Editing Box step (section)

{{short description|Dance step}}
[[File:Rumba basic box step.svg|175px|thumb|right|Box step in [[Rhumba|rumba]] and left box in [[waltz]]]]

'''Box step''' is a [[Basic (dance move)|basic]] [[dance step]] named after the pattern it creates on the floor, which is that of a square or box.  It is used in a number of [[Ballroom glossary#American Style|American Style]] [[ballroom dance]]s: [[Rhumba|rumba]],<ref name="Rumba">{{cite web|url=https://www.ballroomdancers.com/dances/info.asp?sid=157|title=Rumba Box|publisher=BallroomDancers.com|accessdate=2020-06-09}}</ref> [[waltz]],<ref name="Waltz">{{cite web|url=https://www.ballroomdancers.com/dances/info.asp?sid=107|title=Left Box (Reverse) Turn|publisher=BallroomDancers.com|accessdate=2020-06-09}}</ref> bronze-level [[Foxtrot (dance)|foxtrot]].  While it can be performed individually, it is usually done with a partner.  This is the most common dance step in the waltz. In [[Glossary of partner dance terms#International Standard|international standard]] dance competition, there is a similar step called [[closed change]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ballroomdancers.com/dances/info.asp?sid=125|title=Closed Changes|publisher=BallroomDancers.com|accessdate=2020-06-09}}</ref>

In a typical example, the leader begins with the left foot and proceeds as follows.<ref name="Waltz" />
*First half-box: forward-side-together
*Second half-box: backwards-side-together
Every step is with full weight transfer.<ref name="Waltz" />

Rhythm varies. For example, it is "1-2-3, 4-5-6" in waltz and "slow quick quick, slow quick quick" in rumba.<ref name="Rumba" /><ref name="Waltz" />

In other dances (and in variations) the box may start from the left or right foot, either back or forward, or even sidewise. For example, in the {{lang|es|[[Samba de Gafieira#Quadrado|quadrado]]}} figure of {{lang|es|[[samba de Gafieira]]}} the leader steps (starting with the left foot) "left-together-back, right-together-forward".