The Viennese Waltz is the oldest ballroom dance, initially appearing in Germany and Austria in the late 18th century, and later spreading to England, under the name of the “German Waltz” in the early 19th century. Johann Strauss wrote the first Waltz music which was fast and required greater technique and endurance from dancers. Due to the speed, rise and fall in Viennese Waltz is less pronounced than in Waltz. A true Viennese is composed entirely of turns and change steps, making it known as the Rotary Waltz. With its turns and elegance, Viennese Waltz has a magical feeling.
Johann Strauss wrote the first Waltz music which was fast and required greater technique and endurance from dancers. Due to the speed, rise and fall in Viennese Waltz is less pronounced than in Waltz. As years went by, slower Waltz music was composed. While both Viennese Waltz and Waltz are written in ¾ time, Viennese Waltz came to be differentiated from Waltz because of its speed, which can be up to 4 times faster, and because of its emphasis on rotating down the floor. A true Viennese is composed entirely of turns and change steps, making it known as the Rotary Waltz. With its turns and elegance, Viennese Waltz has a magical feeling.
Viennese Waltz shares the scandalous reputation Waltz had in the same time and location. The closed hold between partners was a change from dancing that was socially done in groups. Attention was brought to the new close embrace between partners. Religious leaders found the dance immoral, but musicians and dancers alike celebrated Waltzing and the dance form circulated throughout Europe and made its way to America.
There are two forms of Viennese Waltz, International Style and American Style. International Style adheres to the rotary roots of the dance while American Style opens up some of the dance patterns and deviates from close hold.
Today Viennese Waltz is danced at black tie affairs. It is also danced socially and competitively.
