Ballroom Technique - The Telemarks

The Telemark

After completing the Bronze Medal Test the Telemark is introduced to the pupil/student.

There are several Telemarks in the Ballroom Syllabus and it is interesting to note that the Telemark comes from the sport of skiing. It is a technique allowing the skier to turn.

It is danced mostly in the Slow Foxtrot but it is also in the Waltz and Quickstep Syllabus.

There are Closed and Open Telemarks. In this instance “Closed” means remaining in closed dance position and “Open” means opening to Promenade Position.

All Telemarks have the Man dancing (1) A forward step, (2) A side Step, and (3) Another Side Step. All Telemarks have a corrected sway. That is either “Straight, Left, Straight” or “Straight, Right, Straight”

So we have: - The Closed Telemark, Open Telemark (of which there are three depending on what is following), Natural Telemark, Hover Telemark (which can be Closed or Open), Natural Hover Telemark and the Hover Cross. The Closed and Open Impetus Turns belong to the Telemark “family” with the Man dancing the heel turn and the lady dancing the ”Telemark” with a ‘Brush’ step between steps 2 and 3.

Regarding the three Open Telemarks

The first Telemark is the smallest Telemark with Man making only half-turn over the three steps and the Lady dancing the smallest heel turn (1/4 turn). This would be followed by a Natural figure, as you would now be moving toward the outside of the ballroom (e.g. Open Natural Turn).

The second Telemark ends you ready to move Diagonally to Wall to follow with a Feather Ending (Slow Foxtrot) or a Cross Hesitation (Waltz).

The third Telemark has the most turn with the third step taken “to side and slightly back’ making a 3 /4 turn. This would be followed by a Reverse figure, as you would be moving toward the inside of the ballroom (e.g. Wing or Promenade Weave).