Standard Dance - Viennese Waltz

• The Viennese Waltz is characterized by three criteria:

  • 3/4 time with emphasis on the first beat

  • Pendulum-like or swinging movements

  • Many turns

• Classically, the Viennese Waltz is understood as a turning dance around the edge of the dance floor. However, since the dance floor is often very busy, making it difficult to execute the sweeping turns, numerous other elements can be combined in the Viennese Waltz.

• The distance between dance partners can be somewhat greater for practice; as it becomes more professional, we move closer together.

• Unlike the Slow Waltz, in which we must pay extreme attention to the rise and fall, this is far less pronounced in the Viennese Waltz due to the fast tempo and is instead achieved through body extension.

History

With its 60 bars per minute (180 bpm), the Viennese Waltz is one of the fastest standard dances in the World Dance Program.

The Viennese Waltz is one of the fastest standard dances in the World Dance Program.

... The dance is about twice as fast as the Slow Waltz.

The Viennese Waltz originated in Austria around 1770 and is therefore one of the oldest social dances.

The basic step of the Viennese Waltz consists of six steps, which equates to two measures when danced in 3/4 time. In 6/8 time, the basic step is performed in one measure.

The Viennese Waltz is danced in 6/8 time. In German competitive ballroom dancing, the Viennese Waltz is used from the B-class upwards, and in Austria from the D-class upwards.

Basic Step Forward

• To start, we should face forward in the direction of the dance, with our joined hands (decorative hands) pointing towards the center of the room.

• In the basic step forward, the gentleman dances forward and the lady always dances backward.

• The entire basic step is danced over two bars or six steps.

• The basic step can also serve as a transition step when changing from a right to a left turn (then over one bar or three steps to allow for a foot change).

• If we want to dance the basic step in a square, the gentleman's first three steps are as described in the first bar, and in the second bar, the gentleman performs the basic step backward, which is identical to the lady's first step (three steps backward / one bar).

Basic Step Forward - Gentlemen's Steps / Leader

• At the start, the weight is on the left foot so that the right foot can step forward between the lady's feet.

• The gentleman's first step is taken with the Right foot straight forward

• The gentleman's second step is danced to the side with the left foot

• The third step is joined with the right foot to the left foot

• The second part of this three-step combination begins for the gentleman with his left foot

Basic step forward - Ladies' steps / Followers

• At the start, the weight is on the right foot to dance back with the left foot

• The lady's first step is danced straight back with the left foot

• The lady's second step is danced to the side with the right foot

• The third step is joined with the left foot to the right foot

• The second part of this three-step combination begins for the lady with her right foot