Learn the Ballroom Dances: the Slow Waltz

Learn to Ballroom Dance: the Waltz

Although it dates back to the seventeenth century, the Waltz is still a popular social and wedding dance today. The music is characterized by 3/4 time and is generally danced to slow ballads. Some popular slow waltz songs include: “Come Away with Me” by Norah Jones, “Open Arms” by Journey and “May I Have this Dance?” by Anne Murray.

When the Waltz was first introduced in Europe in the early 1800s, it was viewed as vulgar and immoral because men would hold the women very close in dance position. (How scandalous!) But this beautiful dance soon became part of popular culture in Europe and was introduced to the United States in the mid-1800s. Early waltz music was very fast (from it’s early days as an Austrian folk dance,) but gradually slowed down to accommodate the average dancer. The waltz is now characterized by beautiful turns, a “rise and fall” of the body, and long sweeping steps. The waltz is a great first ballroom dance to learn. It is fun to learn the basic steps and easy for new dancers to look graceful dancing the slow waltz.