The Telemark is a ballroom dance step; in waltz competition, it is in the Silver syllabus. Telemarks are reverse turns where the follower (the lady) does a heel turn as the leader (the man) travels around her. There are similar Telemarks in foxtrot and quickstep.[1]

The term Telemark is borrowed from skiing, in which a turn is generated by a forward leg motion. The closed Telemark and open Telemark are fairly similar. However, the closed Telemark ends in closed position, while the open Telemark ends in promenade position.[2]

Closed Telemark

The closed Telemark can be followed by a natural turn, natural spin turn, hesitation change, or forward lock.[1]

Leader (man)
Beat Foot position Alignment Amount of turn Footwork
1 Left foot forward Facing diagonal center Starting to turn left Heel – toe
2 Right foot to side Almost backing line of dance Slightly less than 3⁄8 between 1 and 2 Toe
3 Left foot to side and slightly forward Pointing diagonal wall Slightly over 3⁄8 between 2 and 3; body turns less Toe – heel
1 Right foot forward in contra body movement position (CBMP), outside partner (OP) Facing diagonal wall Heel
Follower (lady)
Beat Foot position Alignment Amount of turn Footwork
1 Right foot back Backing line of dance Starting to turn left Toe – heel
2 Left foot closes to Right foot (heel turn) Facing line of dance 3⁄8 between 1 and 2 Heel – toe
3 Right foot to side and slightly back Backing diagonal wall 3⁄8 between 2 and 3, body turns less Toe – heel
1 Left foot back in CBMP Backing diagonal wall Toe

Open Telemark

The open Telemark can be followed by an open natural turn, a chassé from promenade position, cross hesitation, wing, or left whisk from promenade position.[1]

Leader (man)
Beat Foot position Alignment Amount of turn Footwork
1 Left foot forward Facing diagonal center Starting to turn left Heel – toe
2 Right foot to side Backing diagonal wall 1⁄4 between 1 and 2 Toe
3 Left foot to side and slightly forward in promenade position (PP) Pointing diagonal wall, body facing wall 1⁄2 between 2 and 3, body turns less Toe – heel
Follower (lady)
Beat Foot position Alignment Amount of turn Footwork
1 Right foot back Backing diagonal center Starting to turn left Toe – heel
2 Left foot closes to right foot (heel turn) Facing line of dance 3⁄8 between 1 and 2 Heel – toe
3 Right foot diagonally forward and slightly to right in PP, right side leading Facing line of dance Slight body turn to left Toe – heel

References

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