Viennese Waltz
I. Introduction
Viennese Waltz is the oldest of all the modern ballroom and fast-moving dance expressed most
beautifully when a large group of dancers is on the floor at the same time. It is characterized by sweeping,
graceful turns that rotate quickly around the floor.
It is a fast paced (180 beats a minute) rotary dance where the dancers are
constantly turning either in a clockwise (natural) or counter-clockwise
(reverse) direction interspersed with non-rotating change steps to switch
between the directions of rotation. A true Viennese waltz consists only of
turns and change steps.
Originally a folk dance in rural Viennese, Austria and Germany, it’s a fast,
vibrant and sometimes dizzying dance that requires quick but smooth and
elegant turns. It was the first ballroom dance performed in the closed hold or
“waltz” position.
II. History
History of the Viennese Waltz
The Viennese Waltz is the oldest form of ballroom dance.
It emerged in the 18th century around 1750.
Local folk dances in Bavaria and Austria in the 18th
century adopted these dances, their character changed
immensely. They changed both musically as well as in the
choreography. The tempo of the dance became much faster,
and graceful gliding replaced the popular hopping
movement of the folk dances. At the time, it was only known as “ waltz”, but the later introduction of the
slower waltz was the reason why the faster original version was renamed and differentiated by as
“Viennese Waltz” after its place of origin.
