Learn how to beautifully dance
the open telemark & Wing
The Open Telemark and Wing is a graceful compound figure in Waltz, flowing across two measures with elegant transitions. It begins with the controlled pivot of the Open Telemark into Promenade Position, followed by the Wing’s subtle rotation that guides the lady outside the man’s left side. This figure embodies timeless partnership, like two leaves twirling together on a gentle stream before parting and reuniting.
The Open Telemark followed by a Wing is usually a silver 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.
Open Telemark & Wing (Man)
Commence in Closed Position, facing DC.
| # | Steps | Alignment | Moving | CBM | Turn | Sway | Rise & Fall | Position | ||
| 1 | 1 | LF fwd | T H | Facing DC | DC | 1 | com to turn L | rise e/o 1 | Closed | |
| 2 | 2 | RF to side | T | Backing LOD | DC | just under 3/8 (1→2) | L | Up | Closed | |
| 3 | 3 | LF to side | T H | Facing DW | LOD | just over 1/4 (2→3) body turns less | Up. Lower e/o 3 | PP | ||
| 4 | 1 | RF fwd in CBMP | H T | Pointing LOD | LOD | RF: 1/8 to L | – | PP | ||
| 5 | 2 | Draw LF toward RF | F | Facing LOD | – | com to turn body to L | – | slight rise. NFR | – | |
| 6 | 3 | LF closes to RF without weight | F | Facing LOD | – | cont to turn body to L | – | slight rise. NFR lower e/o 3 | OP on L |
Open Telemark (Count 1):
Begin facing Diagonal Centre, stepping forward onto the left foot with a heel lead, initiating a left turn using Contra Body Movement (CBM). Keep your left side as the turning axis, stretching diagonally toward your partner while maintaining a neutral sway. Rise smoothly at the end of the beat without foot rise, allowing natural elevation through the body. Apply subtle rotation through your frame to lead the lady’s heel turn, ensuring your shoulders remain level and your head stays poised toward the direction of travel. Focus on grounding through the standing leg to create stability, and keep your right side extended to support the lady’s movement. Maintain a strong but flexible frame to communicate the turn clearly, ensuring your movement flows without rigidity.
Open Telemark (Count 2):
Draw the right foot sideward along the Line of Dance, completing a precise 1/4 left turn between counts 1 and 2. Use the ball of the foot, rising fully while introducing gentle left sway as the body backs Line of Dance. Keep your hips aligned under the torso, avoiding any backward tilt, and sustain the rise through controlled ankle extension. Continue leading the lady’s heel turn with a consistent rotational energy, ensuring your left side remains forward to guide her into position. The sway should originate from the ankles, not the shoulders, preserving a straight spine. Harmonize your rise with the lady’s motion, using your frame to steer her into Promenade Position effortlessly.
Open Telemark (Count 3):
Step side-left and slightly forward into Promenade Position, pointing toward Diagonal Wall while your body faces the Wall. Lower to the toe-heel with controlled softness, completing 1/2 turn left between counts 2 and 3 (body turns slightly less). Return to neutral sway as you settle, keeping the upper body calm and elongated. Ensure your right foot maintains light contact with the floor, ready for the next step, and hold the lady securely in PP with a gentle forward poise. Finish with balanced weight and an open frame, creating a poised connection that invites fluid continuation.
Wing (Count 1):
Step forward diagonally across your body with your right foot in CBMP, pointing toward the line of dance while maintaining Promenade Position. Keep your body facing the wall as your feet align diagonally to the wall, ensuring your frame remains stable and forward energy flows smoothly. Use heel-toe footwork, initiating a gentle rise at the end of the beat through ankle extension. Apply slight contra body movement to prepare for rotation, maintaining neutral sway to avoid tilting. Focus on leading the lady across your path with clear torso rotation, not arm pressure. Keep your shoulders level and frame expansive to guide her movement without pushing or pulling.
Wing (Count 2):
Draw your left foot smoothly toward your right foot without full weight transfer, allowing your body to turn left to face the line of dance. Keep your feet flat with pressure on the toe of your right foot and inside edge of your left toe, rising slightly but with no foot rise. Maintain neutral sway and a soft knee, rotating your torso continuously to lead the lady’s path. Avoid swiveling your feet; let the turn originate from your core. Your frame should remain connected and resistant, providing a stable axis for the lady’s movement. Sustain gentle forward poise and unified body rotation to ensure her momentum stays centered and controlled.
Wing (Count 3):
Close your left foot lightly to your right foot in Outside Partner position, ending with weight on your right foot as you face diagonal center. Complete the body turn begun on count 2, lowering smoothly at the end of the beat through controlled knee flexion. Maintain neutral sway and upright posture, keeping feet flat and aligned. Ensure your left side remains forward to accommodate the lady’s outside position, with your frame softly enclosing her. Finish with balanced poise and quiet feet to transition seamlessly into the next figure.
contact.
