#24 count intro. March 2009.
[1-6]: CROSS L, SIDE R, REPLACE L (TWINKLE), CROSS R, 1/4R BACK L, 1/2R FWD R
1-3
Step Left over Right, rock-step side Right on ball of Right, replace weight onto Left
4-6
Step Right over Left, make 1/4 turn right and step Left back, make 1/2 turn right and step forward Right - 9 o’clock
[7-12]: FWD BASIC LRL (3), BACK R, DRAG L TOUCH, HOLD
1-3
Step forward Left, step Right beside Left, step Left in place
4-6
Long step back Right, drag left toes back to touch beside Right, Hold weight on Right
[13-24]: REPEAT COUNTS 1-12
1-12
Repeat previous 12 steps/counts - 6 o’clock
[25-30]: FWD L, ROCK FWD R, REPLACE L, BACK R, 1/2L FWD L, FWD R
1-3
Step forward Left, rock-step forward Right, rock- replace weight back onto Left
4-6
Step back Right, make 1/2 turn left and step forward Left, step forward Right
[31-36]:FWD L, 1/4L SIDE R, BEHIND L, SIDE R, CROSS ROCK L, REPLACE R
1-3
Step forward Left, make 1/4 turn left and step side Right, step Left across behind Right - 9 o’clock
4-6
Step side Right, cross-rock Left over Right, replace weight onto Right
[37-42]:1/4L FWD L, 1/2L BACK R, 1/4L SIDE L, CROSS R, SIDE L, 1/4R BACK R
1-3
Make 1/4 turn left step forward Left, make 1/2 turn left step back Right, make 1/4 turn left step side Left - 9 o’clock
4-6
Step Right over Left, step side Left, make 1/4 turn right step back Right - 12 o’clock
[43-48]:BACK BASIC LRL (3), FWD BASIC RLR (3)
1-3
Step back Left, step Right beside Left, step Left in place
4-6
Step forward Right, step Left beside Right, step Right in place
[1-6]: FWD BASIC LRL (3), BACK BASIC RLR (3)
1-3
Step forward Left, step Right beside Left, step Left in place
4-6
Step backward Right, step Left beside Right, step Right in place
This is a reasonably fast waltz with quite a few turns and not many repetitions, so I decided to make it 1 wall which I hope helps a little. Note the ’long step’ on count 10 - you need to make it long to keep the dance centred.
I was introduced to the song in the early hours of the morning during a ‘party night’ with good friends, and the lyrics and the voice grabbed me immediately, so it resonates with me in many ways as well as making me want to get up and dance . I’m guessing that like me until then, most people will probably never have heard of Benny Berry.
The CD (same name as song, released 2002) and many of his songs, are available on Spotify & Amazon.
The dance was choreographed to teach at a workshop in Hawaii.