The Aeroplane Waltz or Glide
Dance by Joan Sawyer
Music by Chas. Konedski-Davis
Published 1914
[This composition has parts that represent certain dance movements. These are described below]
1. PREPARING THE AEROPLANE. The music starts with a slow 6/8 movement, while the Dancers promenade
the centre of the Ballroom, and take up their positions.
2. LEAVING THE HANGAR. The waltz opens with a sustained tremolo, the dancers poising and the music
becoming louder as the machine with a joyous bound emerges into the open and the Dance begins with
3. THE RUNNING GLIDE in which the Dancers take the regular Tango position, run four steps, hold
two, swaying, then run back four steps, illustrating the beginning and Rise [4] of the Aeroplane.
5. THE CRISS-CROSS FLIGHT. Lady stands in front of Gent, hands slightly raised, take two steps
forward to the left, turn, take two steps forward to the right, hold two beats and resume doubly
slow, allowing the two beats of the music to each step, swaying as much as possible to illustrate
indecision in the flight of the Aeroplane.
6. IN MID-AIR, the music reverts to the original rhythm, till with a well marked eight bars (Ben
Marcato) it brings the dancers to the
7. SPIRAL FLIGHT. Here the couple breaks into a rapid waltz, the lady with her back to Partner,
resume the Running Glide, constantly revolving to give the spiral effect.
8. THE STRAIGHT FLIGHT, is a lapse into the simple waltz step, after which pose four beats before
beginning the
9. AERIAL GLIDE, illustrated by dancing rapidly under each other's arms, keeping the rhythm of the
music, making
10. THE DIP on the last beat of each alternate bar of the music, and
11. CIRCLING THE AERODROME or Ballroom in this manner, introducing the Loop [12] occasionally. The
dance now changes to the ordinary hesitation or half step waltz, increasing the tempo till
13. THE VOLPLANE or Finale is reached with a bow by the Gent and low courtesy on the part of the
lady, the last movement of the Dance and Beat of the music being simultaneous.