i need info on the history of waltz?

Question

where did it come from? who invented it? how long has it been around? all that good stuff. i'm doing a report on the box step waltz, so if there's any specific info on that one that'd be great.

Answer 1

The world Waltz comes from the old German word walzen to roll, turn, or to glide.The Waltz is an ballroom dance in 3/4 time with strong accent on the first beat and a basic pattern of step-step-close.To Waltz means to move or glide in a lively or conspicuous manner (to advance easily and successfully).

The Waltz is a dance that was born in the suburbs of Vienna and in the alpine region of Austria. As early as the seventeenth century, waltzes were played in the ballrooms of the Hapsburg court. The weller, or turning dances, were danced by peasants in Austria and Bavaria even before that time. Many of the familiar waltz tunes can be traced back to simple peasant yodeling melodies.

During the middle of the eighteenth century, the allemande form of the waltz was very popular in France. Originally danced as one of the figures in the contredanse, with arms intertwining at shoulder level, it soon became an independent dance and the close-hold was introduced. By the end of the eighteenth century, this old Austrian peasant dance had been accepted by high society. Reportedly, the first time the waltz was danced in the United States was in Boston in 1834.

Around the close of the nineteenth century, two modifications of the waltz were developed. The first was the Boston, a slower waltz with long gliding steps. Although the Boston disappeared with the first world war, it did stimulate development of the English or International style which continues today. The second was the hesitation, which involves taking one step to three beats of the measure. Hesitation steps are still widely used in today's waltz.

Answer 2

Many people consider tango to be the world's first "forbidden dance." This is not so. The first dance to earn this distinction was the waltz, due to its nature and origins.


Waltz comes from the German word "waltzen," which means "to turn." The turn is the essence of the waltz step. The waltz is done in 3/4 time with an accent on the first beat of every measure. Each series of movements is a turning step and a close. Today, it is often danced on a light foot, although this was not always the case.



Precursors to the waltz were the allemande and the minuet. The allemande was a stately dance done in two lines. Partners faced each other and moved back and forth, sometimes going under the arms of the other line, or processing down the middle. The minuet was a square-step dance performed in a rigid and stately manner. The waltz itself is Viennese, and it evolved in Austria and Bavaria under such names as the Dreher, the laendler and the Deutscher. It was created as a peasant dance in early Austria, and involved robust moves and lots of space. Often, partners were hurled into the air in moves that occasionally led to injury and miscarriage. Because peasants wore loud, thick shoes, it was also very noisy. When it first became popular in Viennese dance halls in late eighteenth century, these aspects began to change.


The waltz was termed the "forbidden dance" for one reason. When it moved into Viennese dance halls, partners were allowed to touch! This was unheard of, and led to the dance being slandered by many officials of the church and leaders of the Austrian community. Because it was a favored dance of the young, however, it continued to be danced. Because of its transition to dance halls and city gathering, it evolved into a light dance for polished floors and parties. Its music also changed, becoming more refined and orchestrated. Notable instruments used to play it were the piano, the violin and the bass. In 1787, it was brought to the operatic stage, inviting huge debate. Mozart was a huge fan of the waltz, and in one of his operas, Don Giovanni, three waltzes are played at once in one scene! Clearly, the dance could not be stopped.

Answer 3

Waltz: 3 beats/measure, 28-32 measures/minute

The origins of the Waltz go back hundreds of years. The rhythm came to Vienna in the early 1800s, and the Viennese Waltz was first exhibited in America in 1834 in Boston. Especially at the beginning of the 20th century the slower Modern Waltz, danced at about half the original tempo, developed along with the Viennese Waltz. The Modern Waltz is smoother, less frantic, and more varied. We turn left, then right. We dance forward and back, we pause, and we can spend a measure or more developing this or that "picture" figure. Perhaps the most consistent feature of today's waltz is the pronounced, wave-like rise and fall as we progress around the floor.

The first beat of each measure is a heavily accented "downbeat." The music then rises to a crescendo through beats 2 and 3. At the end of beat 3, the music falls again. The dancer feels this swelling and contracting in each measure. We rise and stretch with the music.

Lower in the knee at the end of beat 3. Many figures end with a closing step that helps accentuate this "fall" (compare to the passing steps in foxtrot that keep you up). Stay down through count 1 with a heel lead, rise during 2, and stay up into 3: down, up, up; down, up, up. Often, we stretch count 2, borrowing a little time from 1 and/or 3, delaying and extending the rise, "milking" the body flight, smoothing out the turn of the figure. There is strong body sway toward the center of the turns.

Box Step is a basic dance step named after the pattern it creates on the floor, which is that of a square or box. It can be incorporated into many types of dance, including disco, jazz, and most commonly, in American Style ballroom dances: Rumba, Waltz, bronze-level Foxtrot. While it can performed individually, it is usually done with a partner. This is the most common dance step in the Waltz. In International Standard a there is a similar step called Closed Change.

The leader begins with the left foot and proceeds basically as follows.

First half-box: Forward-side-together
Second half-box: Backwards-side-together
Every step is with full weight transfer. During the second and fourth step it is advised the foot to travel along two sides of the box, rather than along its diagonal.

Rhythm varies. E.g., it is "1-2-3,4-5-6" in Waltz and "Sqq, Sqq" in Rumba.

To do the Box Step for the Waltz, partners should start in the closed position. Usually the man will lead and the woman will follow.

1st step: The leader will move one step forward with the left foot and close the feet by sliding the right foot up to meet the left, but not transferring the weight on the right foot.
2nd step: Right foot step sideways to the right.
3rd step: Left foot step to close the feet.
4-6 steps are similar: The leader moves one step backwards with the right foot and closes the left foot without weight. To complete the square, the lead will then move two steps to the left: left foot sideways and right foot to close.
The pair should end up where they began, make a slight turn, and start all over again. Emphasis should be made on sliding the foot rather than making a forced, heavy step.

Answer 4

The histoy of the Waltz? You meaning the one 3/4 tact?
Well, originally had had to do with the Aristrocratic folks in Europe. Caus e they had these big hudge what we Germans call "The ball" a dance event in the evening.
Here Aristrocratic people would gather and come from everywhere by invite. It was here that they got to socialize, look for a man in their lifes that could suit them.


look at this website

http://www.centralhome.com/ballroomcountry/waltz.htm

hope that helps. greetings from Utah

Answer 5

Looks to me that you got the info that you my have needed, so let me say that the waltz is the most elegant dance and the most romantic dance there is.

Answer 6

originated from the "Laendler Tanz" a peasants dance in medaeval Austria, became formalized and accepted by the nobility in the mid to late 1800's; especially advanced by Johann Strauss Senior, and his son, JS Junior