Viennese waltz

The Viennese waltz is a fast and elegant ballroom dance. It is known for its constant spinning motion. This movement is called a rotary dance. Dancers turn continuously in a specific direction. They can turn toward the leader's right, which is called a natural turn. They can also turn toward the leader's left, which is known as a reverse turn. To change directions, dancers use non-rotating change steps. This dance is much faster than the English or slow waltz. While the slow waltz moves at 90 beats per minute, the Viennese waltz moves at about 180 beats per minute.

In modern ballroom dancing, there are two main versions of this dance. The first is the International Style. This style is part of the International Standard division. It requires dancers to stay in a closed position. This means the partners hold each other closely while they spin. The syllabus for this style is very specific. It includes natural and reverse turns, along with closed and open changes. Dancers also perform moves called fleckerls, contra checks, and the left whisk. Some competitions also include canter-time pivot turns, though the World Dance Council excludes them.

The second version is the American Style. This style offers much more freedom to the dancers. They have more choices regarding their dance positions. They also have a much larger syllabus of moves to choose from. Unlike the strict International Style, American Style allows for more variety. Some modern moves, such as the side sway or underarm turns, are also used in contemporary dancing. However, a true Viennese waltz traditionally consists only of turns and change steps. Other moves are considered modern inventions.

The history of the waltz began in the second half of the 18th century. It emerged in Austria from older German dances. One of these precursor dances was the Ländler. At that time, the dance looked very different from what we see today. Couples did not use the closed hold position. Instead, they used arm positions similar to the Allemande. Some couples danced side by side or in a semi-closed hold. Their arms were often intertwined. They also kept their feet turned out. The rise of the foot during the dance was much more pronounced than it is now.

Early dancers also faced social challenges. In the late 1700s, the dance was subject to much criticism. Dancers wore long gowns that were difficult to manage. They would lift their dresses high like cloaks to prevent stepping on them. This action brought their bodies very close together. This closeness attracted moral disparagement from many people. In 1797, a man named Wolf published a pamphlet against the dance. He claimed it was a source of weakness for the body and mind. Even with this negativity, the dance became very popular in Vienna. Large dance halls like the Zum Sperl and the Apollo opened to hold thousands of dancers.

The spread of the waltz was helped by major historical events and famous musicians. The dance gained ground during the Congress of Vienna at the start of the 19th century. It reached England sometime before 1812, where it was known as the German waltz. Music played a massive role in its fame. Famous composers like Josef Lanner and Johann Strauss I wrote music for it. Johann Strauss II, the son of the elder Strauss, also wrote famous compositions. These musical works helped the dance become known globally as the Viennese waltz.

Today, the Viennese waltz remains a significant part of dance culture. It connects modern dancers to centuries of tradition. In New York, a society called the Waltz Series works to preserve it. They are devoted to the pre-World War I traditions of the dance. They organize programs to keep these specific styles alive. The dance represents a shift in how people interacted on a dance floor. Before the waltz, most European social dances were communal sequence dances. In those dances, everyone followed a preset pattern. Couples faced outward toward spectators. The waltz changed this by making couples independent of one another. They turned toward each other instead of the crowd.