Modern Waltz: Hover Corte

Learn how to beautifully dance
the Hover Corté

This page gives detailed information on how to dance the Hover Corté in the Modern Waltz.

It includes the requisite timing, steps, footwork, alignment, turn, rise & fall, contrary body movement, sway, direction of movement, and hold — for both the Man/Leader and the Lady/Follower, as per “The Ballroom Technique” publication.

It also contains written notes, tips and advice that has been manually collated and typed in, from a variety of online and offline sources. Also included is a compilation of (3rd party) YouTube videos demonstrating and teaching how to do a beautiful Hover Corte!

The Hover Corté is usually a gold level Modern Waltz figure. For the full list of Modern Waltz figures corresponding to each medal level, as per the Imperial Society for Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), see the Figure List for Modern Waltz.

Hover Corte (Man)

Commence in Closed Position, backing LOD.

#		Steps		Alignment	Moving	CBM	Turn	Sway	Rise & Fall	Position
1	1	RF back	T H	Backing LOD	LOD	1	com to L	S	com to rise e/o 1. NFR	Closed
2	2	LF to side & slightly fwd	T	Pointing DW Backing DC against LOD	LOD		3/8 (1→2) body turns less	R	cont to rise	Closed
3	3	Transfer weight to RF	T H	Backing DC against LOD	against LOD		–	S	Up. Lower e/o 3	Closed
(4)	1	LF back in CBMP	T	Backing DC against LOD		4		S		OP

Technical Notes (for the Man)

In step 3,

Transfer weight to RF side and slightly back.

Hover Corte (Lady)

Commence in Closed Position, facing LOD.

#		Steps		Alignment	Turn	Rise & Fall	CBM	Sway	Moving	Position
1	1	LF fwd	H T	Facing LOD	cont to L	com to rise e/o 1	1	S	LOD	OP
2		RF to side, then brush LF toward RF	T	Facing Centre	1/4 (1→2) 1/8 on 2	cont to rise		L	Centre	Closed
3		LF diag fwd	T H	Facing DC against LOD		cont to rise. Lower e/o 3		S	against LOD	OP on L
4		RF fwd CBMP, OP		Facing DC against LOD			4	S

Technical Notes (for the Lady)

In step 1,

you can either keep your head closed or open to PP
big step

In step 2,

big step. Whole right side to the Man. Stretch. Make a big shape. Breathe the frame and articulate the head, then articulate your left foot coming out.
Don’t shape from the lower waist area. Think about high jump “up and over”. Pick up your centre.
When developing the shape, don’t take your arms back. Leave your arms to the Man and extend.

General Notes

Step 2 may be held for three extra beats, turning the body less between steps 1-2, and then gradually continuing to turn the body, continuing to rise, continuing to sway throughoutthe 3 beats.

See also general technical notes on Modern Waltz technique, and also general Modern Ballroom technique.

Preceding Figures

Commenced Backing LOD (as described above)

Bronze	Natural Spin Turn 1-3 Reverse Turn
Silver	Outside Spin (at a corner)

Commenced Backing DC
(Man turning only 1/4 between steps 1-2, and the Lady only 1/8)

Bronze	Natural Spin Turn Closed Impetus (at a corner)
Silver	Outside Spin

Following Figures

Ended Backing against LOD (as described above)

Bronze	Back Whisk
Silver	Outside Spin

Ended Backing New Centre (at a corner)

Bronze

Outside Change

List of Abbreviations

Steps	RF: Right foot LF: Left foot fwd: forward diag: diagonally CBMP: Contra Body Movement Position
Footwork	T: Toe H: Heel F: Flat
Turn	L: Left R: Right cont: continue com: commence
Alignment & Moving	LOD: Line of Dance DC: Diagonal Centre DW: Diagonal Wall
Rise & Fall	NFR: no foot rise com: commence cont: continue e/o: end of
Position	OP: outside Partner PP: Promenade Position CPP: Counter Promenade Position PO: Partner outside
Sway	L: Left R: Right F: Forward

For a more detailed explanation of terms and abbreviations, see the Glossary.

Demonstrations

These 3rd party (external) demonstration videos typically show the Hover Corte being performed from different angles, perspectives and speeds. However, they generally have little or no commentary or explanation.

For videos that also include commentary that are aimed at assisting you perform the figure properly, see the next section “Tutorials”.