Types of waltz and rules for teaching it

Waltz is one of the most popular dances. It is danced at weddings, proms and regular dance parties. The basics of the waltz are enjoyed by not only children, but also adults and even the elderly.

Initially, this dance was not so popular. In addition, its execution did not require any special skills. It is believed that the landler was the prototype of the waltz. German and Austrian peasants danced this dance as early as the 13th century. It consisted of smooth steps and turns, which people repeated, moving in a circle. The dance was performed on most holidays.

High society paid attention to this dance only in the 18th century. It was from that time that it became known by its current name.

In the early years of the waltz, many people were quite skeptical about it. Experienced craftsmen did not like its simplicity. The older generation called the dance indecent. They were outraged by the fact that during the dance the girl was actually in the arms of a man. The church called the waltz sinful and vulgar. In many countries, this dance was forbidden to dance at balls. Russia was no exception.

However, despite such a negative attitude from moralists, dance still managed to gain popularity in high society. In France, the waltz became popular immediately after the revolution. Later they began to dance it in other European capitals.Johann Strauss, who composed a large number of waltz compositions, also contributed to the development of this dance.

Now the waltz is not as popular as in the old days. At the same time, dance is still part of the compulsory program in most dance competitions. Both children and adults learn to waltz with pleasure.

There are now 4 main types of classical dance.

This dance is distinguished by its special beauty and grace. Today it is one of the most beautiful dances included in the standard European program. It is he who is danced at the most famous European balls.

It is distinguished by its speed of movement. Therefore, learning to dance it is rather difficult. It is recommended for dancers to practice together with their regular partners. They dance the waltz only in a closed position.

This style of waltz differs from the previous one in the speed of performance. He dances twice as slow. Therefore, you can learn to dance it much faster. Because of this, it is with him that it is recommended to start training for young dancers. Waltz-Boston belongs to this category, which professional dancers should also be able to perform.

This dance was very popular in the USSR. It appeared in the middle of the twentieth century. The figured waltz is a simplified version of Viennese. It has fewer difficult movements and turns. Most of the time, the couple doing this dance is just spinning. At some points, a man can kneel down, allowing his girlfriend to dance around him. It is the curly waltz that is most often performed by modern newlyweds at a wedding.

This unusual dance can be called a hybrid of the traditional waltz and passionate Argentine tango. The usual waltz severity is not characteristic of him. They usually dance for their own pleasure.

To learn how to dance the waltz correctly, it is important to master the steps. The peculiarity of the dance is that the first movement is quick and sharp. The other two steps should be barely noticeable. Men and women dance the waltz in different ways.

The dancer takes the first step with his left foot. She moves forward. The second leg is immediately pulled up behind it. These movements must be fast. Then he moves to the side. After that, the man takes his right leg back, and returns the left to the starting point.

The woman dances her part a little differently. She begins the movement with a step with her right foot back. She immediately takes the left one a little to the side. Next, the right leg is pulled up to the left. After that, the girl takes a step forward. She returns the right leg to the starting point. Then the left leg is pulled up to it.

This simple scheme is quite easy to master. The main thing is to exercise regularly, and carefully monitor all your movements.

Before proceeding directly to the dance, you need to master the correct posture. This is best done with a partner.

Two people stand opposite each other. The distance between them should be minimal. They always keep their back straight. The chin should be slightly raised. The girl in this position bends back slightly. The guy supports her under the shoulder blade. The dancer's hand at this moment lies just below the shoulder of her partner. The man's palm holds the partner's other hand.

Having adopted this stance, the heads of the dancers must be turned to the left. The elbows must be raised so that they are at shoulder level. Only then can dance movements begin.

Beginner dancers should master the following dance elements.

One of the main movements in dance is turning.It is very simple to execute. To begin with, the dancer puts his right foot forward. Almost immediately, he slowly turns to the right. The next moment, the man completes his turn. After that, the dancer pulls the second leg to the leading one.

Then he takes two steps back and turns in the same way. The partner repeats all the movements, mirroring them.

This is another popular movement worth exploring for all dancers. It is carried out for 3 accounts. Both dancers move in the same way.

First of all, the dancer takes a step with his right foot forward. After that, he brings his left leg to her. Further, the right leg goes forward again. The next measure of the track is done in the same way. But the person starts to move from the left leg. The movements are fast and beautiful. They are usually performed in a circle.

Having mastered these basic movements, you can move on to the study of more complex shapes.

In the early years of the existence of the waltz, it was customary to dance it in classical costumes and floor-length dresses.

Men wore black tailcoats and white shirts. The image was complemented by a light bow tie. Men have always chosen classic shoes as well. This look was complemented by gold cufflinks, a pocket watch and a white handkerchief. Men have always danced with gloves. Previously, a woman could well refuse a man to dance if he was without gloves.

Women chose long dresses with puffy skirts for dancing. They could be both light and bright. White outfits were allowed to be worn only by those who first appeared at the ball. The images were complemented with comfortable shoes, gloves and expensive jewelry. Hair was usually collected in high hairstyles. This made it possible to focus on the beautiful neck.

