The Waltz:
The Waltz dates back to the country folk dances of Bavaria , but it was not introduced into society until 1812, when it made its appearance in the English ballrooms. In the 16 th century, it was danced as a round dance called the “Volte.” When the Waltz was eventually introduced into the ballrooms of the world in the early 19 th century, it was met with outraged indignation. A man dancing with his had around a lady's waist? No proper young maiden would compromise herself in such a way.
The Waltz did not become popular among the European middle class until the first decade of the 20 th century. Until then, it was the cherished property of the aristocracy. Yet in the United States , the citizenry was dancing it as early as 1840. Immediately upon its introduction to the States, it became one of the most popular of all American dances, and was the only dance to survive the “Ragtime Revolution.” With the beginning of Ragtime in 1910 however, the Waltz slipped into second place in the American's fancy, being supplanted by the many walking, strutting dances of that era.
The latter part of the 19 th century found composers writing Waltzes to a slower tempo than that of the original Viennese Waltz style. Then an even slower tempo came into prominence in the early 1920s, with the result that today we have three distinct tempos: the fast “Viennese” style, a medium tempo Waltz, and the slow Waltz, the last two being of American invention.
Waltz music is written in 3/4 time and should be played at a tempo of about 36-40 measures per minute for most social dancing. The Waltz is a progressive and turning dance moving around the dance floor. The figures are designed for both a larger ballroom floor and the average nightclub floor. A swaying motion and an up and down (rise and fall) of the body highlight the smooth lilting style of the Waltz.
Your Waltz lesson begins by the two dance partners facing each other in dance position. The man's right hand is placed on the lady's back just below the shoulder blade with his right elbow held up and away from the body. His left elbow is held in the same manner as the right elbow with his left hand extended up. The lady then places her left hand on the man's right shoulder and allows her arm to lightly rest along the man's right arm. Her right hand is placed in the man's left. If you are practicing alone, extend your arms out in front of you with your elbows bent as if in dance position.