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Waltz
Elegant
sweeping movements gives dancers a chance to practice balance and to move
lightly with ease.
History:
Considered the
mother of present day dances, the Waltz began in southern Germany in the
seventeenth century. The popularity of the Waltz dance grew with the music
of Johann Strauss and eventually blossomed in the 20th century. It is the
basis for many dances and is popular today all over the world.
Music:
Waltz dance
music is written in 3/4 time and has a slow to medium tempo with the musical
accent occurring on the first beat of each measure. The basic count for
Waltz is 1, 2, 3. Faster tempo Waltz is called
Viennese Waltz.
Characteristics:
The basic
components of Waltz are walking steps and side steps. Rise and Fall and Body
Sway are some of the styling characteristics which make the simplest Waltz
steps & patterns elegant and beautiful.
Teaching
Elements:
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Posture--Learn
to relax shoulders for a more confident look
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Rise and Fall--Explore
the essence of Waltz styling
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Balance Combinations--Strengthen
ankles & develop momentum control
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Drive and Drift--Develop
flow and movement
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Alignments--Use
room alignments to move line-of-dance
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Control--Ease
of movement and coordination
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Compare/Contrast--Fox
Trot, Rumba, Swing
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