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Waltz
The peasants of Bavaria, Tyrol, and Styria began dancing a dance called Walzer,
a dance for couples, around 1750. The Ländler, also known as the Schleifer, a country
dance in 3/4 time, was popular in Bohemia, Austria, and Bavaria, and spread from
the countryside to the suburbs of the city. While the eighteenth century upper classes
continued to dance the minuet, bored noblemen slipped away to the balls of their
servants.
Describing life in Vienna (dated at either 1776 or 1786), Don Curzio wrote, "
The people were dancing mad. ... The ladies of Vienna are particularly celebrated
for their grace and movements of waltzing of which they never tire." There
is a waltz in the second act finale of the opera "Una Cosa Rara" written
by Martin y Solar in 1786. Solar's waltz was marked Andante con moto, or "at
a walking pace with motion”, but the character of the dance was speeded up in Vienna
leading to the Geschwindwalzer, and the Galloppwalzer.
In the transition from country to town, the hopping of the Ländler, a the dance
known as Langaus, became a sliding step, and gliding rotation replaced stamping
rotation.
In the 19th century the word primarily indicated that the dance was a turning one;
one would "waltz" in the polka to indicate rotating rather than going
straight forward without turning.
The Vienese custom is to slightly anticipate the second beat, which conveys a faster,
lighter rhythm, and also breaks of the phrase. The younger Strauss would sometimes
break up the one-two-three of the melody with a one-two pattern in the accompaniment
along with other rhythms, maintaining the 3/4 time while causing the dancers to
dance a two-step waltz. The metronome speed for a full bar varies between 60 and
70, with the waltzes of the first Strauss often played faster than those of his
sons.
Shocking many when it was first introduced, the waltz became fashionable in Vienna
around the 1780s, spreading to many other countries in the years to follow. The
waltz, and especially its closed position, became the example for the creation of
many other ballroom dances. Subsequently, new types of waltz have developed, including
many folk and several ballroom dances.
Styles of Waltz
In the 19th and early 20th century, numerous different forms of waltz existed, including
versions done in 2/4 or 6/8 (sauteuse), and 5/4 time (5/4 waltz, half and half).
In the 1910s, a form called the "Hesitation Waltz" was introduced by Vernon
and Irene Castle. It incorporated Hesitations and was danced to fast music. A Hesitation
is basically a halt on the standing foot during the full waltz measure, with the
moving foot suspended in the air or slowly dragged. Similar figures (Hesitation
Change, Drag Hesitation, Cross Hesitation) are incorporated in the International
Standard Waltz syllabus.
- In contemporary ballroom dance, the fast versions of the waltz are called Viennese
Waltz.
- International Standard Waltz has only closed figures; that is, the couple never
leaves closed position.
- The American Style Waltz, in contrast to the International Standard Waltz, involves
breaking contact almost entirely in some figures. For example, the Syncopated Side-by-Side
with Spin includes a free spin for both partners. Open rolls are another good example
of an open dance figure, in which the follower alternates between the lead's left
and right sides, with the lead's left or right arm (alone) providing the lead. Waltzes
were the staple of many American musicals and films, including "Waltz in Swing
Time" sung by Fred Astaire.
- The Cross Step Waltz is a newer style of waltz where the first step is a cross-step
into the line of direction. This was popularized in classes at Stanford University
and allows for a much richer assortment of variations.
- The Peruvian Waltz (Called and recognized in Peru as vals criollo).
- The Mexican Waltz (vals mexicano) follows the same basic rhythmic pattern as the
standard waltz, but the melodies reflect a strong Spanish influence.
- Tango vals allows the dancers to dance one, two, three, or no steps to any four
beats of waltz music; and to vary the number of steps per bar throughout the song.
- The Venezuelan waltz
- Country Western Waltz is 99% progressive, moving counter clock wise around the dance
floor. Both the posture and frame are relaxed, with posture bordering on a slouch.
The exaggerated hand and arm gestures of some ballroom styles are not part of this
style. Couples may frequently dance in the promenade position, depending on local
preferences.