Open Telemark & Wing (Lady)
Commence in Closed Position, backing DC.
| # | Steps | Alignment | Moving | CBM | Turn | Sway | Rise & Fall | Position | ||
| 1 | 1 | RF back | T H | Backing DC | DC | 1 | com to turn L | rise slightly e/o 1 | Closed | |
| 2 | 2 | LF closes to RF (heel turn) | H T | Facing LOD | DC | 3/8 (1→2) | R | cont to rise | Closed | |
| 3 | 3 | RF to side | T H | Facing DC | LOD | 3/8 (2→3) body turns more | Up. Lower e/o 3 | PP | ||
| 4 | 1 | LF fwd in CBMP | H T | Facing DC | LOD | 4 | com to turn L | com to side e/o 1 | PP | |
| 5 | 2 | RF fwd | T | Facing Centre | Centre | 1/8 (1→2) | L | cont to rise | ||
| 6 | 3 | LF fwd in CBMP | T H | Facing against LOD | against LOD | 1/4 (2→3) body turns more | L | Up. Lower e/o 3 | OP on L |
Open Telemark (Count 1):
Starting backing Diagonal Centre, step back onto the right foot (toe-heel), using CBM to initiate the left turn while rising slightly at the end of the beat without foot rise. Keep your spine centered over the supporting leg, with neutral sway and a soft forward reach through the shoulders. Feel the man’s lead guiding your heel turn, resisting the urge to overturn by maintaining controlled rotation. Your left side should stretch toward the man’s right side, creating a shared axis for the turn. Trust the man’s frame to direct your momentum, staying connected through the torso without collapsing forward.
Open Telemark (Count 2):
Close the left foot to the right, pivoting 3/8 left on the heel to face Line of Dance, continuing to rise with right sway. Keep your weight centered over the heel turn, with knees softly flexed and hips aligned under the ribcage. Your head should follow the turn naturally, ending with a gentle leftward gaze. Sustain elevation through the ankles and calves, avoiding any sudden lifting of the shoulders. Anchor the heel turn with controlled rotation, matching the man’s sway to create unified balance.
Open Telemark (Count 3):
Step diagonally forward-right into Promenade Position, pointing toward Line of Dance with your right side leading. Land on the toe-heel, lowering smoothly at the end of the beat with neutral sway and minimal body turn. Extend your left side toward the man, creating a graceful arc from hip to fingertips, while keeping your head tilted slightly left. Ensure your weight transfers fully onto the right foot, ready to move forward. Embrace the open position with a luminous upper body line, allowing the man to steer your path.
Wing (Count 1):
Step forward with your left foot in CBMP along the line of dance, keeping your body facing diagonal center in Promenade Position. Start rising at the end of the beat through ankle extension, using heel-toe footwork while maintaining neutral sway. Apply contra body movement as you sense the lead to cross toward the man’s right side, keeping your right side gently extended. Avoid rushing; let your step match the man’s pacing. Keep your head tilted left with eyes toward the man, preserving elegant neck lines. Stay connected through his frame, allowing torso rotation to guide your path without independent movement.
Wing (Count 2):
Step forward with your right foot toward the center of the room, turning left 1/8 to face the center. Rise continuously onto the toe with sway left, keeping your body aligned over your foot. Lead with your right side, letting your head flow naturally leftward as you rotate. Keep steps compact and controlled, avoiding overstepping or losing contact with the man. Your frame should remain pliant yet responsive, absorbing his lead through your back. Focus on smooth weight transitions and sustained rise to enhance rotational fluidity.
Wing(Count 3):
Step forward with your left foot in CBMP into Outside Partner position, turning left a further 1/4 to face against the line of dance. Use toe-heel footwork, lowering at the end of the beat while maintaining sway left. Keep your body turning continuously to end backing diagonal center, with no foot swivel. Extend your right side gracefully, head tilted left as you settle into the outside position. Stay close to the man’s left side, ensuring hip and ribcage connection. Maintain soft pressure into his supporting hand to stabilize your balance during the turn.
General Notes
Key Points
- Footwork Precision: Man: Heel leads for forward steps; Lady: Clean heel turns and toe releases.
- Alignment: Track diagonal center (Open Telemark) and line of dance (Wing) rigorously.
- Rise & Fall: Gradual ascent peaks on count 3/step 3; controlled descent ends beats 3 and 6.
- Turn Management: Complete three-eighths left turn in Telemark by step 2; Wing uses body rotation, not foot swivel.
Advanced Elements
- Flow: Transition from PP to outside partner as one unbroken motion.
- Sway: Telemark: Straight (count 1), left (count 2), straight (count 3). Wing: Straight (count 4), right (count 5), right (count 6).
- Body Shaping: Lady: Right-side lead in PP; head left in Wing step 5. Man: Stable left side axis.
- Connection: In Wing, man offers slight right-arm resistance for lady’s outside path.
- Musicality: Emphasize the “down” on beat 3 (Telemark) and beat 6 (Wing) for phrasing.
“The lady unfolds and then arcs around the man’s steady sun.“
Preceding Figures
Commenced moving DC (as described above)
Following Figures
Ended facing LOD
Ended facing DC
(swivel 1/8 to L at end of step 3, possilby taking following step in CBMP on OP on left side)
| Bronze | Reverse Turn Back Whisk Double Reverse Spin Progressive Chasse to R |
| Silver | Closed Telemark Drag Hesitation Open Telemark |
| Gold | Fallaway Reverse & Slip Pivot |
Ended facing DW of new LOD at a corner
(swivel 1/8 to L, at the end of step 3)
| Bronze | LF Closed Change Whisk |
| Silver | Drag Hesitation |
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 Open Telemark & Wing being performed from different angles, perspectives and speeds. However, they generally have little or no commentary or explanation.
For videos that also include commentary and tips that are aimed at assisting you perform the figure properly, see the next section “Tutorials”.