The Waltz

The Waltz is a popular dance in modern day ballroom situations.  While it has gained wide acceptance and praise today, it has not always been greeted with such joyous praise.  During the first part of the dance’s life, it was not considered a smooth dance but rather a jerky and almost dizzying dance.  This lack of elegance made it inappropriate in the eyes of the upper class.  Eventually, when the dance made its transition into the ballrooms of high class society in Vienna and across Europe, it was turned from a dance filled with jumps and bobs to much more elegant dance characterized by a pattern of gliding from high to low positions in a smooth and proper manner.  The Steps of the dance were not the only reason that the dance was originally snubbed at by the higher class.  The waltz was also criticized for the close proximity of dance partners when dancing.  

The dance traces its roots to the 1600’s when it was developed primarily by Austria’s working class. During the late 1600’s and throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the younger generations slowly brought this fun and energetic dance into new societies and circles.  The dance was considered to be among the favorite dances of young royalty in France and England.  In the 1830’s the Waltz finally reached the United States where it was first danced in Boston.  The Waltz may have a relatively short history compared to other ballroom dances, but the joy with which its arrival was embraced and the amount it is danced still today will surely ensure its place in history as a fun and lively form of ballroom dance.