Nowadays, outfits for performances and themed dance evenings are also bright. Boys and girls prefer to wear classic outfits for such events.

But for training, beginner dancers usually choose more comfortable clothes. Items for dance lessons should not hinder movement. A properly chosen shape should be not only comfortable, but also beautiful. In this case, the dancer will get much more pleasure from their classes.

The choice of suitable music also plays an important role for a beginner dancer. It is best to dance a waltz to classical waltz compositions.

1. "Waltz of the Flowers" by Tchaikovsky. This is one of the most delicate melodies worth paying attention to. It was written especially for the famous ballet called The Nutcracker. Many people know this melody due to the fact that it sounded in the Soviet cartoon of the same name.
2. "Spring Voices" by Strauss. This composition was written at the end of the 19th century. Nevertheless, the waltz is being danced to it even now. The melody is ideal for the first performances of aspiring dancers.
3. "Wedding Waltz" Doga. This melody was written in just one night. It became popular after the release of the famous Soviet film entitled "My affectionate and gentle animal". The melody is considered one of the most beautiful cynovals. As it is clear from the name of the composition, the newlyweds are very fond of it. Wedding dances are often staged to this composition even now. Waltzing to a graceful and light melody is quite simple.
4. "Waltz No. 7" by Chopin. This is one of the most famous compositions written by this composer. Both experienced dancers and beginners can dance to it.
5. "Cinderella" by Prokofiev. This melody is part of the ballet of the same name. It was to her that the main heroine of the famous fairy tale danced until midnight. The gentle and light melody is suitable for creating various dance performances.

Having mastered the basics of dance, as well as learning to improvise, you can try waltzing to modern melodies.

Waltz, like other ballroom dances, is best practiced from childhood. It is believed that children learn new things much faster. Therefore, they learn dance moves with ease. The child is usually taught to waltz in additional classes. Dance schools are now in most cities. Therefore, it is quite easy to find a suitable place to study.

But it often happens that a person decides to learn to dance already in adulthood. In this case, learning takes much more time from him. Besides, an adult dancer has to train much harder.

Adults have several basic options for teaching dance.

Many modern adult dance schools have classes for waltz lovers. Both beginners and people who were once engaged in ballroom dancing can attend them. Coaching in school usually includes warm-ups, basic movements, and practice with a partner. Thanks to the right preparation, the person does not get so tired. In addition, a trained dancer is not so constrained in movement.

Choose a place for classes responsibly. In this case, you can be guided by the reputation of the institution, as well as the advice of people who have already danced in this place.

Those who want to learn how to dance quickly should try classes with a personal trainer. This option is also suitable for people who do not like to work in a large company. During such classes, the coach evaluates the dancing abilities of his students. Thanks to this, he can help him make progress as quickly as possible.

The choice of a coach also needs to be considered carefully. He must be a real professional in his field. It is best to work with someone who can dance both fast and slow waltz.

You can also learn the basics of dance at home. There are many tutorial videos. On them, professionals explain the basic movements of the waltz step by step. The advantage of this method of learning is that a person can relax as much as possible at home. In addition, nothing distracts him from training. Classes at home are absolutely free.

The disadvantages of this learning method are also obvious. Since no one controls the correct execution of all movements, the dancer can learn to waltz incorrectly. Plus, many people don't have a suitable partner. Therefore, the movements have to be honed on their own.

Simple tips from more experienced people will help a beginner dancer learn to waltz beautifully.

• Train constantly. To learn how to dance beautifully, it is important for a person, indeed, to burn with this desire. In this case, he will be able to devote a lot of time to dancing. You can train not only in the classroom, but also at home. At home, dancing is best done in a spacious room with a minimum amount of furniture. The room should also have a full-length mirror. In this case, the person will notice all his mistakes.

• Seek inspiration. Constantly listening to beautiful melodies inspires people to dance. It also helps the person learn to listen to the rhythm.

• Train the body. To make the dance moves easier, the dancer needs to practice daily. Stretching exercises are advisable every morning. You can do both video tutorials and a simple program suggested by the trainer.

• Don't rush things. After learning the basic movements, you should not immediately demonstrate your dancing skills to others.At first, the dancer needs to carefully monitor his legs so as not to make mistakes. Having worked out all the movements to automatism, he will already be able to dance much faster and more calmly.

• Attend dance events. With a little practice in dancing, you can start attending various dance evenings and themed parties. Do not be afraid of other people's views and your own mistakes. Visitors to such events are usually just learning to dance themselves. They come to evenings like this just to have fun and practice a little. Do not expect condemnation from their side. It is worth noting that at such an event you can find a partner or teacher for yourself. The latter often come there in order to find students for themselves.

• Choose the right partners. First of all, attention should be paid to physical characteristics. The permanent partner should not be much higher or lower than the dancer. A person's dancing skills also play an important role. They should be approximately at the same level for partners. In this case, people will be most comfortable dancing together.

Next, watch a video about the waltz and its varieties.