What is Waltz (International)?
The '''Waltz''' is one of the five international [[ballroom dance]]s in the Modern or Standard style. It is danced socially, and in ballroom [[competition]]s. Like its older brother, the [[Viennese waltz]], this dance originated in [[Vienna]], but was greatly modified by English dance teachers in the 1920s. That is why it is sometimes called the English waltz. Other names are the diagonal waltz, the international waltz, and the slow waltz.<ref name=Franks>Franks A.H. 1963. ''Social dance: a short history''. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London. Chapter 7. The twentieth century: Jazz and after.</ref><ref>Richardson P.J.S. 1948. ''The history of English ballroom dancing (1900–1945)''. Jenkins, London.</ref> Music for the waltz should be in 3/4 time, and played at 29 to 34 bars per minute.<ref name=VS>Silvester, Victor 1982. ''Modern ballroom dancing: history and practice''. Paul, London.</ref><sup>p62</sup> The accent is on the first beat of each bar. For beginners it is a simple dance compared to some others. At competitive level it is much more demanding. It features whisks, chassés, spins, hesitations, drags, and split-beat steps, many of which have been copied in other dances. The first 'advanced' figure to be invented was the double reverse spin, by Maxwell Stewart in the 1924 World Championship.<ref name=VS/><sup>p42</sup> Nowadays it is taught at the silver medal stage.<ref>[http://www.centralhome.com/ballroomcountry/waltz-syllabus.htm Dance Resources Waltz Syllabus]</ref> == References == {{Reflist}} == Other websites == * {{YouTube|sTU55Lwc-Y4|Basic waltz by Marcus & Karen Hilton, nine times World Professional Ballroom Champions}} {{Dance}} [[Category:Ballroom dances]]