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Craig Revel Horwood's Ballroom Dancing: Waltz

by Craig Revel Horwood

The waltz was revolutionary when it first started in the early nineteenth century, and caused quite a scandal. Now there are two versions: the modern (or diagonal/slow) waltz and the Viennese (or quick) waltz. The diagonal waltz is the standardized one. The music has three beats to the bar and 32 bars per minute. The hold is normal.

The key to the waltz is elegance, and the natural swing of the dance produces a feeling of rise and fall. It requires lots of great balance and control. You’ll also need to learn to sway, which gives the waltz its easy and relaxed style. Sway is the tilting of the body: sway away from the extending foot and sway towards the closing foot.

The boy creates the frame which the girl steps into and the boy leads her round the dance floor – it’s easier for the boy to practise the hold alone to get the feel for it. Get your feet right, check your balance and only then move on to the arm position. Girls have to follow the boy’s lead.

Work through the steps one by one, learning each one and practising it thoroughly before you move on to the next one.


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