Viennese waltz facts for kids
The Viennese waltz (German: Wiener Walzer) is a lively and elegant ballroom dance. It is known as the original style of the waltz. This dance was the first ballroom dance where partners danced in a "closed hold" position, facing each other closely.
The Viennese waltz is quite fast, with about 180 beats per minute! This is much quicker than the "slow waltz" (also called the English waltz), which is danced at about 90 beats per minute. In countries like Germany, Austria, and France, when people say "waltz," they usually mean the fast Viennese waltz.
It's a "rotary dance," meaning dancers are always spinning around. They turn either to the right (called "natural") or to the left (called "reverse"). Dancers use special "change steps" to switch between these turning directions.
As the waltz developed, the faster versions became known as "Viennese waltz" to tell them apart from slower waltzes. Today, there are two main styles of Viennese waltz in ballroom dancing: the International Style and the American Style.
The Viennese waltz is a popular partner dance and a key part of modern ballroom dancing.
Contents
History of the Viennese Waltz
How the Dance Started
The Viennese waltz is the oldest ballroom dance still popular today. It started in Austria in the late 1700s. It grew out of older dances like the German dance and the Ländler. People loved it, but some also criticized it!
Back then, dancers wore long gowns. To keep their dresses from dragging, dancers would lift them high. This made their bodies very close, which some people thought was too daring. In 1797, someone even wrote a pamphlet saying the waltz was bad for people's health and minds!
Despite the criticism, the waltz became super popular in Vienna. Huge dance halls opened, like Zum Sperl in 1807, to hold thousands of dancers.
Spreading Across Europe
The dance reached England before 1812 and became a big hit there. It became even more famous after the Congress of Vienna in the early 1800s. Famous composers like Josef Lanner, Johann Strauss I, and his son, Johann Strauss II, wrote beautiful music for the waltz, making it even more beloved.
How the Waltz Changed
The early waltz was quite different from how it looks today. At first, couples did not dance in the close "closed position" we see now. Instead, they held each other more openly, sometimes side-by-side. Their arms would intertwine, and they would spin under raised arms.
Another big difference was how dancers used their feet. They would turn their feet outwards, and their feet would rise much more during the dance. This style limited how they could move.
The waltz brought a huge change to dancing. Before the waltz, most European social dances were "communal." This meant all dancers on the floor followed a set pattern, often chosen by a leader. Dancers would face outwards to the audience as much as they faced each other. Everyone was part of one big group dance.
But with the waltz, couples danced independently. They turned towards each other, even if not in a close embrace at first. This new style was a big shift from the older group dances.
Viennese Waltz Technique and Styles
The Viennese waltz is a "rotary dance," meaning dancers are always turning. They spin either clockwise (called "natural") or counter-clockwise (called "reverse"). They use special "change steps" to switch between these turning directions. A true Viennese waltz mainly uses turns and change steps. Other moves you might see, like fleckerls or side sways, are more modern additions.
In dance competitions, the number of steps allowed in Viennese waltz is often limited, depending on the style and skill level.
International-Style Viennese Waltz
The International-style Viennese waltz is danced in a closed position, where partners stay close. The main steps include natural and reverse turns, closed and open changes, and some special turns like fleckerls.
American-Style Viennese Waltz
The American-style Viennese waltz offers more freedom. Dancers can use different dance positions and a wider variety of steps.
See also
In Spanish: Vals vienés para niños
