A good waltz lead will learn to count the waltz as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 rather than 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3.  This will help the lead to keep track of his patterns as many patterns start on count 1 (when his left foot is free) and many patterns start on count 4 (when his right foot is free).  A good example of this is the progressive left waltz turns which start on count 1, and the progressive right waltz turns which start on count 4.

Good dancers will include the "rise and fall" of the waltz in every pattern throughout the entire dance.  (to count: 1 Low, 2 rise, 3 fall, 4 low, 5 rise, 6 fall).  The "rise and fall" during the waltz should be smooth like the rise and fall of a horse on a carousel.  We can make the waltz much more dramatic by taking much larger steps on counts 1 and 4 and making our other steps smaller.

Progressive waltz turns are a challenge for beginners because you must turn 360 degrees with your partner every six steps while traveling briskly down the dance floor.  The secret to making progressive waltz turns well is to dance straight through your partner and do not try to dance around your partner.  The look of the waltz turns can be dramatically improved if both partners add a "lock step" as follows.  On left waltz turns, the man will add a lock step on count 3 and the lady should lock on count 6.  To simplify this, add the lock step anytime you are traveling forward into a waltz turn.  Remember that you lock at opposite times from your partner.  When the man locks, the lady doesn't, when the lady locks, the man doesn't.  Neither partner should lock during right waltz turns.

The two styles of formal waltz are American and International.  In American-style waltz, dancers can include a multitude of patterns that allow space and separation between the dancers.  In international-style waltz, dance partners are required to maintain body contact throughout the dance.  Waltz dancers look especially attractive when the lean their upper body back and strengthen the dance frame between the lead and the follow.  This is especially crucial in international-style waltz to keep the frame strong between dancers who are so close together.

The speed of waltz can vary dramatically.  Slow Modern Waltz ranges from 85 to 110 bpm (beats per minute).  Medium speed waltzes range from 110 to 140 bpm.  Lastly, fast (Viennese) waltzes range from 140 to 180 bpm.  Many beginning dancers are afraid to try Viennese waltz because it seems too fast.  The secret to dancing Viennese Waltz well is taking very small quick steps on some patterns and using hold-tap footwork on other patterns. In hold-tap footwork, you will take a step and hold on 1, 2, 3 with all weight, and while you are holding use your other foot to do a tap with no weight on count 2 hold 3.

Good waltz dancers will travel gracefully and continuously around the room following the line-of-dance.  If another couple gets in their way, a good waltz couple will immediately and smoothly switch to patterns that stay in one place until traffic clears, whereupon they can resume traveling down the dance floor.

Lastly, waltz should be very smooth and the feet should hardly make a sound as they touch the floor.  To improve your style, rather than dancing "on the floor", think about literally trying to dance "above the floor" as you dance the waltz.

In America, the Country Waltz is an important dance. The Country waltz include a basic that progresses forward on every step, whereas the ballroom progressive forward waltz includes a side step.

American Style Waltz is similar to the International Style except that it has both open and closed positions. This provides the American Style dancer with more opportunities for variety and self-expression.

International Style Waltz is danced in close position. International Style dancers are required to maintain contact at the mid-section of the body with no "gapping".

Use standard ballroom hold. Keep your shoulders level. Ladies left elbow is outside of and on top of the man's right elbow.

Use Close Position for Progressive Waltz Turns in the Line of Dance: The guy will need to pull the lady into close position when doing progressive turns in the line of dance. Whenever you are making sharp turns with a high degree of rotation with your partner, you must be close together or you will not be able to complete the turn successfully.

Guys, since there are several patterns that start on count 1 and there are several patterns that start on count 4, you should count the waltz as "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6". The guy will step with his left foot on count 1 and with his right foot on count 4. Remember that most patterns start on count 1. However right turns and 6-count walk-arounds start on count 4.

