Viennese Waltz - Non ?

[frodo]

There's been a number of comments scattered among different threads quite negative about the Viennese Waltz

However it doesn't seem clear quite why and whether this is a fairly universally held view.


So do you like the Viennese Waltz and/or why.

[frodo]

I like it partly because it makes a nice change, being quite a contrast to many other dances.

and there aren't exactly a whole lot of steps to remember...


I might have a different opinion if Viennese Waltzes were played often though.

[Evgeni]

It is one of or if not the most difficult standard dance to master together as a couple. It certainly requires the most stamina out of all the dances. Rarely is it danced socially.
Visually, it looks wonderful when you have a few couples in costume going around the floor.

[Paul F]

Originally Posted by Evgeni

It is one of or if not the most difficult standard dance to master together as a couple. It certainly requires the most stamina out of all the dances. Rarely is it danced socially.
Visually, it looks wonderful when you have a few couples in costume going around the floor.

I had to dance it with my partner as part of a sequence but we rarely got to do it outside of the studio. On one paricular Sunday night we asked the DJ at a social dance we went to if he would play and as we were the only ones there he did.
I could only imagine trying to lead this with an unfamiliar partner.

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by frodo

There's been a number of comments scattered among different threads quite negative about the Viennese Waltz

Pretty much all of them by me I think...

I dunno, I suppose it's OK, if you're in the mood for that sort of thing, but it just looks like line dancing to me - running around the room in circles all the time. There's not a huge amount of room for interpretation, shall we say.

I love the waltz, but a fast waltz? What's that all about then?

[DavidB]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

There's not a huge amount of room for interpretation, shall we say.

There is more to dancing than interpretation

[Tessalicious]

Personally, I love the headrush I get when being led strongly in a Viennese - it's like flying, or a rollercoaster ride all to yourself, where you can scream to be let off if necessary but usually you just want to savour the moment. But I do mean the moment - some DJs play tracks that last for far too long and by the end you can't see your partner let alone the floor.

And, IMHO, it should ideally be the penultimate dance of a ballroom evening, when only the dancers with a lot of stamina are up for it, and the floor is thinning out, because there is no dance harder to avoid other dancers in.

[Paul F]

When I was teaching up in Manchester I thought, for an alternative class on a freestyle night, to do something a little different - viennese waltz!!!



Im in no way an expert but I know basic and intermediate theory and practice so thought "lets do it". It was interesting to say the least
Many people did get the basic pattern and found it fun. I told people to go to a studio down the road if they wanted to do more of it but dont know how many, if any, actually went.

I may have actually contributed to the extinction of the VW in the Manchester area

[El Salsero Gringo]

I've only tried one once or twice, and kept tripping up. But I think the feeling is similar to a move that you can do in MJ - the Penguin Walk where you (both) step on alternate feet, hang your centres of gravity together at the groin and whirl round and round. (Obviously the footwork's a bit different in the waltz!) but I think the feeling is the same rush, except you're moving around the floor together: wheeeeeeee!!!!!!!

[foxylady]

Originally Posted by Tessalicious

Personally, I love the headrush I get when being led strongly in a Viennese - it's like flying, or a rollercoaster ride all to yourself, where you can scream to be let off if necessary but usually you just want to savour the moment.

I love the viennese waltz. Its the first dance I was taught (by my dad when I was 5 or so !) and I have always loved it.....
Just need Prince Charming to come and sweep me around in a Viennese, and I'd do anything !

Foxy

[Evgeni]

I can say the VW was never one of my favourites, although I could appreciate when it was done well cause I knew how hard it was. Gave up standard ballroom after I got too old to compete in junior grades and just did latin. If I wasn't pushed back then, I would off never continued to learn all the standard dances on my own motivation. Your ankles and calves would feel like they were going to explode after each VW and then you had quickstep straight afterwards. Your costume would start to feel like a boiler suit. We'd always get someone to tie a shoelace up or one of the girls would "have to fix her dress" in between the dances and you could see the compare saying "bloody kids" under his breath - it was so funny.
Looking back now, it did do wonders for my fitness as a kid.

[Andreas]

Originally Posted by DavidB

There is more to dancing than interpretation

In VW too you can interpret, just gotta be quick, uhm, very quick hehe

[David Bailey]

OK, OK - having seen it last week, it doesn't look quite as bad as I remembered. But I'd still prefer the Waltz, there's just so much more you can do with it. And there are so many other fast energetic dances now, VW just seems a bit redundant.

But then, I think cha-cha's a bit silly, so what do I know?