Waltz


The forerunner of waltz was Boston, dance imported from USA and introduced in England by a very influential "Boston Club" around 1874. However, only after 1922 did this dance become as fashionable as the Tango. The strange thing about Boston was that couples danced next to each other, nothing like what we do now. Immediately after World War I the Waltz got more shape. In 1921 it was decided that the basic movement should be: step, step, close. When in 1922 Victor Sylvester won the championship, English waltz programme consisted of not more than a right turn, a left turn and change of direction (Less than what is learnt by a beginner nowadays). In 1926/1927 the waltz was improved considerably. The basic movement was changed into step-side-close. As a result of this, many more variations became possible. They have been standardised by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). Many of them are still danced. The syllabus is:

* Bronze

  • Back whisk
  • Backward lock (IDTA: silver)
  • Basic weave
  • Chasse from PP
  • Closed changes
  • Closed impetus (IDTA: common figure)
  • Double reverse spin (IDTA: silver)
  • Hesitation change
  • Natural spin turn
  • Natural turn
  • Outside change
  • Progressive chasse to R
  • Reverse corte
  • Reverse pivot
  • Reverse turn
  • Whisk

* Silver

  • Closed telemark
  • Cross hesitation
  • Drag hesitation (IDTA)
  • Forward lock (IDTA)
  • Open impetus
  • Open telemark
  • Outside spin
  • Turning lock
  • Weave from PP
  • Wing

* Gold

  • Closed wing
  • Contra check
  • Fallaway natural turn (IDTA)
  • Fallaway reverse and slip pivot (IDTA: common figure)
  • Fallaway whisk (IDTA)
  • Hover corte (ISTD)
  • Left whisk
  • Running spin turn (IDTA)
  • Turning lock to R (IDTA: silver)

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