Author’s Note: The description of Claire teaching Erik how to do the Viennese waltz (also called the rotary waltz) is how the steps were taught to me, and how I have successfully taught others.
The rain beat on the windows of Claire’s Place des Vosges townhouse. There was a time in her life when the weather might have depressed her, but not tonight. She smiled to herself as she settled in to sleep, remembering the evening.
Erik had asked her to teach him how to waltz. His natural musician’s grace gave him the rhythm, but he had never learned. This was one area where his skills of deception would not serve him.
~~~
Claire stood opposite him in the foyer.
“This board is our center,” she said, putting her slippered toe on the line. “Now, remember, when you step with your left, I will step with my right. I will show you the steps first.”
She lifted her skirt hem so that he could see.
“Right, two three,” she counted out, stepping forward with her right foot, bringing her left around to pivot and then bringing her right around next to it. She was now facing the opposite direction.
Erik mimicked the movement.
“Now, it’s left pivot.” She pivoted on her left foot, returning to her initial position. “That’s the step you’ll start with. When we do our steps together, we will rotate around the center, just as we step over that line in the floor.”
They practiced the steps for a little while, chanting the waltz rhythm of “right, two three, left pivot.” Then, Erik took her in his arms.
Erik’s merest touch could seduce Claire, and it was no different when they were dancing. They waltzed around the foyer, looking deeply into one another’s eyes as Erik hummed a three-quarter time melody.
After several minutes, Erik stopped humming and the two of them ceased their dance. He bent his mouth toward hers and she met him eagerly. Their imaginary ballroom was soon forgotten.