Travel Steps Study Guide 6.7: Ball-Change Variations

Ball-Change and Step-Ball-Change Variations

Note:  for the purposes of Travel Steps and these exercises, please consider a "ball-change" to be any rebounding weight change, including those that utilize flat feet.

Layering Variations

Try out the layered variations included in Travel Steps.  (Work from the content listing in this guide, or follow along with the DVD).  Travel Steps shows several ball-changes that change weight out to a foot with a lifted heel, and then return weight to a flat foot.  Try ball-changing out onto a flat foot, and stepping back to a foot with a lifted heel.  What other variations can you create?  Any weighted hip movement can layer on steps, and upper body movements are an option too.  If there are any movements you particularly enjoy using that weren’t demonstrated as layers in Travel Steps, try them out now as possibilities for layering a ball-change.  If you’ve printed out this study guide, get a pen and add your moves to the content listing. 

Directional Variations

A ball change is most often a step out, followed by a weight change that pulls the body back to its original position.  However, any linked pair of steps that travel in different directions may make a ball change, and changing the directionality of those steps creates a huge number of possible variations.  Here is a list to run through.  (Some dancers may also consider two steps in the same direction to be a ball change, if they are two different types of steps—like a step across followed by a step side, or a step side followed by a step together.  I haven’t included these possibilities.) Remember to try each variation leading with both the right and left foot.  If you are feeling ambitious, you could also try layering the ball changes.

Ball-Changes Starting from a Close Parallel Stance

First step	Second Step
In place	In place
Side	In place
Side	Front
Side	Back
Front	In place
Front	Side
Front	Across Front
Front	Across Back
Back	In place
Back	Side
Back	Across Front
Back	Across Back
Across Front	In place
Across Front	Front
Across Front	Back
Across Back	In
Across Back	Front
Across Back	Back
In place	Side
In place	Front
In place	Back
In place	Across front
In place	Across back

Ball Changes Starting from a Wide Stance (Weight on one foot, the free leg extended side)

First Step	Second Step
Together	In Place
Together	Front
Together	Back
Together	Across Front
Together	Across Back

Ball Changes Starting from a Staggered Stance with Weight on the Back Foot

First Step	Second Step
Together	In Place
Together	Side
Together	Front
Together	Across Front
Together	Across Back

Ball Changes from a Staggered Stance with Weight on the Front Foot

First Step	Second Step
Together	In Place
Together	Side
Together	Back
Together	Across Front
Together	Across Back

Ball Changes Starting from a Crossed-in-Back Stance

First Step	Second Step
Together	In Place
Together	Side
Together	Front
Together	Across Front
Together	Back

Ball Changes Starting from a Crossed-in-Front Stance

First Step	Second Step
Together	In Place
Together	Side
Together	Back
Together	Front
Together	Across Back

The possibilities for step-ball-change and ball-change-step are even more numerous.  To use this listing, try a step forward, back, side, across front, or across back for any step “out.”  A sequence that includes a step together before a step out needs to start from a wide or staggered stance, or from a position with one foot crossed in front or behind the other.  This listing is overwhelming; don’t get bogged down.  I suggest just choosing one or two possibilities, or

even to skip the list and just try experimenting with three-step phrases that include at least one direction change.

First Step	Second Step	Thirds Step
In Place	In Place	In Place
Out	Out	Out
Out	In Place	In Place
In Place	Out	In Place
In Place	In Place	Out
In Place	Out	Out
Out	In Place	Out
Out	Out	In Place
Together	In Place	In Place
In Place	Together	In Place
In Place	In Place	Together
Together	Out	Out
Out	Together	Out
Out	Out	Together
Together	Out	Together
Out	Together	In Place
Out	In Place	Together
In Place	Out	Together
In Place	Together	Out
Together	Out	In Place
Together	In Place	Out

Timing Variations

Travel Steps focuses on steps that happen on the beat, but you may also step rhythmically on the “&” between beats.  If you’d like to practice counting music or stepping rhythmically, run through these footwork patterns, working to music in 4/4 time or a metronome or rhythm track.  For the most basic option use steps forward and ball-changes to the side; or create your own directional and layer variations.  Take note of the different visual emphasis created by each pattern.

1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&
Ball-		Change		Step		Step
Step		Ball-		Change		Step
Step		Step		Ball-		Change
Change		Step		Step		Ball-

1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&
Step		Step		Step	Ball-	Change
Step		Step	Ball	Change		Step
Step	Ball-	Change		Step		Step
Change		Step		Step		Step	Ball

1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&
Ball-	Change	Step		Step		Step
Step		Ball	Change	Step		Step
Step		Step		Ball	Change	Step
Step		Step		Step		Ball-	Change

1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&
Step	Ball-	Change		Step	Ball-	Change
	Step	Ball-	Change		Step	Ball-	Change
Ball-	Change	Step		Ball-	Change	Step
	Ball-	Change	Step		Ball-	Change	Step

Ideally, your steps should emphasize accents in the music or follow the phrasing of the melody.  Simple patterns are usually fine, but some music may call for more complex phrasing.  Here are few examples of other ways to creatively combine step and ball-change elements.

1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&
Step	Ball-	Change		Step	Step	Step	Step
Step	Ball-	Change		Ball-	Change	Step
Step	Ball-	Change			Ball-	Change	Step
Ball-		Change			Ball-	Change	Step
Step		Ball-	Change		Step	Step

Try creating a few footwork sequences of your own.  To focus on technique, work without music, or use a rhythm track.  Or, focus on musical interpretation, creating footwork sequences for a particular song.  For a simple exercise, just use steps forward and ball-changes to the side.  For a greater challenge, layer your steps, and vary their direction. 

→ Next in the Travel Steps Study Guide: Step-Hold Variations 

← Previous: Changing Direction with Hip Rotation; Belly Dance “Pas de Bourrée”; & Cross-Pivot 

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