Viennese waltz
Oldest current ballroom dance, rotary and fast-paced.
The Viennese waltz (German: Wiener Walzer) is a form of ballroom dance that originated in the second half of the 18th century from the German dance and the Ländler in Austria. It is the oldest of the current ballroom dances and was the first ballroom dance performed in the closed hold or 'waltz' position. The dance gained popularity through the Congress of Vienna and compositions by Josef Lanner, Johann Strauss I, and Johann Strauss II, becoming known as the Viennese waltz.
- field
- Ballroom dance
- nationality
- Austrian
- styles
- International Style and American Style
Lore & Background
The Viennese waltz emerged in the second half of the 18th century from the German dance and the Ländler in Austria. Initially, the waltz was significantly different from its form today. Couples did not dance in the closed position; the hold was at times semi-closed or side by side, with arms intertwined and circling movements under raised arms. Feet were turned out, and the rise of foot was much more pronounced. The waltz marked a major change in dance form, as all previous European social dances were communal sequence dances, while the waltz made couples independent of each other and turned towards each other. Today the Viennese waltz is a ballroom and partner dance part of the International Standard division. Two versions are recognized: International Style and American Style. The Waltz Series is a New York membership society devoted to preserving the pre-World War I tradition of Viennese waltz.
Reader's Guide
The Viennese waltz is historically significant as the original form of the waltz and the first ballroom dance performed in closed hold. It represents a fundamental shift in social dancing, moving from communal sequence dances to independent couple dancing. The dance faced moral criticism in its early years but became immensely popular in Vienna and beyond, influencing ballroom dance traditions globally. Today, it remains a core part of competitive ballroom dance, with International and American styles, and is preserved by organizations like the Waltz Series in New York.
Did You Know?
- In Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, and France, the words Walzer, vals, and valse still refer to the original Viennese waltz, not the slow waltz.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Viennese waltz?
The Viennese waltz is an Austrian ballroom dance that grew out of the Ländler and German dance traditions in the late 1700s. It is the oldest dance still on the modern ballroom syllabus and was the first performed in the closed partner hold.
How is the Viennese waltz different from a standard waltz?
The main distinction is speed: the Viennese waltz is danced at roughly 58 to 60 measures per minute, producing a continuous rotary flow, while the standard waltz is noticeably slower with more separated steps. That faster tempo gives the Viennese version its signature spinning, linked-turn quality.
Who made the Viennese waltz famous?
The dance broke into wider European social life around the Congress of Vienna in the early 1800s, and composers Josef Lanner, Johann Strauss I, and Johann Strauss II wrote the music that cemented its reputation. Without their waltz scores, the dance likely would not have spread well beyond Austrian ballrooms.
Why is the Viennese waltz important in ballroom history?
It holds two firsts: it is the oldest dance still competed in today, and it was the first ballroom dance danced in the closed 'waltz' position. Its continuous rotary character also set a movement template that shaped how later ballroom dances developed their framing and flow.
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