Waltz Dance Classes Jupiter FL (Palm Beach County)

The Waltz dates back to the folk dances of Bavaria roughly 400 years ago, but was not introduced into high society until 1812, when it made its appearance in English ballrooms. In those early days, the Waltz had quite a few different names. Some of these names were the Galop, Redowa, Boston, and the Hop Waltz. When the Waltz was first introduced, it was met with outrage and indignation; people were shocked by the sight of a man dancing with his hand upon a lady’s waist and the Waltz was thought to be a scandalous dance.

The Waltz did not become popular among the European middle class until the first decade of the 20th century. Until then, it was the exclusive preserve of the aristocracy. In the United States it was danced by the populace as early as 1840. Immediately upon its introduction in this country, the Waltz became one of the most popular dances. It was so popular, it survived the “ragtime revolution” in the early 20th century, when the public quickly learned the simple walking patterns of the Foxtrot.

American-style waltzes eventually developed several “open” dance positions as well. Another key difference in what has become known as the American Waltz (as opposed to the International version), is that the dancers’ legs cross each other as opposed to closing together. These variations have remained parts of the waltz canon to the current day. The Waltz is a progressive and turning dance with figures designed for both a larger ballroom floor and the average dance floor. The use of sway, rise and fall highlight the smooth, lilting style of the Waltz.