Weave (Waltz) ◊
27. Double Natural Spin †
10th Edition [Reprinted with Amendments] July 1994
Student Teacher
(Pre-Bronze)
1. Closed Changes ∇
2. Natural Turn ∇
3. Reverse Turn ∇
4. Natural Spin Turn ∇
5. Whisk ∇
6. Chassé from PP ∇
(Pre-Bronze)
1. Closed Changes ∇
2. Natural Turn ∇
3. Reverse Turn ∇
4. Natural Spin Turn ∇
5. Whisk ∇
6. Chassé from PP ∇
Associate (Bronze)
7. Closed Impetus ◊
8. Hesitation Change
9. Outside Change
10. Reverse Corté
11. Back Whisk
12. Basic Weave ∇‡
13. Double Reverse Spin
14. Reverse Pivot ∇
15. Back Lock *∇
16. Progressive Chassé to R ∇
7. Closed Impetus ◊
8. Hesitation Change
9. Outside Change
10. Reverse Corté
11. Back Whisk
12. Basic Weave ∇‡
13. Double Reverse Spin
14. Reverse Pivot ∇
15. Back Lock *∇
16. Progressive Chassé to R ∇
Licentiate (Silver)
17. Weave from PP
18. Closed Telemark ◊
19. Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation
20. Open Telemark and Wing
21. Open Impetus and Cross Hesitation
22. Open Impetus and Wing
23. Outside Spin
24. Turning Lock
Additional Figure
25. Drag Hesitation *
17. Weave from PP
18. Closed Telemark ◊
19. Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation
20. Open Telemark and Wing
21. Open Impetus and Cross Hesitation
22. Open Impetus and Wing
23. Outside Spin
24. Turning Lock
Additional Figure
25. Drag Hesitation *
Fellow (Gold)
26. Left Whisk
27. Contra Check
28. Closed Wing
29. Turning Lock to Right ◊
30. Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot ◊
31. Hover Corté ◊
Additional Figure
32. Fallaway Whisk
26. Left Whisk
27. Contra Check
28. Closed Wing
29. Turning Lock to Right ◊
30. Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot ◊
31. Hover Corté ◊
Additional Figure
32. Fallaway Whisk
Key: New Figure ◊ – New Combination * – Change of Level (Up) Δ (Down) ∇ – Last known Listing † – Renamed ‡