How to Dance the Sweetheart Schottische
As country-western music has grown in popularity, country dance has again become all the rage. Most country dances involve steps that even the most novice dancers can master. The Sweetheart Schottische is a dance that involves turning your partner as you move around the dance floor in a counter-clockwise direction.
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Instructions
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Grapevine/Turn Step
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1
Stand with your right shoulder touching your partner's left shoulder and place your right arm across your partner's back, clasping right hands. Have your partner position her left arm across your chest, and clasp left hands. Your feet should be together.
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2
Step to the side with your left foot, then step behind the left foot with your right foot. Step to the left again with your left foot, and scuff the right heel. A scuff is a brush of the heel against the floor; do not put any weight on that foot. (Count 1-2-3-4.)
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3
Raise your left arms and step to the right with your right foot as your partner steps across in front of her left foot with her right foot. (Count 1.)
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4
Step the left foot behind the right as your partner steps her left foot to the left, beginning to turn toward her right shoulder. (Count 2.)
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5
Lower your left arms to chest height, and step your right foot to the right. Your partner turns 90 degrees to face you as she steps her right foot to her right. Your arms are now crossed. (Count 3.)
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6
Scuff the left heel next to the right foot. (Count 4.)
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7
Raise both arms and step to the left with your left foot as your partner steps to her left with the left foot. (Count 1.)
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8
Step behind your left foot with the right foot. Your partner turns 90 degrees to face away from you as she steps on her left foot, turning toward her left shoulder. (Count 2.)
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9
Step to the left with your left foot as your partner continues turning another 90 degrees toward her left shoulder to face you, arms crossed with left hands at chest height and right hands slightly higher. (Count 3.)
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10
Scuff the right heel next to the left foot. (Count 4.)
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11
Raise your right arm and release left hands, then take three steps forward on the right, then left, then right. At the same time, your partner takes three steps forward as she turns a full 270 degrees under your right hand, stepping right, left, right. Each step your partner takes, she will turn 90 degrees toward her right shoulder, facing away from you, toward you and finally away from you toward the line of direction of the dance. Use your right arm to assist her with the turn and return to your starting position on Count 3. Scuff the left foot. (Count 1-2-3-4.)
Walk Step
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12
Step forward on the left foot, and scuff the right heel. (Count 1-2.)
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13
Step forward with the right foot, and scuff the left heel. (Count 3-4.)
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14
Take three steps back, beginning with the left foot. (Count 1-2-3.)
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15
Scuff with the right heel. (Count 4.)
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16
Step to the right with the right foot, and scuff with the left heel. (Count 1-2.)
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17
Repeat all steps, beginning with the Grapevine/Turn Step.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Keep your arms strong to lead your partner into each step.
To make the 270-degree turn easier, have your partner place her left hand on her abdomen with her left elbow close to her body. Use your right arm to turn your partner faster to help her complete the turn.
