Click on each Figure for details and video examples.
Pre-Bronze
1. Closed Changes
2. Natural Turn
3. Reverse Turn
4. Natural Spin Turn
5. Whisk
6. Chassé from PP
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 Right
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
25. Drag Hesitation
Gold
26. Left Whisk
27. Contra Check
28. Closed Wing
29. Turning Lock to Right
30. Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot
31. Hover Corté
32. Fallaway Whisk
1. Closed Changes
2. Natural Turn
3. Reverse Turn
4. Natural Spin Turn
5. Whisk
6. Chassé from PP
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 Right
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
25. Drag Hesitation
Gold
26. Left Whisk
27. Contra Check
28. Closed Wing
29. Turning Lock to Right
30. Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot
31. Hover Corté
32. Fallaway Whisk
Notes on the ISTD Syllabus
The syllabus to the left is the most recent iteration, taken from the 10th Edition of the Ballroom Technique by Alex Moore, last amended in July 1994.
All competitions prescribing the ISTD syllabus use this list of figures, with some regional differences noted below. The list is written as published by the ISTD with one change:
25. Drag Hesitation and 32. Fallaway Whisk are listed in the
'Additional Figures' section of the syllabus. This is because they are not required figures for examination. For competitors'
and choreographers' purposes this distinction doesn't exist, so they are listed at their respective levels.
All competitions prescribing the ISTD syllabus use this list of figures, with some regional differences noted below. The list is written as published by the ISTD with one change:
25. Drag Hesitation and 32. Fallaway Whisk are listed in the
'Additional Figures' section of the syllabus. This is because they are not required figures for examination. For competitors'
and choreographers' purposes this distinction doesn't exist, so they are listed at their respective levels.
A note on Syllabus Amalgamations
For figures 19 through 22, the syllabus can produce the false impression that these are the only permissible combinations. In reality, the Cross Hesitation and Wing are allowed from any
Promenade Position. For the sake of clarity, here is each step pattern listed individually:
19. Open Telemark
20. Open Impetus
21. Cross Hesitation
22. Wing
For figures 19 through 22, the syllabus can produce the false impression that these are the only permissible combinations. In reality, the Cross Hesitation and Wing are allowed from any
Promenade Position. For the sake of clarity, here is each step pattern listed individually:
19. Open Telemark
20. Open Impetus
21. Cross Hesitation
22. Wing
Exceptions: German dancers competing D-Class/C-Class syllabus standard under DTV rules must observe the following exceptions:
a) Not Permitted are 26. Left Whisk and 27. Contra Check.
b) Additional Figure: Open Natural Turn from PP.
a) Not Permitted are 26. Left Whisk and 27. Contra Check.
b) Additional Figure: Open Natural Turn from PP.
Waltz Video Analysis
Click here for annotated syllabus Waltz videos.
History of the Waltz Syllabus
Click here to view a comparison of historic ISTD Waltz Syllabi.