29. Dance Steps: Willow Waltz

We're Ksenia and Oleg, two-time U.S. national competitors whose goal is to make Team USA and represent the U.S. in international competitions. We'll share with you what we learned along the way, so let's make this journey together. Today, we're going to be showing you a new pattern dance. What are we showing them, Ksenia? We will do the Wheel of Wolves. Alright, let's do it. Intro steps for the man are Left Stroke, 3 beats Right Stroke, 3 beats Left Forward Outside Edge, 2 beats Right Forward Inside Edge, 1 beat Left Forward Outside Edge, 2 beats Right Forward Inside Chasse, 1 beat Left Forward Outside Edge, 2 beats Right Forward Inside Edge, 1 beat Left Forward Outside Edge, 3 beats Start of dance Right Forward Outside Edge, 2 beats Left Forward Inside Chasse, 1 beat Right Forward Outside Edge, 3 beats Left Forward Outside Edge, 3 beats Open Mohawk Right Forward Inside Edge, 3 beats to Left Backward Inside Edge, 3 beats Right Backward Outside Edge, 3 beats Left Backward Outside Edge, 3 beats Progressive Right Forward Outside Edge, 2 beats Left Forward Inside Edge, 1 beat Right Forward Outside Edge, 3 beats Left, forward, outside edge, 2 beats Right, forward, inside chasse, 1 beat Left, forward, outside 3 turn, 2 plus 1 beats Right, backward, outside edge, 3 beats Left, backward, outside edge, 3 beats Right, backward, inside edge, 3 beats Left, forward, outside edge, 3 beats Right, forward, inside edge, optional slip chasse shown, 3 beats Progressive Left, forward, outside edge, 2 beats Right, forward, inside edge, 1 beat Left, forward, outside edge, 3 beats Exit or do another pattern Intro steps for the lady are Left stroke, 3 beats Right stroke, 3 beats Left, forward, outside edge, 2 beats Right, forward, inside edge, 1 beat Left, forward, outside 3 turn, 2 plus 1 beats Progressive Right, backward, outside edge, 2 beats Left, backward, inside edge, 1 beat Right, backward, outside edge, 3 beats Left, backward, outside edge, 2 beats Right, backward, inside chasse, 1 beat Left, backward, outside edge, 3 beats Right, backward, outside edge, 3 beats Left, forward, outside edge, 3 beats Right, forward, inside edge, optional slip shown, 3 beats. Left forward outside edge, 3 beats. Right forward outside 3 turn, 2 plus 1 beats. Progressive, left backward outside edge, 2 beats. Right backward inside edge, 1 beat. Left backward outside edge, 3 beats. Right backward outside edge, 2 beats. Left backward inside chasse, 1 beat. Right backward outside edge, 3 beats. Left forward outside edge, 3 beats. Right forward outside edge, 3 beats. Left forward inside edge, 3 beats. Open Mohawk, right forward inside edge, 3 beats. To left backward inside edge, 3 beats. Progressive, right backward outside edge, 2 beats. Left backward inside edge, 1 beat. Right backward outside edge, 3 beats. Exit or do another pattern. As always, keep a strong hold, skate on deep edges, and make deep lobes. Don't tense up your upper body. Press and bend the knee and ankle of the skating foot before you stroke onto the free foot. Keep your body weight over your skating foot. This will increase your strength of push. Work on your basics a lot. Crossovers, edges, and turns are the core of your skating ability. Turn out your free foot so the toe doesn't point down. Don't toe push. Keep your shoulders down and back and extend your neck, but don't be stiff. Skate through your hips. And finally, don't look down. The ice isn't going anywhere.