The Waltz

The Slow or English Waltz in the form we know it today evolved from the Viennese Waltz from when it first arrived in America during the 1830s. It was known as Boston – the leisurely form of Viennese Waltz danced to the same ¾ rhythm, but at half the tempo (90 beats per minute).

Imported from America the original Boston died out in 1914, but gave birth to the Slow Waltz – with slower turns and longer, more gliding movements. One of the characteristics of this dance is the smooth and graceful rising and lowering action. In general, the lowering starts at the end of beat 3 into beat 1, rising on beats 2 and 3.

Other characteristics of the Waltz, similar to other Standard ballroom dances (including American styles), are feet parallelism, sway and contra body movement. One feature that distinguishes Slow Waltz from its American counterpart is the hold. The international style Waltz is always danced in closed hold, whereas American style, or ‘Smooth’, allows for open positions.