Waltz: History, Steps, and Technique PDF

SOCIAL BALLROOM Ballroom dance - Type of social dancing, originally practiced in Europe and the United States - Performed by couples and follows prescribed steps. - The tradition was historically distinguished from folk or country dance by its association with the elite s...

SOCIAL BALLROOM Ballroom dance - Type of social dancing, originally practiced in Europe and the United States - Performed by couples and follows prescribed steps. - The tradition was historically distinguished from folk or country dance by its association with the elite social classes and with invitational dance events. Waltz - An elegant, nearly universal dance, perfect for weddings, or almost any social occasion. It's not as hard to learn as most people think. - It is a smooth and graceful dance with long, flowing movements, characterized by rise & fall motion. - It has a unique 3/4 timing and a simple rhythmic pattern which blends with the music. You can start waltzing very quickly by just learning the simple box step. History - A French philosopher by the name of Montaigne wrote of a dance that he witnessed where the couple dancing and how they held each other so close that their faces were touching. - These dances were seen as "godless" dances and were performed mainly by the peasant populations. - Upper class citizens continued to dance the minuet, while noblemen began to get bored and to join the balls of their servants. - When the Waltz was first introduced in Europe in the early 1800s, it was viewed as scandalous and "immoral" because of its very close dance embrace and its rapid turning movements. - The Waltz continues to be one of the most popular social dances, especially for ballroom dance fans and marrying wedding couples. The Waltz is also used as a competitive dance style. Timing and Rhythm - The basic box step pattern uses three counts - slow, quick, quick, which is repeated twice to create the box step. Timing is 1,2,3,1,2,3 or 1,2,3,4,5,6. - The waltz frame is a typical Rhythm frame. Musical Information - Time signature - 3 4 - Tempo - 28 measures per minute - Timing – 123 - Beat value is 1-1-1 Basic Steps 1. Step forward with the left foot. 2. Right foot, step sideways to the right. 3. Bring your left foot next to your right foot. 4. Step back with the right foot. 5. Step back sideways with the left foot. 6. Bring your right foot next to your left foot.