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12. Explosions
Fact Sheet
Official Name:Explosions
Dance / Level:Full Bronze American Viennese Waltz
Aliases:Opposition Hesitations, In & Out Hesitations, Butterfly
Suggested
Prerequisites:
None

Explosions are a variation of a Side Hesitation taken in either open facing position, open promenade or counter-promenade position, or side-by-side position. The defining characteristic of the Explosion is the mirrored movement of the man's and lady's free arms, which "explode" by stretching up overhead and clircle outward after the step has been taken. The free foot is normally left pointing to the side.

The Explosion can consist of a single action as described above, or it can include a preparatory action where man and lady first step inward toward each other, turning to face each other and join hands. The preparatory action and the Explosion taken in succession are the complete figure described in the man's and lady's charts, and the figure itself is repeatable. But the preparatory action can also be omitted and the Explosion taken by itself, following other figures that lead directly into it, such as the Cross-Body Lead to Underarm Turn. For a full list of follows, see the followed-by tab above.

The most common form of Explosion is done with 1/4 turn each for man and lady, ended in left side-by-side position, typically with man and lady facing wall. However, there are several variations of the figure possible in the bronze syllabus, and even more in the silver and above levels. For example, the figure can be danced in mirror image and ended in right side-by-side position, with the opposite arm free to do the explosion. This variation is restricted to silver level, however -- not due to greater difficulty, but simply because there are no figures in the bronze syllabus that finish in a position that can be followed by a right-side Explosion. In the silver level, on the other hand, it is very common to use the Change of Places for just this purpose.

Explosions can also be under-turned, with man and lady each turning 1/8 to end in open counter-promenade position (or, in silver, the mirrored version ended in open promenade position). The path of the man's and lady's step, rather than being in exatly opposite directions, is diagonally away from each other.

In addition to that, there are several Hesitation and Whisk-based figures than can be taken in open facing or opencounter-promenade position, where "explosion"-style arms can be added. This includes Any Side Hesitation, Whisk, or Open Break taken in open facing or open counter-promenade position. The direction of the step is to the side when turning to side-by-side or counter-promenade, and side and slightly back when remaining in open facing position.

 

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