St Bernards Waltz

This dance was choreographed in England in 1913 and considered more a novelty or 'party dance'. It is also known as the 'knock knock dance' because many over-emphasise that section with loud stamps. The English version is a simple sequence with a few glides and the 'knock knock' steps following by rotary waltz turns. In 1937 renowned dance instructors Mr and Mrs Harry and Emile Leggett of Leggett's Ballroom in Prahran Melbourne devised a 'new old-time' St Bernard Waltz by replacing the knock knock steps with an extra glide and then following the rotary waltz there's an added extra section in the skater's hold. It is a very nice version and was actually taken across to Scotland by the Leggett's and where it is still known in some districts today.
There is an original tune for the 1913 version and other tunes such as Oh Oh Antonio and Little Sir Echo make good support tunes in which the knock knock beat can be incorporated in the tune. There is also a collected Australian tune 'Katia' from the late Arthur Bowley of Marshall Mount NSW which admirably suits the dance. Leggett's had a special tune composed for their version which did not require the knock knock section.
In the second version demonstrated, Leggett's arrangement is danced, but the knock knock step has been put back in place to make it more in keeping with the nuance of the original dance. There is also a New Vogue version where the knock knock stamps have been replaced with a subtle rise and fall on the spot, but it does look a little as if the dancers have let a 'squeaker' go.
Video footage demonstrated by dancers of the Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo, directed by Peter Ellis, May 2013.