by Anne Stjern

Created on: November 09, 2009

A seamless blend of style and grace, competitive Ballroom Dance lists the Waltz as the first dance presented, whether for International Standard or American Smooth.

Reintroduced to television audiences through shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, Dancing with the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance, ballroom dancing has experienced an unprecedented resurgence in popularity. The interest in these shows has triggered a new appreciation of the beauty, elegance, and athleticism of ballroom dance and a much-appreciated boost in business at dance studios.

The Origin of the Waltz

The slow, graceful movements and elegant costumes bring a feeling of romance to the ballroom floor whenever the waltz is performed. The exact origin of the dance is unknown although, several folk dances including the Waltzen and Lndler from Austria and Bavaria and the Volta, which is attributed to both Italy and France, are "turning" dances that share characteristics with the early Waltz. Overlooking its peasant roots, the Waltz became extremely popular in Vienna, Austria following its presentation in the 1788 opera, una cosa rara by Vicente Martn y Soler.

Breaking into Popular Society

Until the waltz, dancer partners did not actually embrace one another. The intricate minuet and its cousin the quadrilles both popular at court, were executed with the couples staying at arm's length for the entire dance. Dancers clutching each other in the now accepted close hold were considered vulgar and immoral. Even after George, the Prince Regent included the dance into a ball he hosted in London in 1816; there was considerable resistance to the Waltz. Gradually, however, the excitement and beauty of the dance won over its critics and during the middle of the 19th century, the Waltz came into fashion.

Styles of the Waltz

Since its appearance on the Vienna stage, the Waltz has undergone numerous changes in speed, figures, and holds, finally settling on two versions of the dance: the Waltz and the Viennese Waltz, and two styles: the International Style and the American Style. Although each style is unique having its own movements, steps and tempo, the core of the dances is the same. Each style is preformed in -time though at speeds ranging from 30 bars per minute (90 beats per minute) to 120-180 bars per minute.

The Waltz

Based on a slow waltz developed in Boston in the early 1900s, today's Waltz is an elegant progressive dance typically performed at the romantic speed of 30 bars per minute. Partners

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