Slow waltz

Slow waltz
Basic step of the slow waltz; left the men's, right the women's steps
Technology:	default
Type:	Ballroom dancing , ballroom dancing , ballroom dancing
Music:	waltz
Time signature :	3 / 4 -stroke
Tempo:	28-30 TPM (84-90 bpm )
Origin:	England
Creation time:	≈ 1920
List of dances

The Slow Waltz , also English Waltz ( Engl. : Slow Waltz , also English Waltz ) is a social and competitive dance in ³ / ₄ -Stroke. The slow waltz is one of the classic standard dances and is usually danced at a tempo of around 30 bars per minute.

history

The term “slow waltz” was first used - in printed form - in 1806 by Carl Friedrich Ebers (1770–1836) in his op. 19 (“6 slow and 6 Viennese waltzes”). However, it was forgotten.

It was not until around 1870 that a gentler form of the Viennese waltz developed in the USA , which became known under the name Boston (or Valse Boston ). This version retained the rotating figures characteristic of the Viennese waltz, but was danced at a slower tempo. Around 1920, the Slow Waltz developed in England , which is also called the English Waltz because of its origin . Other sources, however, also state the Austrian Länders as the "forefather" of the Slow Waltz. The dancers use the slower pace to enrich the waltz with additional figures that make the dancing more interesting.

The slow waltz has been part of the world dance program since 1963 . It is considered the most harmonious standard dance and is often danced at the opening of a dance event. It is also rated first as one of the five standard dances worldwide at every standard tournament.

Characteristics and technology

The important thing in the slow waltz is the up and down swinging of the whole body, which constantly accelerates or decelerates within one bar, but never completely stops. The dancers get their momentum with the step at the first beat on the way down. Then this momentum exhausts itself on the way up until the feet close on the third beat. This up and down is achieved under beats one and two by (slower) lifting and under beat three by (faster) lowering ( rise and fall ). This means the lowering and lifting of the whole body with the spine extended, which is brought about by bending and stretching the knees and ankles alone. Another characteristic is the slight flexion of the upper body, usually to a certain side, and the resulting inclination of the body axis ( sway ), with which movements and swings can be delayed without losing balance. In order to change the direction of movement steplessly and thus to be able to avoid other couples quickly, the slow waltz is danced in different degrees of rotation (under- to over-turned).

In a weakened form, these characteristics of the slow waltz also apply to all other swing dances, which also include quickstep , slowfox and Viennese waltz.

Web links

Wikibooks: Slow Waltz  - Learning and teaching materials

Individual evidence

1. ^ Norbert Linke : On the early history of the waltz - Symposium report by Thomas Nussbaumer & Franz Gratl - Book review In: New Life - Bulletin of the German Johann Strauss Society , No. 47 (2014/3), ISSN  1438-065X , pp. 87-90.