Katana VentraIP

Waltz

The waltz (from German Walzer [ˈvalt͡sɐ̯]), meaning "to roll or revolve")[1] is a ballroom and folk dance, normally in triple (3
4 time), performed primarily in closed position.

"Valzer" redirects here. For the 2007 Italian film, see Valzer (film).

Genre

Ballroom dance

3
4

In contemporary , the fast versions of the waltz are called Viennese waltz as opposed to the Slow waltz.[23]

ballroom dance

In , the waltz was taught by travelling dancing masters to those who could afford their lessons during the 19th century. By the end of that century, the dance spread to the middle and lower classes of Irish society and traditional triple-tune tunes and songs were altered to fit the waltz rhythm. During the 20th century, the waltz found a distinctively Irish playing style in the hands of Céilidh musicians at dances.[24][25]

traditional Irish music

has only closed figures; that is, the couple never breaks the embrace.

International Standard Waltz

The , part of the American Smooth ballroom dance syllabus, 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.

American Style Waltz

The Scandinavian Waltz, performed as a part of , can be fast or slow, but the dancers are always rotating.

Scandinavian folk dance

The is called and recognised in Peru as vals criollo.

Peruvian Waltz

The (vals mexicano) follows the same basic rhythmic pattern as the standard waltz, but the melodies reflect a strong Spanish influence. Mexico's Juventino Rosas wrote "Sobre las Olas" or "Over the Waves”.

Mexican Waltz

The is danced progressively around the floor, and is characterised by the subtle swaying of the hips and step very close to ordinary walking. It is danced entirely in the closed position.

Cajun Waltz

The Cuban (or Tropical) Waltz follows the pattern of the standard waltz throughout the song.

The provided a basis for distinctive regional musical composition.

Venezuelan waltz

The Contra Waltz (Freeform Waltz), included in most evenings, uses both open and closed positions, and incorporates moves from other dances such as swing, modern jive and salsa. Basically the dancers progress around the dance floor with a waltz step, but with no constraints on what moves they can use.

contra dance

The , a form of waltz popular in France, started in the late 19th century.

Valse Musette

The (French Valse Boston) developed in France in the early 20th century and is popular in social waltz groups today.

cross-step waltz

In folk dance from the region, waltzes in odd metres such as 5
4, 8
4 and 11
4 are found. In modern bal folk, waltzes in even higher metres are played and danced.

Alsace

folk dance Labajalavalss (flat of the foot waltz) performed in 3
4 time.[26]

Estonian

(also known as usul semai) is a vocal piece of Ottoman Turkish music composed in 6/8 metres. This form and metre (usul in Turkish) is often confused with the completely different Saz Semaisi, an instrumental form consisting of three to four sections, in 10/8 metre, or usul aksak semai (broken semai in Turkish). Semai is one of the most important forms in Ottoman Turkish Sufi music.[27][28]

Sama'i

The Tsamikos (: Τσάμικος, Tsamikos) or Kleftikos (Greek: Κλέφτικος) is a popular traditional folk dance of Greece, done to music of 3
4 metre.[29]

Greek

In the 19th and early 20th century, numerous different waltz forms existed, including versions performed in 3
4, 3
8 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.[19] It incorporated "hesitations" and was danced to fast music. A hesitation is basically a halt on the standing foot during the full waltz bar, with the moving foot suspended in the air or slowly dragged. Similar figures (Hesitation Change, Drag Hesitation, and Cross Hesitation) are incorporated in the International Standard Waltz Syllabus.


The Country Western Waltz is mostly 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. Within Country Western waltz, there is the Spanish Waltz and the more modern (for the late 1930s- early 1950s) Pursuit Waltz. At one time it was considered ill treatment for a man to make the woman walk backwards in some locations.[20]


In California, the waltz was banned by Mission priests until 1834 because of the "closed" dance position.[21] Thereafter a Spanish Waltz was danced. This Spanish Waltz was a combination of dancing around the room in closed position, and a "formation" dance of two couples facing each other and performing a sequence of steps.[21] "Valse a Trois Temps" was the "earliest" waltz step, and the Rye Waltz was preferred as a couple dance.[22]

Waltz basic steps

Music regarding: Waltz within traditional dances of the County of Nice (France)

Scroll to "Five Step Waltz" for notes about probable 1847 origin and associated music published the same year.

Thomas Wilson's 1816 Waltz Manual