|
|
|
Waltz
Waltz the graceful dance of the ages. Waltz can most easily be described as a rotational and also a traveling dance. The dress of the woman would usually be a flowing ball gown, while the men would dress in formal attire such as suites, tuxedos with tails, or business attire. The basic movement for the waltz is a box step with a heavy accent on the one beat. Waltz unlike every other dance is danced on 3/4 timing. This means that we do not count 1,2,3,4 but instead count 1,2,3. The aesthetic view that waltz has, is created by sway. When you see Waltz danced correctly it looks like the partnership dancing this dance is flying across the room in a flowing manner. Waltz has been inside ballrooms since the seventeenth century and was not all ways thought of as graceful and magnificent. The waltz was originally seen in Vienna and Austria. These Weller, or rotational dances were danced by peasants or lower class residents of Austria and Bavaria long before waltz was introduced to the ballrooms. During the early to Mid eighteenth century the allemande form of the waltz was very popular in France. This dance was originally only one of the figures in the contedanse, with arms intertwining at shoulder level, it shortly became an independent dance as the closed dance position was introduced. By the late eighteenth century, this practically ancient Austrian dance of peasants had been accepted by high society and 3/4 timing was not going any were. Although the Waltz had been growing in popularity it had its share of opposition. The dance masters would feel threatened by this dance. The basic form of waltz was relatively easy to learn, and in comparison to the minuet and other court dances they felt that their profession might be in danger. The waltz also found many opposed to the moral implications of being in a closed hold. Religious leaders almost in unison had a low regard for this dance and it was called vulgar and sinful by those who attended the continental court in England. Which was the slowest place of acceptance for the waltz. An editorial of a ball given in London in July of 1816, was especially ruthless in the way it portrayed those dancing this promiscuous dance.
"We remarked with pain that the indecent foreign dance called the Waltz was introduced (we believe for the first time) at the English court on Friday last . . . it is quite sufficient to cast one's eyes on the voluptuous intertwining of the limbs and close compressure on the bodies in their dance, to see that it is indeed far removed from the modest reserve that has hitherto been considered distinctive of English females. So long as this obscene display was confined to prostitutes and adulteresses, we did not think it deserving of notice; but now that it is attempted to be forced on the respectable classes of society by the civil examples of their superiors, we feel it a duty to warn every parent against exposing his daughter so fatal a contagion."
This was one of many attacks by the modern media of that day to stifle the creative flow of dance and music. This was to no avail. As history does tend to repeat itself this antagonism only served the purpose of increasing the dances popularity. Even the bourgeoisie took up the dance enthusiastically after the French Revolution. In Paris alone there were nearly 700 dance halls. As far as history is concerned the first time waltz was introduced to the United States was in Boston in 1834. A man by the name of Lorenzo Papanti, a Boston dancing master, gave a performance of the dance at Mrs. Otis Beacon Hill mansion. Social leaders of course were aghast by what at the time was called "an indecorous exhibition." But, as history repeats itself once again, waltz had firmly set itself in American dancing by the middle of the nineteenth century.
Veinnese Waltz
The Viennese waltz was originally developed simply as a variation in waltz music. The composers Franze Lanner and Johann Strauss were probably the two most responsible for these wonderful variations. Around 1830 these two composers where working with what was at the time being called "fast waltz". By the close of the 19th century there were still only two standard variations of the waltz. The first was known as the Boston waltz. Although the Boston waltz disappeared with the first world war, it did play a role in the development of the international style which we see today. The other form of waltz was the hesitation. This was done by stepping on 1 out of every three beats of music. These steps are still in wide use today. The Viennese waltz has its own way of moving around the floor. Generally the basic step shown for this dance is known as the Viennese Cross. This is a left turning pattern that moves straight down the line of dance while rotating 3/8 of a turn on the back half and 5/8 on the forward half. The movement is very brisk and because of the speed it does not allow room for mistakes. The dance itself like I explained above is simply as a variation in traditional waltz timing. The basic box developed into the Viennese cross due to the over rotation of the dance step. If you were to take an open left box and rotate the box at 3 times the speed of a normal modern waltz you will naturally cross you feet as you continue the rotation in the forward half of the step. Waltz has been around for almost 350 years and as it continues to evolve it astounds even the greatest of dancers by the ways it can change.