Foot placement: Keep the weight forward on your feet and when do come down on your heels, do so softly. Heel-ball-toe going forward and Toe-ball-heel going backwards.

Rise and fall (on the ball of your feet on counts 2 and 5). Rise and fall should be smooth like a horse on a carousel. Both the man and the woman should use rise and fall throughout the entire dance in all of the patterns.

• Box straight
• Box turning left (go straight forward and then turn your shoulders) (go straight back and then turn your shoulders) Gentlemen, pull your left shoulder back throughout the box turning left. Turn 90º at each corner. On each corner of a turning box, the person going forward takes big steps and the person going backward takes little steps. "Men swing through, lady swing through…"

• 2-way turns: left turns → ½ basic → right turns → ½ basic → twinkle → repeat. (Note: You must do a ½ box before doing a right turn. The left turn starts on count 1, and the right turn starts on count 4)

• men swing thru, lady swing thru (chassé turns).
• Try to stay on a straight line as you do waltz turns line-of-dance. The lead should travel straight through the lady (like walking through a door) on counts 1, 2, 3, and the lady should travel straight through the man on counts 4, 5 6.
• Guys, remember that you will need to be close to your partner when doing a sharp turn with your partner in closed position. Guys, remember to pull her into "close" position.
• Waltz turns line-of-dance must turn 180º on the first 3 counts, or you will have to turn even more than halfway on the next 3 counts.
• Person going forward takes big steps.
• Person going backward takes little steps.

• walk, stop, push-to-the-side, walk, stop, push-to-the-side

• For slower waltz music, use the feather step to improve flow.  Instead of bringing the feet together on count six, the lead travels forward on count 6 with the lady to his front right and with both partners keeping their left should forward.

• Similar to the left box except done in outside partner position ending in a bridge.
• Turning left: Forward^L1 Side^R2 Back^L3 Back^R4 Side^L5 Forward^R6

• Side-to-side waltz:
  Side breaks in closed position: Step to the side on count 1, then rock replace on counts 2 and 3.

• closed twinkle: forward side together, cross through, side together. Turn your hips a little in the direction of the promenade. (also called the "waltz promenade")
• continuity twinkle (turn shoulders right on count 2) The man turns the lady by turning his body. 1, 2, travel, cross, side, together.
• promenade with ladies underarm turn: ½ basic → right-turn to face wall → ladies underarm turn (lady does forward, back, forward, cross, side, together)
• back twinkle: ½ basic → 1 measured right turn → backup turning → cross, side, together.

• Triple twinkle → catch waist on count 4 → promenade 6 counts → resume triple twinkle.
• Zig Zag Twinkle: The lady does the same footwork as the triple twinkle. The man travels forward and then backward.
• triple twinkle: continuity twinkle → 1, 2, go-forward → 2, 2, go-forward → 3, 2, go-forward → cross, side, together.
• in open position (rather than holding catching her shoulder, just catch her hand.) (can promenade during this move also)
• Handshake Twinkle
• Wrap-around Twinkle
• Arm-checks Twinkle

• ladies 6-count walk around (start after ½ basic) This pattern looks good if the lady makes a wide circle.
• ladies 6-count walk around with simultaneous gentlemen's turn (the man should turn-left-in-place on the last 3 counts).

• forward balance (second foot is always heel to endstep) Optional: You can push up on your toe to achieve rise and fall. (Lift up on lady's shoulder to keep her from travelling.)
• forward balance → back a ¼ turn
• forward balance → back a ½ turn (On this step, the guy should only turn when going backwards)
• side balance
• side balance with lady pivot turn
• forward balance → open balance → back balance
• lady's inside / outside turn: men forward, right balance → right side balance → sailor shuffle → right side balance. Women back, turn 2,3 → side balance 4,5,6 → pivot turn → side balance.

• Zig Zag hesitations
• the stroll – end with a closed twinkle.
• promenade → crossovers → spot turn → interlocking arms → basic waltz