Advancement – The Calgary Dance Club

Advancement Support

Here you’ll find information on general skills as well as specific figures that our Club Professionals will be looking for to see if you’re ready to advance to the next class.

Prerequisites for Level 2

If you are ready for Level 2, you should have an understanding of the basic character and movement of each dance taught in level 1 (e.g., Waltz floats and Two Step smoothly travels around the dance floor, while Cha-Cha is a more stationary, Latin influenced dance). You should also be able to dance most of the basic figures of each dance taught in level 1 with:

correct timing
good posture, frame and tone and the ability to use these to effectively lead/follow
good basic foot work (heel lead verses toe lead etc.)
the ability to apply line of dance and general floor craft rules

Level 1 Social/Ballroom figures you should know before taking Level 2:

Waltz	Rumba	East Coast Swing	Foxtrot	Cha Cha
Box step	Box	Basic in open position	Side basic	Side basic
Left turning box	Left turning box	Basic in closed position	Rock turn to the left	Progressive basic
Progressive/change steps	Side basic	Basics turning right and left, simple transfers between open and closed positions	Swap step	Crossover breaks
Balance steps/hesitations	5th position breaks	Lady’s underarm turns to her left and right	Promenade	Walk around turns
Box with underarm turn	Crossover breaks	Cuddle/wrap	Promenade with underarm turn	Outside partner breaks
Balance/hesitation and box	Outside partner breaks	Hammerlock/Wringer	Backwards basic	Simple chase turns (progressive basic with no hands)
Balance steps with underarm turn		Back hand change (gentleman’s turn)	Box step	Lady’s underarm turn to (her) right

Basic Country figures you should know before moving to Level 2

Two Step	Night Club	Triple Two Step	Country Cha Cha
Basic	Basic	Basic	Side basic
Promenade	Flat spin (lady’s underarm turn to her right)	Lady’s flare (zig zagging basic)	Forward and back basic
Lady’s outside turn	Side travelling basic	Lady’s flare with underarm turn to her right (outside turn)	Crossover breaks
Lady’s inside turn from promenade	Left turning basic	Right turning loop	Outside partner breaks
Wrap and walk out	Left turning basic with lady’s inside turn (to her left)	Right turning loop	Fifth position breaks
Wrap and check turn out	Right turning basic	Basket	Walk around turns for man and lady
1/2 couple rotation to the right	Right turning basic with lady’s outside turn (to her right)	Left turning loop	Open break and underarm turn
Couple rotation to the right	Walk around underarm turn	Left turning loop with lady’s underarm turn to her left (inside turn)	Underarm turns for man and lady
Sweetheart and free spin out	Lace	Wrap	3 Cha-cha-chas forwards and backwards
Grapevine			Cross body lead

Prerequisites for Level 3

You have mastered your basics and a variety of figures in multiple dances and are now an intermediate level social dancer.
You have a more in-depth knowledge of the character and movement of the various dances taught in level 2 (eg. Waltz uses rise and fall, long strides and rotations to portray the couple elegantly swooping and gliding across the floor)
You have the ability to dance the majority of figures of each dance taught in level 2 in addition to the basics from level 1 (see prerequisites for Social 2) with such elements as:
correct timing
good posture, frame and tone and a more in-depth application of these with regards to leading/following
enhanced footwork (use of supporting foot, elevation etc.)
beginner level of various expressive elements such as: cuban motion, rise and fall, arm styling etc, effective floor craft and pattern combinations

Figures expected before moving to Level 3

Waltz	Rumba	East Coast Swing	Cha Cha	Foxtrot
Simple twinkle	Cross body lead	Double face loop	Cross body lead	Zig zags inline
Face to face and back to back	Cross over and side rocks	Back hand change with “swim” variation	Chase turns	Zig zags outside partner
Face to face and back to back from box with underarm turn	Cross body lead with open Cuban walks	Tuck and free spins with L to R or R to R hand holds	3 cha-cha-chas	Rock turn to the right
Turn return	Open break to lady’s underarm turn	Hand slide	Double cross overs with flick/check and walk around turn	Simple twinkle
Right box	Shoulder catch	Sugar push	Chase challenges	Promenade twinkles (promenade to counter promenade and back to promenade)
	Cradle circle	Double overhead

Prerequisites for Interational Silver

You are an intermediate level dancer. You have experience and knowledge of many of the figures in the International Bronze syllabus OR have completed a year of level 3 in the social program and are comfortable using closed (body contact position) in the ballroom dances
You have refined the characters and typical movements of a variety of dances and now easily use elements such as hip action, rise and fall, and arm styling to express yourself on the dance floor
You have the ability to dance a variety of intermediate level figures in multiple dances with such elements such as: (1) correct timing, (2) good posture, frame, and tone, and effective lead/follow skills (3) refined footwork and improved balance and weight transfers, (4) intermediate level of expressive elements – hip action, rise and fall etc., and (5) good use of pattern combinations and good floor craft.

Figures expected before taking International Silver

Waltz	Rumba	Foxtrot	Cha Cha	Tango
Natural turn	Basic movements	Feather step	Basic movements	Walks
Change steps/closed changes	New Yorks	Three step	New Yorks	Progressive side step
Reverse turn	Spot turns/underarm turns	Natural turn	Spot turns/underarm turns	Progressive link
Natural spin turn	Shoulder to shoulder	Reverse turn	Shoulder to shoulder	Closed promenade
Whisks (forwards and backwards)	Hand to hand	Closed impetus and feather finish	Hand to had	Rock turn
Chasse from promenade position	Progressive rocks	Natural weave	Three cha cha chas	Open reverse turn, Lady outside
Closed impetus	Fan	Change of direction	Fan	Back corte
Hesitation change	Alemana		Alemana	Open reverse turn, lady inline
Outside change	Hockey stick		Hockey stick	Left foot and right foot rocks
Progressive chasse to the right	Natural opening out movement		Natural opening out movement	Twist turn

Prerequisites for International Gold

You are an seasoned, intermediate + level dancer.
You have have taken the Silver class, preferably for a minimum of 2 years AND feel confident with the material presented OR you have other dance experience and are confident with the majority of the figures in both the International Bronze and Silver syllabus (see also Silver prerequisites)
You have refined the characters and typical movements of a variety of dances and now easily use elements such as various hip actions, rise and fall, sway and arm styling to express yourself on the dance floor
You have the ability to dance a variety of intermediate level figures in multiple dances with such elements such as: (1) correct timing and some basic phrasing, (2) very good posture, frame and tone and effective lead/follow skills, (3) refined footwork and improved balance and settling of weight, (4) intermediate level of expressive elements – hip action, rise and fall etc., (5) very good use of pattern combinations, and (6) good floor craft.

Figures expected before taking International Gold

Waltz	Rumba	Foxtrot	Cha Cha	Tango
Double reverse spin	Opening out right and left	Open impetus	Cuban breaks and split Cuban breaks	Progressive side step reverse turn
Reverse pivot	Closed hip twist	Closed telemark	Closed hip twist	Open promenade
Weaves, basic and from promenade	Open hip twist	Open telemark	Open hip twist	Natural promenade turn
Open impetus	Fan (development)	Hover telemark	Fan (development)	Promenade link
Closed telemark	Natural top	Natural telemark	Natural top	Four step
Open telemark	Reverse top	Hover cross	Reverse top	Four step change
Cross hesitation	Aida	Outside swivel	Aida	Brush tap
Wing	Spiral	Weaves, basic and from promenade	Spiral	Back open promenade