Waltz Steps

History of Waltz Steps

Even though today the Waltz is considered a formal affair, its roots are actually found in the peasants of Bavaria and surrounding areas. They formed a dance known as the Walzer, which was designed for couples around the year 1750. The dance eventually got its high-class reputation when noblemen, bored with the typical balls and tired old dances, began to sneak away to their servants’ parties.

Waltz steps caught on in Vienna around 1780, and the rest is history. It is now considered one of the grandparents of modern ballroom dance, and is celebrated today both socially and competitively in its traditional and adapted forms.

Waltz Styles

There are many different styles of waltz dancing, and each genre features its own unique steps.

Below are some basic waltz steps and their styles.

Hesitation Waltz

Formed in the 1910s, a hesitation waltz is danced to fast music. To execute this style, you halt on the standing foot during full measures of the music, with the moving foot in the air.

Closed Change

Also known as the box step, the man starts with his right foot and forms a box with his steps. It is known as a “change” because they are designed to take dancers from natural turns to reverse turns, and back again.

Natural Turn

This waltz step is when partners turn each other clockwise during a dance. There are also Reverse Turns, in which they do the same movement to the left. It has also evolved in other dance styles, such as the Natural Twist Turn in the Tango.

Rises and Falls

Just as its name suggests, dancers rise and fall through the use of their knees and ankles. This helps reduce strain to the muscles, but also adds a certain element of grace and elegance to the dance. A foot rise is when the body rises up by pushing up on the balls of the feet. A lowering takes place when the feet are flat again with slightly bent knees. Lastly, a body rise is when the body rises without the assistance of the feet. This can be achieved through different knee stances, or a slight head or shoulder movement.

Cross Step Waltz

A cross step waltz is when the first step is crossed over to a specific line of direction. This is a much more modern form of waltz dancing, started by West Coast college students.

Other modern and international variations of waltz steps include the American Style Waltz, the Peruvian Waltz, the Venezuelan Waltz, and the Mexican Waltz. All are great contributors to the world of ballroom dance, and can be observed through various performances and festivals both stateside and around the world.

Where to Waltz

If you would like to learn waltz steps, you can contact your local social dance studio. There are a lot of places in many cities that teach varying styles of ballroom dance, the waltz often being included. You can also invest in an instructional DVD if you would prefer to learn in the comfort of your own home. Some couples feel too intimidated to participate in a studio environment right away.

Some social clubs in downtown districts also offer ballroom dancing nights. Check your local yellow pages under "social dance" or "ballroom" to see if there is any opportunities right in your own community to learn some waltz steps today!