Waltz

dance · music · history

Spinning triple time. The waltz has a special rhythm with three beats in every measure, which makes it sound like "one-two-three, one-two-three." This three-beat pattern is what gives the waltz its distinctive flowing, spinning feeling on the dance floor.

Born in Germany. The waltz started in German-speaking regions of Europe during the 1700s. It grew out of older folk dances like the ländler and became so popular that it spread across Europe and eventually around the world.

Close dancing position. Waltz dancers hold each other in what's called closed position, with one person's arm around the other's waist and their other hands joined. This close partnership is part of what makes the waltz feel so elegant and connected.

Music made for moving. Waltz music is written in triple time and has a smooth, flowing quality that encourages dancers to move gracefully around the floor. Composers like Johann Strauss wrote some of the most famous waltz music ever heard.