Waltz
The Waltz (from German: “Walzer”) is a smooth, progressive ballroom and folk dance, generally in about this sound triple time, performed primarily in a closed position.
The term “Waltz” originates from the old German word “walzen,” which means to roll, turn, or glide. So essentially, this dance is all about gliding in a lively or conspicuous manner (to advance quickly and successfully). The Waltz is a ballroom dance in 3/4 time with a strong accent on the first beat and a basic pattern of step-step-close.
The Waltz is a dance born in the suburbs of Vienna and in the alpine region of Austria. As early as the seventeenth century, Waltzes were played in the ballrooms of the Habsburg court, one of the most influential and distinguished royal houses of Europe. The “weller”, or turning dances, were danced by peasants in Austria and Bavaria even before that time. Many of the familiar Waltz tunes can be traced back to simple peasant yodeling melodies. During the middle of the eighteenth century, the Allemande form of the Waltz was very popular in France. Originally danced as one of the figures in the Contredanse, with arms intertwining at shoulder level, it soon became an independent dance, and the close-hold was introduced. By the end of the eighteenth century, this old Austrian peasant dance had been accepted by high society, and the three-quarters rhythm was here to stay.