The Point

• Societal change is apparent through dance
• Colombia
• African
• Ghanaian
• Spanish
• Society will continue to evolve along with different perceptions of values

The form of the Viennese Waltz is very different now and shows the gliding and freeing motions present within the Viennese Waltz.

• Ballroom Competitions
• Social gatherings
• Shows

The Catholic church began to view the Viennese Waltz as very uncouth and inappropriate.  It was not allowed for many years throughout the aristocracy.  However, after the Napoleonic Wars came to a close, Europe soon found itself undergoing major societal changes.  During the Congress of Vienna from September 1814 to June 1815, the Viennese Waltz really started to get a foothold with the aristocracy wanting to feel freedom from the rigidity of earlier dances.

The Viennese Waltz started within the low class during the mid to late 18th century.  This was in part due to the fact that many people in Austria began to feel that the Catholic Church was oppressive and as new ideals were coming in to play, a new dance that celebrated freedom had to be born.

A traditional Viennese Waltz in the Court of Vienna

The Viennese Waltz is the original form of the Waltz.  The Waltz that most people will reference today actually refers to an English variation of the Viennese Waltz where it is much slower and danced to music that has roughly 90 beats per minute with 3 beats per measure.