Waltz - Standard Dance Class

When the waltz was introduced into England during the early 19th century it scandalised society. Never before had the man clasped the lady to him in a facing position with him arm round her waist and rotted round the ballroom in what was almost an embrace; and rarely, if ever, had the dancers appeared to be dancing for their own pleasure as opposed to providing entertainment for admiring onlookers. Add t this the turned out toes derived from classical ballet which wearer still in use in the ballrooms of that time and the impact must have been considerable. We hear much of the disapproval voiced by the older generation, but seldom mentioned is the fact that the ringing queen (Victoria) was a keen and expert ballroom dancer with a special love of the waltz.

Fortunately, the violent opposition faded out and the waltz weathered an varied career, emerging today in to accepted forms, both replacing the main characteristics of the dance. These are known respectively as the modern (or diagonal) waltz and the Viennese (or quick)n waltz.

It would be necessary to study a detailed history of ballroom during to follow the various changes that finally brought us the present day version, but briefly it can be said that just before and during the first world war the waltz went out the fashion in England, and a craze for the new syncopated rhythms brought over from American swept the country.

So although waltz music was still popular the tempo was shower and the steps had to set form. In the early 1920s, attempts were made by the teaching profession to find a uniform basic step that expressed this music, while at the same time following the accepted natural walking action. Finally, it was agreed that the feet should close on the third beat of a bar whether forward close, or forward side close. Right and left turns alternated by change steps were recommended, the man making a whole turn from the position at which he started, somethings dancing as many as two or three complete right and left turns in sequence.

Basic-II

Intermediate